diff --git a/internal/components/engram/download.go b/internal/components/engram/download.go
index e1bacca6e..d4f353392 100644
--- a/internal/components/engram/download.go
+++ b/internal/components/engram/download.go
@@ -605,6 +605,7 @@ if ($procs) {
         Write-Output "WARNING: $($remaining.Count) engram process(es) could not be stopped (access denied or still running). The upgrade may fail if the file is still locked."
     }
 }
+exit 0
 `
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/components/engram/download_test.go b/internal/components/engram/download_test.go
index 8c936a49a..1676d1366 100644
--- a/internal/components/engram/download_test.go
+++ b/internal/components/engram/download_test.go
@@ -1280,4 +1280,10 @@ func TestEngramStopScriptIsDefensive(t *testing.T) {
 	if strings.Contains(script, "Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction Stop") {
 		t.Errorf("stop script must not use -ErrorAction Stop on Stop-Process (reintroduces issue #815/#850)\nscript:\n%s", script)
 	}
+
+	// The clean/no-process path must report success explicitly, regardless of any
+	// PowerShell status left behind by defensive no-op commands.
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(strings.TrimSpace(script), "exit 0") {
+		t.Errorf("stop script must explicitly exit 0 on the clean/no-process path\nscript:\n%s", script)
+	}
 }