diff --git a/tests/cron/test_atomic_paused_creation.py b/tests/cron/test_atomic_paused_creation.py
index 24dd3d9503..06c14106f0 100644
--- a/tests/cron/test_atomic_paused_creation.py
+++ b/tests/cron/test_atomic_paused_creation.py
@@ -46,3 +46,10 @@ def test_invalid_creation_is_rejected_without_writes(tmp_path):
                 "action": "create", "schedule": "every 1h", "prompt": "invalid", **flags}))
             assert result["success"] is False, (flags, result)
             assert jobs.load_jobs() == []
+        from types import SimpleNamespace
+        from hermes_cli.main import cmd_cron
+
+        args = SimpleNamespace(cron_command="create", schedule="every 1h", prompt="invalid",
+                               paused=False, paused_reason="orphan")
+        assert cmd_cron(args) == 1
+        assert jobs.load_jobs() == []