diff --git a/packages/cli-workflow/src/thread-scan.ts b/packages/cli-workflow/src/thread-scan.ts
index 43aeabd..7b7ef0d 100644
--- a/packages/cli-workflow/src/thread-scan.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-workflow/src/thread-scan.ts
@@ -232,13 +232,15 @@ export async function resolveThreadListStatus(
   }
   // No .running marker + no __end__ + source "active" → check if worker is dead (crashed)
   const ctlResult = await readWorkerCtl(storageRoot, row.hash);
-  if (ctlResult.ok) {
-    try {
-      process.kill(ctlResult.value.pid, 0);
-    } catch {
-      // Worker PID is dead, thread never finished — crashed
-      return "failed";
-    }
+  if (!ctlResult.ok) {
+    // No ctl file means worker never registered or was already cleaned up — dead thread
+    return "failed";
+  }
+  try {
+    process.kill(ctlResult.value.pid, 0);
+  } catch {
+    // Worker PID is dead, thread never finished — crashed
+    return "failed";
   }
   return "active";
 }