diff --git a/src/subconscious/hook.rs b/src/subconscious/hook.rs
index 24e7f38..89aac4e 100644
--- a/src/subconscious/hook.rs
+++ b/src/subconscious/hook.rs
@@ -206,6 +206,10 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
         }
     }
 
+    fn agent_running(&self, name: &str) -> bool {
+        self.agents.iter().any(|a| a.name == name && a.child.is_some())
+    }
+
     fn agent_spawned(&mut self, name: &str, phase: &str,
                       result: crate::agents::knowledge::SpawnResult) {
         if let Some(agent) = self.agents.iter_mut().find(|a| a.name == name) {
@@ -306,15 +310,6 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
             .and_then(|s| s.trim().parse().ok())
             .unwrap_or(0);
 
-        let timeout = crate::config::get()
-            .surface_timeout_secs
-            .unwrap_or(300) as u64;
-
-        let live = crate::agents::knowledge::scan_pid_files(&state_dir, timeout);
-        for (phase, pid) in &live {
-            self.log(format_args!("alive pid-{}: phase={}\n", pid, phase));
-        }
-
         // Read surfaced keys
         let mut surfaced_keys = Vec::new();
         let surface_path = state_dir.join("surface");
@@ -337,12 +332,10 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
             fs::remove_file(&surface_path).ok();
         }
 
-        // Spawn new agent if needed
-        let live = crate::agents::knowledge::scan_pid_files(&state_dir, timeout);
-        let any_in_surface = live.iter().any(|(p, _)| p == "surface");
-
-        if any_in_surface {
-            self.log(format_args!("agent in surface phase, waiting\n"));
+        // Spawn new agent if not already running
+        let running = self.agent_running("surface-observe");
+        if running {
+            self.log(format_args!("surface-observe already running\n"));
         } else {
             if transcript.size > 0 {
                 fs::write(&offset_path, transcript.size.to_string()).ok();
@@ -358,7 +351,7 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
         let mut sleep_secs = None;
         let conversation_budget: u64 = 50_000;
 
-        if !live.is_empty() && transcript.size > 0 {
+        if running && transcript.size > 0 {
             let behind = transcript.size.saturating_sub(last_offset);
 
             if behind > conversation_budget / 2 {
@@ -367,8 +360,8 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
 
                 for _ in 0..5 {
                     std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1));
-                    let still_live = crate::agents::knowledge::scan_pid_files(&state_dir, timeout);
-                    if still_live.is_empty() { break; }
+                    self.poll_children();
+                    if !self.agent_running("surface-observe") { break; }
                 }
 
                 let secs = (Instant::now() - sleep_start).as_secs_f64();
@@ -394,9 +387,8 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
             return None;
         }
 
-        let live = crate::agents::knowledge::scan_pid_files(&state_dir, 300);
-        if let Some((phase, pid)) = live.first() {
-            self.log(format_args!("reflect: already running pid {}\n", pid));
+        if self.agent_running("reflect") {
+            self.log(format_args!("reflect: already running\n"));
             return None;
         }
 
@@ -438,9 +430,8 @@ impl AgentCycleState {
             return;
         }
 
-        let live = crate::agents::knowledge::scan_pid_files(&state_dir, 300);
-        if let Some((phase, pid)) = live.first() {
-            self.log(format_args!("journal: already running pid {}\n", pid));
+        if self.agent_running("journal") {
+            self.log(format_args!("journal: already running\n"));
             return;
         }