diff --git a/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py b/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py
index 5ef53bd840..e34d7603f0 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py
@@ -459,8 +459,7 @@ def _probe_populated_edge(source: sqlite3.Connection, table: str, *, edge: str,
             span *= 2
             continue
         if row is None:  # nothing beyond candidate: the synthetic domain tail is provably empty
-            result["bound"] = candidate
-            result["capped"] = True
+            result.update(bound=candidate, capped=True)
             return result
         position = int(row[0])  # rows exist beyond; advance. Span never resets -> O(log range)
         span *= 2
@@ -485,9 +484,7 @@ class _RowidRangeSalvage:
         self.stopped_at_query_limit = False
 
     def _keep(self, values: list[tuple[Any, ...]]) -> list[tuple[Any, ...]]:
-        if self.row_filter is None:
-            return values
-        return [row for row in values if self.row_filter(row, self.column_names)]
+        return values if self.row_filter is None else [r for r in values if self.row_filter(r, self.column_names)]
 
     def _skip(self, low: int, high: int, error: str) -> None:
         _append_skipped_range(self.result["skipped_rowid_ranges"], low, high, error)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py b/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py
index 688d39dc42..b19f013730 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py
@@ -150,16 +150,15 @@ class _CursesBrowser:
         c = self.curses
         if self.confirm_delete is not None:  # y/n confirmation mode — only an explicit 'y' deletes
             target, self.confirm_delete = self.confirm_delete, None
-            if key in {ord("y"), ord("Y")}:
-                if self.delete_fn(target["id"]):
-                    self.sessions[:] = [s for s in self.sessions if s["id"] != target["id"]]
-                    self._refilter(reset_cursor=False)
-                    self.flash = "Deleted."
-                    if not self.sessions:
-                        return True
-                else:
-                    self.flash = "Delete failed."
-            return False
+            if key not in {ord("y"), ord("Y")}:
+                return False
+            if not self.delete_fn(target["id"]):
+                self.flash = "Delete failed."
+                return False
+            self.sessions[:] = [s for s in self.sessions if s["id"] != target["id"]]
+            self._refilter(reset_cursor=False)
+            self.flash = "Deleted."
+            return not self.sessions
         if key in (c.KEY_UP, c.KEY_DOWN):
             if self.filtered:
                 self.cursor = (self.cursor + (1 if key == c.KEY_DOWN else -1)) % len(self.filtered)
@@ -167,9 +166,9 @@ class _CursesBrowser:
             if self.filtered:
                 self.result = self.filtered[self.cursor]["id"]
             return True
-        elif key == 27:  # Esc: first clears the search, second exits
-            if not self.search:
-                return True
+        elif key == 27 and not self.search:  # Esc: first clears the search, second exits
+            return True
+        elif key == 27:
             self.search = ""
             self._refilter()
         elif key in {c.KEY_BACKSPACE, 127, 8}: