diff --git a/tests/install/e2e-assets/drive-update.cjs b/tests/install/e2e-assets/drive-update.cjs
index 86d6969636..4cf46af66e 100644
--- a/tests/install/e2e-assets/drive-update.cjs
+++ b/tests/install/e2e-assets/drive-update.cjs
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 const path = require('node:path')
 const fs = require('node:fs')
 
+// Capture Playwright's native process teardown in disposable CI evidence.
+if (process.env.GITHUB_ACTIONS === 'true') process.env.DEBUG = 'pw:browser'
 const { _electron } = require('@playwright/test')
 const { prepareWindowForInput } = require('./window-input.cjs')
 const { observeProcessClose } = require('./process-close.cjs')
@@ -95,6 +97,8 @@ async function main() {
     timeout: 120_000
   })
   const child = app.process()
+  child.on('exit', (code, signal) => log(`launch process exit code=${code} signal=${signal}`))
+  child.on('close', (code, signal) => log(`launch process close code=${code} signal=${signal}`))
   const waitForProcessClose = observeProcessClose(child)
   log(`launched Electron pid=${child.pid}`)
 
@@ -322,7 +326,12 @@ async function main() {
 
   // A marker appears before Electron exits. Exiting this driver at that point
   // lets Playwright taskkill the entire tree, including the detached updater.
-  await waitForProcessClose()
+  try {
+    await waitForProcessClose()
+  } catch (error) {
+    log(`launch process state: exitCode=${child.exitCode} signalCode=${child.signalCode} killed=${child.killed}`)
+    throw error
+  }
   log('Electron process closed — detached updater owns the rest')
 }