diff --git a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_functional.py b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_functional.py
index 9e4deb340b..5bfdddb776 100644
--- a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_functional.py
+++ b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_functional.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 # pyright: reportPrivateUsage=false
 # Classes in this module (RunContext, StepWrapper, FunctionalWorkflow) form a
 # cohesive unit and intentionally access each other's underscore-prefixed members.
+import asyncio
 import functools
 import hashlib
 import inspect
@@ -1023,9 +1024,15 @@ async def _run_core(
         # Use a mutable list so the closure can update prev_checkpoint_id
         ckpt_chain: list[str | None] = [prev_checkpoint_id]
         if storage is not None:
+            # Concurrent steps (e.g. via asyncio.gather) may complete around
+            # the same time.  Serialize the read-save-update of the chain head
+            # so each checkpoint links to the previous one instead of creating
+            # sibling root checkpoints that fork the lineage.
+            ckpt_chain_lock = asyncio.Lock()
 
             async def _on_step_completed() -> None:
-                ckpt_chain[0] = await self._save_checkpoint(ctx, storage, ckpt_chain[0])
+                async with ckpt_chain_lock:
+                    ckpt_chain[0] = await self._save_checkpoint(ctx, storage, ckpt_chain[0])
 
             ctx._on_step_completed = _on_step_completed
 
diff --git a/python/packages/core/tests/workflow/test_functional_workflow.py b/python/packages/core/tests/workflow/test_functional_workflow.py
index 96b7e6edf6..7a30291e7b 100644
--- a/python/packages/core/tests/workflow/test_functional_workflow.py
+++ b/python/packages/core/tests/workflow/test_functional_workflow.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     InMemoryCheckpointStorage,
     RunContext,
     StepWrapper,
+    WorkflowCheckpoint,
     WorkflowEvent,
     WorkflowRunResult,
     WorkflowRunState,
@@ -68,6 +69,21 @@ def decorate(fn: Callable[..., Awaitable[Any]]) -> FunctionalWorkflow:
     return decorate(func) if func is not None else decorate
 
 
+class _YieldingCheckpointStorage(InMemoryCheckpointStorage):
+    """In-memory checkpoint storage whose ``save()`` yields to the event loop.
+
+    Real backends (files, databases) suspend while persisting, which lets two
+    concurrent per-step checkpoint saves interleave.  The plain in-memory
+    implementation never suspends, so it cannot exercise the race this file's
+    parallel-checkpoint regression test guards against.  Yielding here
+    reproduces that interleaving deterministically.
+    """
+
+    async def save(self, checkpoint: WorkflowCheckpoint) -> str:
+        await asyncio.sleep(0)
+        return await super().save(checkpoint)
+
+
 @step
 async def add_one(x: int) -> int:
     return x + 1
@@ -797,6 +813,53 @@ async def wf(x: int) -> int:
         checkpoints = await storage.list_checkpoints(workflow_name="wf")
         assert len(checkpoints) == 3  # 2 from first run + 1 final from restore
 
+    async def test_parallel_steps_keep_single_checkpoint_lineage(self):
+        """Concurrent step completions must not fork the checkpoint chain.
+
+        When steps run via ``asyncio.gather``, their completion callbacks can
+        overlap: both read the same ``previous_checkpoint_id`` before either
+        writes the updated chain head back, creating sibling root checkpoints
+        that leave part of the history unreachable from the latest checkpoint.
+
+        A storage whose ``save()`` yields to the event loop reproduces the
+        interleaving a real (file/database) backend would see, deterministically.
+        """
+        storage = _YieldingCheckpointStorage()
+
+        @step
+        async def left(value: int) -> int:
+            return value + 1
+
+        @step
+        async def right(value: int) -> int:
+            return value + 2
+
+        @built_workflow(checkpoint_storage=storage)
+        async def parallel(value: int) -> list[int]:
+            return await asyncio.gather(left(value), right(value))
+
+        result = await parallel.run(1)
+        assert result.get_outputs() == [[2, 3]]
+
+        checkpoints = await storage.list_checkpoints(workflow_name="parallel")
+        by_id = {cp.checkpoint_id: cp for cp in checkpoints}
+
+        # Both steps plus the final save.
+        assert len(checkpoints) == 3
+
+        # Exactly one root: the chain head is read and updated under a lock.
+        roots = [cp for cp in checkpoints if cp.previous_checkpoint_id is None]
+        assert len(roots) == 1
+
+        # Every checkpoint is reachable from the latest one - no forked lineage.
+        latest = await storage.get_latest(workflow_name="parallel")
+        reachable: set[str] = set()
+        cursor = latest
+        while cursor is not None:
+            reachable.add(cursor.checkpoint_id)
+            cursor = by_id.get(cursor.previous_checkpoint_id) if cursor.previous_checkpoint_id else None
+        assert reachable == set(by_id)
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Branching / control flow