diff --git a/tests/tools/test_completed_process_results.py b/tests/tools/test_completed_process_results.py
index 4048d8c069..01b6b99dc2 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_completed_process_results.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_completed_process_results.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ def test_headless_terminal_result_survives_cli_exit(tmp_path):
         print("review stderr", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(7)
     '''), encoding="utf-8")
-    argv = [sys.executable, str(child), str(release)]
-    command = subprocess.list2cmdline(argv) if os.name == "nt" else shlex.join(argv)
+    # The local terminal backend uses bash, including Git Bash on Windows.
+    command = shlex.join(path.as_posix() for path in (Path(sys.executable), child, release))
     observed = []
 
     class Provider(http.server.BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def test_headless_terminal_result_survives_cli_exit(tmp_path):
 
     recovered = read_result(home)
     assert recovered["result"]["status"] == "exited", recovered
-    assert recovered["status"]["exit_code"] == 7
+    assert recovered["status"]["exit_code"] == 7, recovered
     assert "SYNTHETIC_REVIEW_COMPLETE" in recovered["result"]["output"]
     assert "review stderr" in recovered["result"]["output"]
     assert recovered["replayed"] is False
@@ -171,8 +171,10 @@ def test_receipts_are_bounded_redacted_and_session_scoped(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
     recovered = fresh.get(sessions[-1].id)
     assert recovered.owner_task_id == sessions[-1].owner_task_id
     assert len(recovered.output_buffer) <= MAX_OUTPUT_CHARS
-    assert [s["session_id"] for s in fresh.list_sessions(task_id="owner-2")] == [recovered.id]
-    assert fresh.list_sessions(task_id="unrelated", session_key="unrelated") == []
+    assert fresh.list_sessions() == []  # Status/liveness scans stay in memory.
+    assert [s["session_id"] for s in fresh.list_sessions(
+        task_id="owner-2", include_retained=True)] == [recovered.id]
+    assert fresh.list_sessions(task_id="unrelated", session_key="unrelated", include_retained=True) == []
     assert fresh.get("proc_0000") is None  # Ambiguous across durable results.
     assert fresh.completion_queue.empty()
     for path in paths:
diff --git a/tools/process_registry.py b/tools/process_registry.py
index af8de52f29..222326d78d 100644
--- a/tools/process_registry.py
+++ b/tools/process_registry.py
@@ -1781,7 +1781,7 @@ class ProcessRegistry(ProcessCheckpointMixin):
         """O(1) running count for status-bar polling; dict ``len()`` is atomic, no lock."""
         return len(self._running)
 
-    def list_sessions(self, task_id: str = None, session_key: str = None) -> list:
+    def list_sessions(self, task_id: str = None, session_key: str = None, *, include_retained: bool = False) -> list:
         """Running and recently-finished processes for ``task_id`` and/or ``session_key``;
         cross-task entries sharing the gateway session (a forgotten preview server
         blocking session reset) are flagged ``"session_scoped": true``.
@@ -1791,7 +1791,9 @@ class ProcessRegistry(ProcessCheckpointMixin):
         surfaced too, even if they belong to a different task — so the agent can discover a forgotten
         preview server that is blocking session reset (#29177).
         """
-        sessions = load_completed_results()
+        # Only an explicit tool query reads historical receipts. Status bars and
+        # gateway liveness scans call this frequently and need the live registry.
+        sessions = load_completed_results() if include_retained else {}
         with self._lock:
             sessions.update(self._finished)
             sessions.update(self._running)
@@ -1995,7 +1997,8 @@ def _list_processes(task_id) -> dict:
         session_key = get_current_session_key(default="") or ""
     return {"processes": [
         _redact_process_result(p)
-        for p in process_registry.list_sessions(task_id=task_id, session_key=session_key or None)]}
+        for p in process_registry.list_sessions(
+            task_id=task_id, session_key=session_key or None, include_retained=True)]}
 
 
 # action -> (handler(session_id, args) -> dict, redact output?). Output-bearing