diff --git a/shared/lib/py/pi_rpc.py b/shared/lib/py/pi_rpc.py
index 7e2aed3..a7d8c8f 100644
--- a/shared/lib/py/pi_rpc.py
+++ b/shared/lib/py/pi_rpc.py
@@ -445,7 +445,13 @@ class PiRpcClient:
                             await result
                     except Exception:
                         LOG.exception("on_event callback failed")
-        LOG.warning("pi RPC stdout closed")
+        # EOF: the child died or closed its pipe. Without a sentinel, _consume
+        # would sit on _events.get() until the turn deadline -- a process that
+        # exited at second 3 would be reported as "no reply" at second 180, and a
+        # fallback that launches a fresh pi would hide the death entirely. Put a
+        # sentinel so the waiter fails immediately instead.
+        LOG.warning("pi RPC stdout closed pid=%s rc=%s", self.pid, self._process.returncode)
+        await self._events.put({"type": "_process_exited"})
 
     async def _read_stderr(self) -> None:
         assert self._process and self._process.stderr
@@ -528,6 +534,13 @@ class PiRpcClient:
             event = await self._events.get()
             kind = event.get("type")
 
+            if kind == "_process_exited":
+                rc = self._process.returncode if self._process else None
+                raise PiRpcError(
+                    f"pi process exited (pid={self.pid}, returncode={rc}) while "
+                    f"awaiting {request_id}; stderr tail: {' | '.join(self._stderr_tail[-3:])}"
+                )
+
             if kind == "response" and event.get("id") == request_id:
                 response = event
                 if not wait_for_settled or not event.get("success"):
diff --git a/shared/lib/py/tests/test_pi_rpc_smoke.py b/shared/lib/py/tests/test_pi_rpc_smoke.py
index 2346071..09155d6 100644
--- a/shared/lib/py/tests/test_pi_rpc_smoke.py
+++ b/shared/lib/py/tests/test_pi_rpc_smoke.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
 import os
+import signal
+import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ from dataclasses import replace  # noqa: E402
 import pathlib  # noqa: E402
 import tempfile  # noqa: E402
 
-from pi_rpc import PiLaunchConfig, PiRpcClient  # noqa: E402
+from pi_rpc import PiLaunchConfig, PiRpcClient, PiRpcError  # noqa: E402
 
 REPO = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[4]
 HARNESS = REPO / "docs" / "evidence" / "probe-harness"
@@ -107,6 +109,31 @@ async def main() -> int:
         alive = subprocess.run(["ps", "-p", str(pid)], capture_output=True).returncode == 0
         failures += not check("no orphan process", not alive)
 
+    # A process that dies mid-command must be reported immediately, not at the
+    # turn deadline. Before the sentinel this sat on the event queue for the full
+    # 180 s budget; a fallback that launches a fresh pi then hid the death.
+    print("== process exit is detected immediately ==")
+    client2 = PiRpcClient(cfg)
+    await client2.start()
+    import time as _time
+    try:
+        os.killpg(os.getpgid(client2.pid), signal.SIGKILL)
+        started = _time.monotonic()
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(client2.get_session_stats(), timeout=10)
+            failures += not check("dead process reported", False, "command succeeded after SIGKILL")
+        except PiRpcError:
+            elapsed = _time.monotonic() - started
+            failures += not check("dead process reported promptly", elapsed < 10,
+                                  f"{elapsed:.1f}s (must be well under the 180 s budget)")
+    finally:
+        try:
+            await client2.stop()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    failures += not check("no orphan from killed client", not client2.running)
+
     print()
     print("RESULT:", "all checks passed" if failures == 0 else f"{failures} check(s) failed")
     return 1 if failures else 0