diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/README.md b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/README.md
index f12ceb5f5..f55b2b18d 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/README.md
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/README.md
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@ NIXL also supports additional backends such as **AZURE_BLOB**, **GUSLI**, and **
 
 ## Overview
 
-The NIXL integration consists of two main files:
+The NIXL integration consists of these main files:
 
 - **`hicache_nixl.py`** - Main HiCache storage connector using NIXL
 - **`nixl_utils.py`** - Utility classes for backend selection, registration, and file management
+- **`nixl_cleaner.py`** - Background FILE-backend disk cleaner
 
 At runtime, HiCache uses NIXL as a transfer layer between host memory and either:
 
@@ -52,6 +53,11 @@ Owns the `(agent, mem_type, file_manager)` triple and exposes `host(...)` and `s
 
 The current implementation performs per-transfer registration for file / object targets and explicitly closes FILE descriptors after registration / transfer setup to avoid descriptor leaks.
 
+### L3 Cleaner (`nixl_cleaner.py`)
+For FILE-backed plugins, TP rank 0 starts a best-effort background cleaner that scans the bucketed storage directories and deletes the oldest logical cache-key groups when disk usage exceeds the configured high watermark. Deleted files are handled by the cache layer as ordinary storage misses and can be recomputed.
+
+Set the top-level `l3_cleaner_enabled` config key to `false` when an external cleaner is responsible for L3 cache eviction.
+
 ## Using NIXL as the HiCache Storage Backend
 
 ### 1. How Backend Plugin Selection Works
@@ -276,6 +282,7 @@ For MLA models, the NIXL backend now mirrors HF3FS's backend-local protection:
 ```text
 python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/
 ├── hicache_nixl.py              # Main HiCache storage connector
+├── nixl_cleaner.py              # Background FILE-backend disk cleaner
 ├── nixl_utils.py                # NIXL utility classes
 ├── test_hicache_nixl_storage.py # Unit tests
 ├── nixl.config.toml.sample      # Example configuration
@@ -309,6 +316,7 @@ python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/
 - In zero-copy mode:
   - **MHA** expands each logical page into `_k` and `_v` entries
   - **MLA** expands each logical page into a single `_k` entry because MLA stores one interleaved KV representation
+- The L3 cleaner groups physical files by the logical base key after removing TP-rank and zero-copy `_k` / `_v` suffixes. This keeps MHA, MLA, and DSA file cleanup aligned with the names emitted by `HiCacheNixl`.
 
 ### Zero-Copy Behavior
 
@@ -370,6 +378,9 @@ The following keys are placed at the **top level** of the config file (not insid
 | Key              | Type    | Default  | Description |
 | ---------------- | ------- | -------- | ----------- |
 | `use_direct_io`  | boolean | `true`   | Open cache files with `O_DIRECT` to bypass the OS page cache. Reduces memory pressure and improves NVMe throughput. Falls back to buffered I/O with a warning if `O_DIRECT` is unavailable on the current OS. Can also be overridden via the `SGLANG_HICACHE_NIXL_USE_DIRECT_IO` environment variable. |
+| `l3_cleaner_enabled` | boolean | `true` | Enable the built-in background cleaner for FILE-backed L3 storage. Set to `false` when using an external cleaner. |
+| `l3_cleaner_high_watermark` | float | `80.0` | Start cleanup when the built-in cleaner is enabled and the filesystem containing a configured storage directory reaches this disk-usage percentage. |
+| `l3_cleaner_low_watermark` | float | `70.0` | Stop cleanup after hot filesystems drop below this disk-usage percentage. Must be lower than `l3_cleaner_high_watermark`. |
 
 **Page-alignment and `O_DIRECT`**
 
@@ -390,6 +401,28 @@ active = true
 
 or via environment variable: `SGLANG_HICACHE_NIXL_USE_DIRECT_IO=0`.
 
+To tune FILE-backend cleanup watermarks:
+
+```toml
+l3_cleaner_enabled = true
+l3_cleaner_high_watermark = 85.0
+l3_cleaner_low_watermark = 75.0
+
+[plugin.posix]
+use_uring = "true"
+active = true
+```
+
+To use an external cleaner instead of the built-in cleaner:
+
+```toml
+l3_cleaner_enabled = false
+
+[plugin.posix]
+use_uring = "true"
+active = true
+```
+
 
 ### 2. POSIX File System Backend (`plugin.posix`)
 
diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/hicache_nixl.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/hicache_nixl.py
index 095262477..89d3f8bf4 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/hicache_nixl.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/hicache_nixl.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from sglang.srt.mem_cache.hicache_storage import (
 )
 from sglang.srt.mem_cache.mmap_allocator import alloc_mmap
 from sglang.srt.mem_cache.pool_host import HostKVCache
+from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_cleaner import HiCacheL3Cleaner
 
 from .nixl_registry import NixlRegistry
 from .nixl_utils import NixlBackendConfig, NixlBackendSelection, NixlFileManager
@@ -141,6 +142,28 @@ class HiCacheNixl(HiCacheStorage):
         self._bounce_set: Optional[torch.Tensor] = None
         self._bounce_get: Optional[torch.Tensor] = None
         self._bounce_page_bytes: Optional[int] = None
+        cleanup_dirs = (
+            self.file_manager.iter_all_base_dirs()
+            if self.file_manager is not None
+            else []
+        )
+        cleaner_config = nixlconfig.get_l3_cleaner_config()
+        self._l3_cleaner: Optional[HiCacheL3Cleaner] = (
+            HiCacheL3Cleaner(
+                cleanup_dirs,
+                tp_rank,
+                high_watermark=cleaner_config["high_watermark"],
+                low_watermark=cleaner_config["low_watermark"],
+            )
+            if (
+                cleanup_dirs
+                and self.file_manager is not None
+                and cleaner_config["enabled"]
+            )
+            else None
+        )
+        if self._l3_cleaner is not None:
+            self._l3_cleaner.start()
 
     def _get_suffixed_key(self, key: str) -> str:
         return key + self.config_suffix
@@ -331,6 +354,9 @@ class HiCacheNixl(HiCacheStorage):
         self.file_manager.clear()
 
     def close(self):
+        if self._l3_cleaner is not None:
+            self._l3_cleaner.stop()
+            self._l3_cleaner = None
         while self._host_regs:
             reg = self._host_regs.pop()
             try:
diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl.config.toml.sample b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl.config.toml.sample
index 199988201..8b8cb2652 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl.config.toml.sample
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl.config.toml.sample
@@ -6,6 +6,22 @@
 ################################################################################
 
 
+########################################
+# GLOBAL NIXL HICACHE SETTINGS
+########################################
+
+# Open FILE-backend cache files with O_DIRECT when supported.
+use_direct_io = true
+
+# Built-in background cleaner for FILE-backed L3 storage. Set to false when an
+# external cleaner is responsible for eviction. OBJ plugins ignore this.
+l3_cleaner_enabled = true
+
+# Background cleaner watermarks for FILE-backed L3 storage. OBJ plugins ignore these.
+l3_cleaner_high_watermark = 80.0
+l3_cleaner_low_watermark = 70.0
+
+
 ########################################
 # POSIX FILE SYSTEM BACKEND
 ########################################
diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_cleaner.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_cleaner.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0cd2a019d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_cleaner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+"""Background disk cleaner for the NIXL FILE HiCache backend."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import concurrent.futures
+import logging
+import os
+import re
+import threading
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Iterable, Optional
+
+from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_routing import BUCKET_HEX_CHARS
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_DEFAULT_INTERVAL_SEC = 30.0
+_DEFAULT_RECHECK_GROUPS = 50
+_DEFAULT_HIGH_WATERMARK = 80.0
+_DEFAULT_LOW_WATERMARK = 70.0
+_RANK_SUFFIX_RE = re.compile(r"_(\d+)_(\d+)$")
+_KV_SUFFIXES = ("_k", "_v")
+_BUCKET_NAME_RE = re.compile(rf"^[0-9a-f]{{{BUCKET_HEX_CHARS}}}$")
+
+
+@dataclass
+class _GroupInfo:
+    """Metadata for one logical cache key group in a cleaner tick."""
+
+    base_key: str
+    mtime: float = 0.0
+    size: int = 0
+    paths: set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
+    # Physical files in one logical group can hash to different base dirs
+    # because TP-rank and zero-copy K/V suffixes are part of the routed key.
+    base_dirs: set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
+
+
+def _parse_group_key(name: str) -> str:
+    """Return the logical cache-key group for one NIXL FILE object name.
+
+    The physical names are produced by ``HiCacheNixl._get_suffixed_key`` and
+    ``HiCacheNixl._get_key_list_from_meta``.
+    """
+    stem = name
+    for suffix in _KV_SUFFIXES:
+        if stem.endswith(suffix):
+            stem = stem[: -len(suffix)]
+            break
+
+    match = _RANK_SUFFIX_RE.search(stem)
+    if match is not None:
+        stem = stem[: match.start()]
+    return stem
+
+
+def _safe_unlink(path: str) -> tuple[bool, int]:
+    """Best-effort unlink; returns whether a file was removed and its size."""
+    try:
+        size = os.stat(path).st_size
+        os.unlink(path)
+        return True, size
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        logger.debug("NIXL L3 file already removed before cleanup: %s", path)
+        return False, 0
+    except OSError:
+        logger.debug("Failed to unlink NIXL L3 file %s", path, exc_info=True)
+        return False, 0
+
+
+class HiCacheL3Cleaner:
+    """Delete old NIXL FILE cache entries when disk usage exceeds watermarks.
+
+    Cleanup operates on physical file names only, so it is compatible with MHA,
+    MLA, and DSA naming as long as the keys are generated by ``HiCacheNixl``.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        storage_dirs: list[str] | str,
+        tp_rank: int,
+        *,
+        high_watermark: float = _DEFAULT_HIGH_WATERMARK,
+        low_watermark: float = _DEFAULT_LOW_WATERMARK,
+        interval_sec: float = _DEFAULT_INTERVAL_SEC,
+        recheck_groups: int = _DEFAULT_RECHECK_GROUPS,
+        unlink_workers: Optional[int] = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        if isinstance(storage_dirs, str):
+            storage_dirs = [storage_dirs] if storage_dirs else []
+        self.storage_dirs = [path for path in storage_dirs if path]
+        self.tp_rank = tp_rank
+        self.high_watermark = high_watermark
+        self.low_watermark = low_watermark
+        self.interval_sec = interval_sec
+        self.recheck_groups = max(1, recheck_groups)
+        self.unlink_workers = unlink_workers or max(
+            8, 8 * max(len(self.storage_dirs), 1)
+        )
+
+        if self.low_watermark >= self.high_watermark:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "L3 cleaner low_watermark must be lower than high_watermark "
+                f"(low_watermark={self.low_watermark}, "
+                f"high_watermark={self.high_watermark})"
+            )
+
+        self._stop = threading.Event()
+        self._thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
+
+    def start(self) -> None:
+        """Start the cleaner thread on TP rank 0."""
+        if self.tp_rank != 0 or not self.storage_dirs:
+            return
+        if self._thread is not None and self._thread.is_alive():
+            return
+        self._thread = threading.Thread(
+            target=self._loop, name="hicache-l3-cleaner", daemon=True
+        )
+        self._thread.start()
+        logger.info(
+            "HiCacheL3Cleaner started: dirs=%s high=%.1f%% low=%.1f%% "
+            "interval=%.1fs unlink_workers=%d",
+            self.storage_dirs,
+            self.high_watermark,
+            self.low_watermark,
+            self.interval_sec,
+            self.unlink_workers,
+        )
+
+    def stop(self) -> None:
+        """Stop the cleaner thread if it was started."""
+        self._stop.set()
+        if self._thread is not None:
+            self._thread.join(timeout=5.0)
+            self._thread = None
+
+    def _disk_usage_pct(self, path: str) -> float:
+        try:
+            stat = os.statvfs(path)
+        except OSError:
+            return 0.0
+        total = stat.f_blocks * stat.f_frsize
+        if total == 0:
+            return 0.0
+        available = stat.f_bavail * stat.f_frsize
+        return 100.0 * (total - available) / total
+
+    def _loop(self) -> None:
+        while not self._stop.is_set():
+            try:
+                self._tick()
+            except Exception:
+                logger.warning("NIXL L3 cleaner tick failed", exc_info=True)
+            if self._stop.wait(self.interval_sec):
+                break
+
+    def _tick(self) -> bool:
+        initial_pcts = {path: self._disk_usage_pct(path) for path in self.storage_dirs}
+        hot_dirs = {
+            path for path, pct in initial_pcts.items() if pct >= self.high_watermark
+        }
+        if not hot_dirs:
+            return False
+
+        scan_start = time.perf_counter()
+        groups: dict[str, _GroupInfo] = {}
+        for base_dir in self.storage_dirs:
+            self._scan_base_dir(base_dir, groups)
+
+        ordered = sorted(
+            (group for group in groups.values() if group.base_dirs & hot_dirs),
+            key=lambda group: group.mtime,
+        )
+        if not ordered:
+            return False
+
+        deleted_groups = 0
+        deleted_files = 0
+        bytes_deleted = 0
+
+        with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(
+            max_workers=self.unlink_workers,
+            thread_name_prefix="hicache-l3-unlink",
+        ) as pool:
+            idx = 0
+            while idx < len(ordered) and not self._stop.is_set():
+                batch = ordered[idx : idx + self.recheck_groups]
+                paths = list(self._iter_group_paths(batch))
+                for removed, removed_bytes in pool.map(_safe_unlink, paths):
+                    if removed:
+                        deleted_files += 1
+                        bytes_deleted += removed_bytes
+                deleted_groups += len(batch)
+                idx += len(batch)
+
+                if all(
+                    self._disk_usage_pct(path) < self.low_watermark for path in hot_dirs
+                ):
+                    break
+
+        final_pcts = {path: self._disk_usage_pct(path) for path in self.storage_dirs}
+        logger.info(
+            "NIXL L3 cleanup: deleted %d groups / %d files (%.2f GiB) in %.1fs, "
+            "initial_hot=%s final=%s",
+            deleted_groups,
+            deleted_files,
+            bytes_deleted / (1024**3),
+            time.perf_counter() - scan_start,
+            {path: f"{initial_pcts[path]:.1f}%" for path in hot_dirs},
+            {path: f"{pct:.1f}%" for path, pct in final_pcts.items()},
+        )
+        return True
+
+    def _scan_base_dir(self, base_dir: str, groups: dict[str, _GroupInfo]) -> None:
+        if not os.path.isdir(base_dir):
+            return
+        try:
+            bucket_entries = list(os.scandir(base_dir))
+        except OSError:
+            logger.warning("NIXL L3 cleaner failed to scan %s", base_dir, exc_info=True)
+            return
+
+        for bucket_entry in bucket_entries:
+            try:
+                is_bucket_dir = bucket_entry.is_dir(follow_symlinks=False)
+            except OSError:
+                continue
+            if (
+                not is_bucket_dir
+                or _BUCKET_NAME_RE.fullmatch(bucket_entry.name) is None
+            ):
+                continue
+            self._scan_bucket(base_dir, bucket_entry.path, groups)
+
+    def _scan_bucket(
+        self, base_dir: str, bucket_path: str, groups: dict[str, _GroupInfo]
+    ) -> None:
+        try:
+            entries = list(os.scandir(bucket_path))
+        except OSError:
+            logger.debug(
+                "NIXL L3 cleaner skipped bucket %s", bucket_path, exc_info=True
+            )
+            return
+
+        for entry in entries:
+            try:
+                if not entry.is_file(follow_symlinks=False):
+                    continue
+                stat = entry.stat(follow_symlinks=False)
+            except OSError:
+                continue
+
+            group_key = _parse_group_key(entry.name)
+            group = groups.setdefault(group_key, _GroupInfo(group_key))
+            group.paths.add(entry.path)
+            group.base_dirs.add(base_dir)
+            group.size += stat.st_size
+            group.mtime = max(group.mtime, stat.st_mtime)
+
+    def _iter_group_paths(self, groups: Iterable[_GroupInfo]) -> Iterable[str]:
+        seen: set[str] = set()
+        for group in groups:
+            for path in sorted(group.paths):
+                if path in seen:
+                    continue
+                seen.add(path)
+                yield path
diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_routing.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_routing.py
index 28cfdff0f..114ded9f9 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_routing.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_routing.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 import hashlib
 
-_BUCKET_HEX_CHARS = 2
-_BUCKET_MASK = (1 << (4 * _BUCKET_HEX_CHARS)) - 1
+BUCKET_HEX_CHARS = 2
+_BUCKET_MASK = (1 << (4 * BUCKET_HEX_CHARS)) - 1
 
 
 def stable_key_hash(key: str) -> int:
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def route_key(key: str, num_disks: int) -> tuple[int, str]:
     key_hash = stable_key_hash(key)
     return (
         (key_hash >> 16) % num_disks,
-        f"{key_hash & _BUCKET_MASK:0{_BUCKET_HEX_CHARS}x}",
+        f"{key_hash & _BUCKET_MASK:0{BUCKET_HEX_CHARS}x}",
     )
 
 
diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_utils.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_utils.py
index 8fc947a97..05a31b57d 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_utils.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/storage/nixl/nixl_utils.py
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_routing import route_key
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+_SGLANG_NIXL_CONFIG_KEYS = {
+    "use_direct_io",
+    "l3_cleaner_enabled",
+    "l3_cleaner_high_watermark",
+    "l3_cleaner_low_watermark",
+}
+
 
 class NixlBackendConfig:
     """Handles NIXL backend configurations"""
@@ -35,6 +42,27 @@ class NixlBackendConfig:
             return bool(self.config["use_direct_io"])
         return envs.SGLANG_HICACHE_NIXL_USE_DIRECT_IO.get()
 
+    def get_l3_cleaner_config(self) -> dict:
+        """Return typed NIXL FILE L3 cleaner options from top-level config."""
+        config = {
+            "enabled": True,
+            "high_watermark": 80.0,
+            "low_watermark": 70.0,
+        }
+        if "l3_cleaner_enabled" in self.config:
+            enabled = self.config["l3_cleaner_enabled"]
+            if not isinstance(enabled, bool):
+                raise ValueError("l3_cleaner_enabled must be a boolean")
+            config["enabled"] = enabled
+        key_map = {
+            "l3_cleaner_high_watermark": ("high_watermark", float),
+            "l3_cleaner_low_watermark": ("low_watermark", float),
+        }
+        for raw_key, (cleaner_key, parser) in key_map.items():
+            if raw_key in self.config:
+                config[cleaner_key] = parser(self.config[raw_key])
+        return config
+
     def get_specified_plugin(self) -> str:
         """decide which plugin to use: either config or SGLANG_HICACHE_NIXL_BACKEND_PLUGIN specifies the plugin, if not, use "auto" """
 
@@ -75,6 +103,9 @@ class NixlBackendConfig:
             config_data = self.config
 
         for key, value in config_data.items():
+            # These keys are consumed by SGLang itself, not by NIXL plugins.
+            if key in _SGLANG_NIXL_CONFIG_KEYS:
+                continue
             initparams[key] = str(value)
 
         return initparams
diff --git a/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_cleaner.py b/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_cleaner.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b627c7977
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_cleaner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""Unit tests for the NIXL FILE L3 cleaner."""
+
+from sglang.test.ci.ci_register import register_cpu_ci
+
+register_cpu_ci(est_time=5, suite="base-a-test-cpu")
+
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+
+from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_cleaner import (
+    HiCacheL3Cleaner,
+    _parse_group_key,
+    _safe_unlink,
+)
+from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_utils import (
+    NixlBackendConfig,
+    NixlFileManager,
+)
+from sglang.test.test_utils import CustomTestCase
+
+
+class TestHiCacheL3Cleaner(CustomTestCase):
+    """Tests for watermark-driven cleanup over bucketed NIXL FILE layout."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.test_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="test_nixl_l3_cleaner_")
+        self.base_dirs = [os.path.join(self.test_dir, f"disk{i}") for i in range(2)]
+        self.file_manager = NixlFileManager(self.base_dirs, use_direct_io=False)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        shutil.rmtree(self.test_dir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+    def _write_key(self, key: str, *, mtime: float, size: int = 16) -> str:
+        path = self.file_manager.get_file_path(key)
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
+        with open(path, "wb") as f:
+            f.write(b"x" * size)
+        os.utime(path, (mtime, mtime))
+        return path
+
+    def test_parse_group_key_strips_rank_and_kv_suffix(self):
+        """Keys for TP ranks and zero-copy K/V files share one cleanup group."""
+        self.assertEqual(_parse_group_key("page-a_model_0_8"), "page-a_model")
+        self.assertEqual(_parse_group_key("page-a_model_7_8_k"), "page-a_model")
+        self.assertEqual(_parse_group_key("page-a_model_7_8_v"), "page-a_model")
+        self.assertEqual(_parse_group_key("page-a_model_k"), "page-a_model")
+
+    def test_tick_deletes_oldest_group_across_bucketed_dirs(self):
+        """A cleaner batch deletes all files in the oldest logical key group."""
+        old_keys = ["page-old_model_0_2", "page-old_model_1_2"]
+        new_keys = ["page-new_model_0_2", "page-new_model_1_2"]
+        old_paths = [self._write_key(key, mtime=100.0) for key in old_keys]
+        new_paths = [self._write_key(key, mtime=200.0) for key in new_keys]
+
+        cleaner = HiCacheL3Cleaner(
+            self.base_dirs,
+            tp_rank=0,
+            high_watermark=80.0,
+            low_watermark=70.0,
+            recheck_groups=1,
+            unlink_workers=1,
+        )
+
+        usage_calls: dict[str, int] = {}
+
+        def fake_usage(path: str) -> float:
+            usage_calls[path] = usage_calls.get(path, 0) + 1
+            return 90.0 if usage_calls[path] == 1 else 60.0
+
+        cleaner._disk_usage_pct = fake_usage
+
+        self.assertTrue(cleaner._tick())
+        self.assertFalse(any(os.path.exists(path) for path in old_paths))
+        self.assertTrue(all(os.path.exists(path) for path in new_paths))
+
+    def test_tick_ignores_non_bucket_directories(self):
+        """Only hash-bucket directories are treated as NIXL FILE cache entries."""
+        non_bucket = os.path.join(self.base_dirs[0], "not-a-bucket")
+        os.makedirs(non_bucket, exist_ok=True)
+        unrelated = os.path.join(non_bucket, "page-old_model_0_2")
+        with open(unrelated, "wb") as f:
+            f.write(b"x")
+
+        cleaner = HiCacheL3Cleaner(
+            self.base_dirs,
+            tp_rank=0,
+            high_watermark=80.0,
+            low_watermark=70.0,
+            unlink_workers=1,
+        )
+        cleaner._disk_usage_pct = lambda _path: 90.0
+
+        self.assertFalse(cleaner._tick())
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(unrelated))
+
+    def test_safe_unlink_tolerates_missing_and_os_errors(self):
+        """Cleanup races should not fail the cleaner tick."""
+        missing = os.path.join(self.test_dir, "missing")
+        existing = os.path.join(self.test_dir, "existing")
+        with open(existing, "wb") as f:
+            f.write(b"abc")
+
+        self.assertEqual(_safe_unlink(missing), (False, 0))
+        self.assertEqual(_safe_unlink(self.test_dir), (False, 0))
+        self.assertEqual(_safe_unlink(existing), (True, 3))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(existing))
+
+    def test_start_only_runs_on_tp_rank_zero(self):
+        """Only TP rank 0 owns file cleanup for a shared storage directory."""
+        cleaner = HiCacheL3Cleaner(self.base_dirs, tp_rank=1, interval_sec=0.01)
+        cleaner.start()
+        self.assertIsNone(cleaner._thread)
+
+    def test_nixl_config_parses_l3_cleaner_options(self):
+        """Cleaner settings are top-level NIXL config, not plugin init params."""
+        cfg = NixlBackendConfig(
+            {
+                "use_uring": "true",
+                "l3_cleaner_enabled": False,
+                "l3_cleaner_high_watermark": "85",
+                "l3_cleaner_low_watermark": 75,
+            }
+        )
+
+        cleaner_config = cfg.get_l3_cleaner_config()
+        self.assertFalse(cleaner_config["enabled"])
+        self.assertEqual(cleaner_config["high_watermark"], 85.0)
+        self.assertEqual(cleaner_config["low_watermark"], 75.0)
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.get_backend_initparams("POSIX"), {"use_uring": "true"})
+
+        default_config = NixlBackendConfig().get_l3_cleaner_config()
+        self.assertTrue(default_config["enabled"])
+
+    def test_nixl_config_rejects_non_boolean_l3_cleaner_enabled(self):
+        """Cleaner enablement uses native config booleans only."""
+        cfg = NixlBackendConfig({"l3_cleaner_enabled": "false"})
+
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            cfg.get_l3_cleaner_config()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_storage.py b/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_storage.py
index 5da836f65..564fc3449 100644
--- a/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_storage.py
+++ b/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_hicache_nixl_storage.py
@@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ class TestNixlFileLayout(CustomTestCase):
 
     def test_route_key_is_stable_and_bucketed(self):
         from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_routing import (
-            _BUCKET_HEX_CHARS,
+            BUCKET_HEX_CHARS,
             route_key,
         )
 
@@ -792,8 +792,8 @@ class TestNixlFileLayout(CustomTestCase):
         disk_idx, bucket = route_key("page-123", 4)
         self.assertGreaterEqual(disk_idx, 0)
         self.assertLess(disk_idx, 4)
-        self.assertEqual(len(bucket), _BUCKET_HEX_CHARS)
-        self.assertRegex(bucket, rf"^[0-9a-f]{{{_BUCKET_HEX_CHARS}}}$")
+        self.assertEqual(len(bucket), BUCKET_HEX_CHARS)
+        self.assertRegex(bucket, rf"^[0-9a-f]{{{BUCKET_HEX_CHARS}}}$")
 
     def test_route_key_rejects_empty_disk_set(self):
         from sglang.srt.mem_cache.storage.nixl.nixl_routing import route_key