diff --git a/src/cron/service.restart-catchup.test.ts b/src/cron/service.restart-catchup.test.ts
index f0c9c3e4dc9..70da886b9a0 100644
--- a/src/cron/service.restart-catchup.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service.restart-catchup.test.ts
@@ -47,326 +47,274 @@ describe("CronService restart catch-up", () => {
     };
   }
 
-  it("executes an overdue recurring job immediately on start", async () => {
+  async function withRestartedCron(
+    jobs: unknown[],
+    run: (params: {
+      cron: CronService;
+      enqueueSystemEvent: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+      requestHeartbeatNow: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+    }) => Promise<void>,
+  ) {
     const store = await makeStorePath();
     const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
     const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
 
+    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, jobs);
+
+    const cron = createRestartCronService({
+      storePath: store.storePath,
+      enqueueSystemEvent,
+      requestHeartbeatNow,
+    });
+
+    try {
+      await cron.start();
+      await run({ cron, enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow });
+    } finally {
+      cron.stop();
+      await store.cleanup();
+    }
+  }
+
+  it("executes an overdue recurring job immediately on start", async () => {
     const dueAt = Date.parse("2025-12-13T15:00:00.000Z");
     const lastRunAt = Date.parse("2025-12-12T15:00:00.000Z");
 
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-overdue-job",
-        name: "daily digest",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-12T15:00:00.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 15 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "digest now" },
-        state: {
-          nextRunAtMs: dueAt,
-          lastRunAtMs: lastRunAt,
-          lastStatus: "ok",
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-overdue-job",
+          name: "daily digest",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-12T15:00:00.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 15 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "digest now" },
+          state: {
+            nextRunAtMs: dueAt,
+            lastRunAtMs: lastRunAt,
+            lastStatus: "ok",
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ cron, enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          "digest now",
+          expect.objectContaining({ agentId: undefined }),
+        );
+        expect(requestHeartbeatNow).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        const listedJobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
+        const updated = listedJobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-overdue-job");
+        expect(updated?.state.lastStatus).toBe("ok");
+        expect(updated?.state.lastRunAtMs).toBe(Date.parse("2025-12-13T17:00:00.000Z"));
+        expect(updated?.state.nextRunAtMs).toBeGreaterThan(Date.parse("2025-12-13T17:00:00.000Z"));
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      "digest now",
-      expect.objectContaining({ agentId: undefined }),
     );
-    expect(requestHeartbeatNow).toHaveBeenCalled();
-
-    const jobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
-    const updated = jobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-overdue-job");
-    expect(updated?.state.lastStatus).toBe("ok");
-    expect(updated?.state.lastRunAtMs).toBe(Date.parse("2025-12-13T17:00:00.000Z"));
-    expect(updated?.state.nextRunAtMs).toBeGreaterThan(Date.parse("2025-12-13T17:00:00.000Z"));
-
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
   });
 
   it("clears stale running markers without replaying interrupted startup jobs", async () => {
-    const store = await makeStorePath();
-    const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
-    const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
-
     const dueAt = Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:00:00.000Z");
     const staleRunningAt = Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:30:00.000Z");
 
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-stale-running",
-        name: "daily stale marker",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:30:00.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 16 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "resume stale marker" },
-        state: {
-          nextRunAtMs: dueAt,
-          runningAtMs: staleRunningAt,
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-stale-running",
+          name: "daily stale marker",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:30:00.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 16 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "resume stale marker" },
+          state: {
+            nextRunAtMs: dueAt,
+            runningAtMs: staleRunningAt,
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ cron, enqueueSystemEvent }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(noopLogger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({ jobId: "restart-stale-running" }),
+          "cron: clearing stale running marker on startup",
+        );
+
+        const listedJobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
+        const updated = listedJobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-stale-running");
+        expect(updated?.state.runningAtMs).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(updated?.state.lastStatus).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(updated?.state.lastRunAtMs).toBeUndefined();
+        expect((updated?.state.nextRunAtMs ?? 0) > Date.parse("2025-12-13T17:00:00.000Z")).toBe(
+          true,
+        );
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(noopLogger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.objectContaining({ jobId: "restart-stale-running" }),
-      "cron: clearing stale running marker on startup",
     );
-
-    const jobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
-    const updated = jobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-stale-running");
-    expect(updated?.state.runningAtMs).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(updated?.state.lastStatus).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(updated?.state.lastRunAtMs).toBeUndefined();
-    expect((updated?.state.nextRunAtMs ?? 0) > Date.parse("2025-12-13T17:00:00.000Z")).toBe(true);
-
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
   });
   it("replays the most recent missed cron slot after restart when nextRunAtMs already advanced", async () => {
     vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2025-12-13T04:02:00.000Z"));
-    const store = await makeStorePath();
-    const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
-    const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
-
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-missed-slot",
-        name: "every ten minutes +1",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "1,11,21,31,41,51 4-20 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "catch missed slot" },
-        state: {
-          // Persisted state may already be recomputed from restart time and
-          // point to the future slot, even though 04:01 was missed.
-          nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:11:00.000Z"),
-          lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T03:51:00.000Z"),
-          lastStatus: "ok",
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-missed-slot",
+          name: "every ten minutes +1",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "1,11,21,31,41,51 4-20 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "catch missed slot" },
+          state: {
+            // Persisted state may already be recomputed from restart time and
+            // point to the future slot, even though 04:01 was missed.
+            nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:11:00.000Z"),
+            lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T03:51:00.000Z"),
+            lastStatus: "ok",
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ cron, enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          "catch missed slot",
+          expect.objectContaining({ agentId: undefined }),
+        );
+        expect(requestHeartbeatNow).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        const listedJobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
+        const updated = listedJobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-missed-slot");
+        expect(updated?.state.lastRunAtMs).toBe(Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:02:00.000Z"));
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      "catch missed slot",
-      expect.objectContaining({ agentId: undefined }),
     );
-    expect(requestHeartbeatNow).toHaveBeenCalled();
-
-    const jobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
-    const updated = jobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-missed-slot");
-    expect(updated?.state.lastRunAtMs).toBe(Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:02:00.000Z"));
-
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
   });
 
   it("does not replay interrupted one-shot jobs on startup", async () => {
-    const store = await makeStorePath();
-    const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
-    const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
-
     const dueAt = Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:00:00.000Z");
     const staleRunningAt = Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:30:00.000Z");
 
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-stale-one-shot",
-        name: "one shot stale marker",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:30:00.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "at", at: "2025-12-13T16:00:00.000Z" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "one-shot stale marker" },
-        state: {
-          nextRunAtMs: dueAt,
-          runningAtMs: staleRunningAt,
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-stale-one-shot",
+          name: "one shot stale marker",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T16:30:00.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "at", at: "2025-12-13T16:00:00.000Z" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "one-shot stale marker" },
+          state: {
+            nextRunAtMs: dueAt,
+            runningAtMs: staleRunningAt,
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ cron, enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(requestHeartbeatNow).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        const listedJobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
+        const updated = listedJobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-stale-one-shot");
+        expect(updated?.state.runningAtMs).toBeUndefined();
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(requestHeartbeatNow).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-
-    const jobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
-    const updated = jobs.find((job) => job.id === "restart-stale-one-shot");
-    expect(updated?.state.runningAtMs).toBeUndefined();
-
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
+    );
   });
 
   it("does not replay cron slot when the latest slot already ran before restart", async () => {
     vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2025-12-13T04:02:00.000Z"));
-    const store = await makeStorePath();
-    const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
-    const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
-
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-no-duplicate-slot",
-        name: "every ten minutes +1 no duplicate",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "1,11,21,31,41,51 4-20 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "already ran" },
-        state: {
-          nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:11:00.000Z"),
-          lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
-          lastStatus: "ok",
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-no-duplicate-slot",
+          name: "every ten minutes +1 no duplicate",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "1,11,21,31,41,51 4-20 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "already ran" },
+          state: {
+            nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:11:00.000Z"),
+            lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
+            lastStatus: "ok",
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(requestHeartbeatNow).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(requestHeartbeatNow).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
+    );
   });
 
   it("does not replay missed cron slots while error backoff is pending after restart", async () => {
     vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2025-12-13T04:02:00.000Z"));
-    const store = await makeStorePath();
-    const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
-    const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
-
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-backoff-pending",
-        name: "backoff pending",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:10.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "* * * * *", tz: "UTC" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "do not run during backoff" },
-        state: {
-          // Next retry is intentionally delayed by backoff despite a newer cron slot.
-          nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:10:00.000Z"),
-          lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
-          lastStatus: "error",
-          consecutiveErrors: 4,
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-backoff-pending",
+          name: "backoff pending",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:10.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "* * * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "do not run during backoff" },
+          state: {
+            // Next retry is intentionally delayed by backoff despite a newer cron slot.
+            nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:10:00.000Z"),
+            lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:00.000Z"),
+            lastStatus: "error",
+            consecutiveErrors: 4,
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(requestHeartbeatNow).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(requestHeartbeatNow).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
+    );
   });
 
   it("replays missed cron slot after restart when error backoff has already elapsed", async () => {
     vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2025-12-13T04:02:00.000Z"));
-    const store = await makeStorePath();
-    const enqueueSystemEvent = vi.fn();
-    const requestHeartbeatNow = vi.fn();
-
-    await writeStoreJobs(store.storePath, [
-      {
-        id: "restart-backoff-elapsed-replay",
-        name: "backoff elapsed replay",
-        enabled: true,
-        createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
-        updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:10.000Z"),
-        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "1,11,21,31,41,51 4-20 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
-        sessionTarget: "main",
-        wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
-        payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "replay after backoff elapsed" },
-        state: {
-          // Startup maintenance may already point to a future slot (04:11) even
-          // though 04:01 was missed and the 30s error backoff has elapsed.
-          nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:11:00.000Z"),
-          lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T03:51:00.000Z"),
-          lastStatus: "error",
-          consecutiveErrors: 1,
+    await withRestartedCron(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "restart-backoff-elapsed-replay",
+          name: "backoff elapsed replay",
+          enabled: true,
+          createdAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-10T12:00:00.000Z"),
+          updatedAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:01:10.000Z"),
+          schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "1,11,21,31,41,51 4-20 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+          sessionTarget: "main",
+          wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+          payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "replay after backoff elapsed" },
+          state: {
+            // Startup maintenance may already point to a future slot (04:11) even
+            // though 04:01 was missed and the 30s error backoff has elapsed.
+            nextRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T04:11:00.000Z"),
+            lastRunAtMs: Date.parse("2025-12-13T03:51:00.000Z"),
+            lastStatus: "error",
+            consecutiveErrors: 1,
+          },
         },
+      ],
+      async ({ enqueueSystemEvent, requestHeartbeatNow }) => {
+        expect(enqueueSystemEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          "replay after backoff elapsed",
+          expect.objectContaining({ agentId: undefined }),
+        );
+        expect(requestHeartbeatNow).toHaveBeenCalled();
       },
-    ]);
-
-    const cron = createRestartCronService({
-      storePath: store.storePath,
-      enqueueSystemEvent,
-      requestHeartbeatNow,
-    });
-
-    await cron.start();
-
-    expect(enqueueSystemEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      "replay after backoff elapsed",
-      expect.objectContaining({ agentId: undefined }),
     );
-    expect(requestHeartbeatNow).toHaveBeenCalled();
-
-    cron.stop();
-    await store.cleanup();
   });
 
   it("reschedules deferred missed jobs from the post-catchup clock so they stay in the future", async () => {