diff --git a/.github/workflows/pmg-e2e.yml b/.github/workflows/pmg-e2e.yml
index 82db595..24b81f9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pmg-e2e.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pmg-e2e.yml
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ jobs:
           touch ~/.ssh/id_rsa
 
       - name: Run Sandbox E2E Test
-        run: pmg --sandbox npm exec -- node test/sandbox-e2e.js
+        run: pmg --sandbox --sandbox-enforce npm exec -- node test/sandbox-e2e.js
 
   sandbox-e2e-linux:
     name: Sandbox E2E - Linux (Bubblewrap)
@@ -500,4 +500,4 @@ jobs:
           sudo sysctl -w kernel.apparmor_restrict_unprivileged_userns=0
 
       - name: Run Sandbox E2E Test
-        run: pmg --sandbox --sandbox-profile npm-restrictive npm exec -- node test/sandbox-e2e.js
+        run: pmg --sandbox --sandbox-enforce --sandbox-profile npm-restrictive npm exec -- node test/sandbox-e2e.js
diff --git a/config/cobra.go b/config/cobra.go
index 7f4113b..67a2500 100644
--- a/config/cobra.go
+++ b/config/cobra.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func ApplyCobraFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 		globalConfig.Config.ExperimentalProxyMode, "Use experimental proxy-based interception (EXPERIMENTAL)")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled, "sandbox",
 		globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled, "Enable sandbox mode to isolate package manager processes (EXPERIMENTAL)")
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways, "sandbox-enforce",
+		globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways, "Apply sandbox to all commands, not just install commands (requires --sandbox)")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&globalConfig.SandboxProfileOverride, "sandbox-profile",
 		globalConfig.SandboxProfileOverride, "Override sandbox policy profile (built-in name or path to custom YAML)")
 }
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 020bf1a..97b2f25 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ type SandboxConfig struct {
 	// Enabled enables sandbox mode (opt-in by default for backward compatibility).
 	Enabled bool `mapstructure:"enabled"`
 
+	// EnforceAlways controls scope of sandbox enforcement:
+	// - When true: sandbox applies to all package manager commands
+	// - When false: sandbox only applies to install commands, others run unrestricted (default)
+	EnforceAlways bool `mapstructure:"enforce_always"`
+
 	// Policies maps package manager names to their sandbox policy references.
 	// Key is package manager name (e.g., "npm", "pip"), value is policy reference.
 	Policies map[string]SandboxPolicyRef `mapstructure:"policies"`
@@ -168,7 +173,8 @@ func DefaultConfig() RuntimeConfig {
 			ExperimentalProxyMode:  false,
 			TrustedPackages:        []TrustedPackage{},
 			Sandbox: SandboxConfig{
-				Enabled: false,
+				Enabled:       false,
+				EnforceAlways: false,
 			},
 		},
 		DryRun:               false,
@@ -284,6 +290,14 @@ func Get() *RuntimeConfig {
 	return globalConfig
 }
 
+func ConfigureSandbox(isInstallationCommand bool) {
+	if globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled {
+		// Apply sandbox to all commands if EnforceAlways=true, otherwise only to
+		// installation commands else disable the sandbox
+		globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled = globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways || isInstallationCommand
+	}
+}
+
 // WriteTemplateConfig writes the template configuration file to disk if it doesn't already exist.
 func WriteTemplateConfig() error {
 	configDir, err := configDir()
diff --git a/config/config.template.yml b/config/config.template.yml
index 4d18730..c167ffe 100644
--- a/config/config.template.yml
+++ b/config/config.template.yml
@@ -69,6 +69,12 @@ sandbox:
   # Enable sandbox mode (opt-in, default: false for backward compatibility)
   enabled: false
 
+  # Controls scope of sandbox enforcement:
+  # - true: sandbox applies to all package manager commands
+  # - false (default): sandbox only applies to install commands, others run unrestricted
+  # Requires 'enabled: true' and per-PM policies to be active. May break workflows expecting unrestricted commands.
+  enforce_always: false
+
   # Policy templates define policy profiles by name and path.
   # They can be used to override a built-in profile or create a custom profile.
   # Note: Custom profiles loaded via policy_templates can inherit from built-in
@@ -87,7 +93,7 @@ sandbox:
     # npm ecosystem. npm-restrictive is a built-in profile.
     npm:
       enabled: true
-      profile: npm-restrictive  # Built-in profile, template name, or path to custom YAML
+      profile: npm-restrictive # Built-in profile, template name, or path to custom YAML
 
     pnpm:
       enabled: true
@@ -125,4 +131,3 @@ sandbox:
     uv:
       enabled: true
       profile: pypi-restrictive
-
diff --git a/internal/flows/common_flow.go b/internal/flows/common_flow.go
index ddbf36c..119c3aa 100644
--- a/internal/flows/common_flow.go
+++ b/internal/flows/common_flow.go
@@ -28,9 +28,13 @@ func Common(pm packagemanager.PackageManager, pkgResolver packagemanager.Package
 
 func (f *commonFlow) Run(ctx context.Context, args []string, parsedCmd *packagemanager.ParsedCommand) error {
 	var analyzers []analyzer.PackageVersionAnalyzer
-	config := config.Get()
 
-	if config.Config.Paranoid {
+	// Configure sandbox based on command type and enforcement policy
+	config.ConfigureSandbox(parsedCmd.IsInstallationCommand())
+
+	cfg := config.Get()
+
+	if cfg.Config.Paranoid {
 		malysisActiveScanAnalyzer, err := analyzer.NewMalysisActiveScanAnalyzer(analyzer.DefaultMalysisActiveScanAnalyzerConfig())
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create malware analyzer: %s", err)
@@ -55,15 +59,15 @@ func (f *commonFlow) Run(ctx context.Context, args []string, parsedCmd *packagem
 	}
 
 	guardConfig := guard.DefaultPackageManagerGuardConfig()
-	guardConfig.DryRun = config.DryRun
-	guardConfig.InsecureInstallation = config.InsecureInstallation
+	guardConfig.DryRun = cfg.DryRun
+	guardConfig.InsecureInstallation = cfg.InsecureInstallation
 
-	proxy, err := guard.NewPackageManagerGuard(guardConfig, f.pm, f.packageResolver, analyzers, interaction)
+	guardManager, err := guard.NewPackageManagerGuard(guardConfig, f.pm, f.packageResolver, analyzers, interaction)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create package manager guard: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	err = proxy.Run(ctx, args, parsedCmd)
+	err = guardManager.Run(ctx, args, parsedCmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to run package manager guard: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/flows/proxy_flow.go b/internal/flows/proxy_flow.go
index 71e6148..32c4068 100644
--- a/internal/flows/proxy_flow.go
+++ b/internal/flows/proxy_flow.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func (f *proxyFlow) Run(ctx context.Context, args []string, parsedCmd *packagema
 		return fmt.Errorf("proxy mode is not supported for %s", ecosystem.String())
 	}
 
+	// Configure sandbox based on command type and enforcement policy
+	config.ConfigureSandbox(parsedCmd.IsInstallationCommand())
+
 	cfg := config.Get()
 
 	// Check if dry-run mode is enabled
diff --git a/packagemanager/packagemanager.go b/packagemanager/packagemanager.go
index 5215420..56c38b6 100644
--- a/packagemanager/packagemanager.go
+++ b/packagemanager/packagemanager.go
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ type ParsedCommand struct {
 	ManifestFiles []string
 }
 
+// IsInstallationCommand returns true if command installs packages (explicit targets or from manifest).
+func (pc *ParsedCommand) IsInstallationCommand() bool {
+	return pc.HasInstallTarget() || pc.HasManifestInstall()
+}
+
 func (pc *ParsedCommand) HasInstallTarget() bool {
 	return len(pc.InstallTargets) > 0
 }