diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 3b6fa718d..2be5f486b 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -2687,8 +2687,9 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                 except Exception as _e:
                     logger.debug("SessionDB close error: %s", _e)
 
-            from gateway.status import remove_pid_file
+            from gateway.status import remove_pid_file, release_gateway_runtime_lock
             remove_pid_file()
+            release_gateway_runtime_lock()
 
             # Write a clean-shutdown marker so the next startup knows this
             # wasn't a crash.  suspend_recently_active() only needs to run
@@ -10845,7 +10846,13 @@ async def start_gateway(config: Optional[GatewayConfig] = None, replace: bool =
     # The PID file is scoped to HERMES_HOME, so future multi-profile
     # setups (each profile using a distinct HERMES_HOME) will naturally
     # allow concurrent instances without tripping this guard.
-    from gateway.status import get_running_pid, remove_pid_file, terminate_pid
+    from gateway.status import (
+        acquire_gateway_runtime_lock,
+        get_running_pid,
+        release_gateway_runtime_lock,
+        remove_pid_file,
+        terminate_pid,
+    )
     existing_pid = get_running_pid()
     if existing_pid is not None and existing_pid != os.getpid():
         if replace:
@@ -11058,14 +11065,21 @@ async def start_gateway(config: Optional[GatewayConfig] = None, replace: bool =
             "Exiting to avoid double-running.", _current_pid
         )
         return False
+    if not acquire_gateway_runtime_lock():
+        logger.error(
+            "Gateway runtime lock is already held by another instance. Exiting."
+        )
+        return False
     try:
         write_pid_file()
     except FileExistsError:
+        release_gateway_runtime_lock()
         logger.error(
             "PID file race lost to another gateway instance. Exiting."
         )
         return False
     atexit.register(remove_pid_file)
+    atexit.register(release_gateway_runtime_lock)
 
     # Start the gateway
     success = await runner.start()
diff --git a/gateway/status.py b/gateway/status.py
index 74763332c..5682bfc02 100644
--- a/gateway/status.py
+++ b/gateway/status.py
@@ -22,11 +22,18 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
 from typing import Any, Optional
 
+if sys.platform == "win32":
+    import msvcrt
+else:
+    import fcntl
+
 _GATEWAY_KIND = "hermes-gateway"
 _RUNTIME_STATUS_FILE = "gateway_state.json"
 _LOCKS_DIRNAME = "gateway-locks"
 _IS_WINDOWS = sys.platform == "win32"
 _UNSET = object()
+_GATEWAY_LOCK_FILENAME = "gateway.lock"
+_gateway_lock_handle = None
 
 
 def _get_pid_path() -> Path:
@@ -35,6 +42,14 @@ def _get_pid_path() -> Path:
     return home / "gateway.pid"
 
 
+def _get_gateway_lock_path(pid_path: Optional[Path] = None) -> Path:
+    """Return the path to the runtime gateway lock file."""
+    if pid_path is not None:
+        return pid_path.with_name(_GATEWAY_LOCK_FILENAME)
+    home = get_hermes_home()
+    return home / _GATEWAY_LOCK_FILENAME
+
+
 def _get_runtime_status_path() -> Path:
     """Return the persisted runtime health/status file path."""
     return _get_pid_path().with_name(_RUNTIME_STATUS_FILE)
@@ -212,6 +227,19 @@ def _read_pid_record(pid_path: Optional[Path] = None) -> Optional[dict]:
     return None
 
 
+def _read_gateway_lock_record(lock_path: Optional[Path] = None) -> Optional[dict[str, Any]]:
+    return _read_pid_record(lock_path or _get_gateway_lock_path())
+
+
+def _pid_from_record(record: Optional[dict[str, Any]]) -> Optional[int]:
+    if not record:
+        return None
+    try:
+        return int(record["pid"])
+    except (KeyError, TypeError, ValueError):
+        return None
+
+
 def _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(pid_path: Path, *, cleanup_stale: bool) -> None:
     if not cleanup_stale:
         return
@@ -224,6 +252,102 @@ def _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(pid_path: Path, *, cleanup_stale: bool) -> None:
         pass
 
 
+def _write_gateway_lock_record(handle) -> None:
+    handle.seek(0)
+    handle.truncate()
+    json.dump(_build_pid_record(), handle)
+    handle.flush()
+    try:
+        os.fsync(handle.fileno())
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+
+
+def _try_acquire_file_lock(handle) -> bool:
+    try:
+        if _IS_WINDOWS:
+            handle.seek(0, os.SEEK_END)
+            if handle.tell() == 0:
+                handle.write("\n")
+                handle.flush()
+            handle.seek(0)
+            msvcrt.locking(handle.fileno(), msvcrt.LK_NBLCK, 1)
+        else:
+            fcntl.flock(handle.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
+        return True
+    except (BlockingIOError, OSError):
+        return False
+
+
+def _release_file_lock(handle) -> None:
+    try:
+        if _IS_WINDOWS:
+            handle.seek(0)
+            msvcrt.locking(handle.fileno(), msvcrt.LK_UNLCK, 1)
+        else:
+            fcntl.flock(handle.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_UN)
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+
+
+def acquire_gateway_runtime_lock() -> bool:
+    """Claim the cross-process runtime lock for the gateway.
+
+    Unlike the PID file, the lock is owned by the live process itself. If the
+    process dies abruptly, the OS releases the lock automatically.
+    """
+    global _gateway_lock_handle
+    if _gateway_lock_handle is not None:
+        return True
+
+    path = _get_gateway_lock_path()
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    handle = open(path, "a+", encoding="utf-8")
+    if not _try_acquire_file_lock(handle):
+        handle.close()
+        return False
+    _write_gateway_lock_record(handle)
+    _gateway_lock_handle = handle
+    return True
+
+
+def release_gateway_runtime_lock() -> None:
+    """Release the gateway runtime lock when owned by this process."""
+    global _gateway_lock_handle
+    handle = _gateway_lock_handle
+    if handle is None:
+        return
+    _gateway_lock_handle = None
+    _release_file_lock(handle)
+    try:
+        handle.close()
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+
+
+def is_gateway_runtime_lock_active(lock_path: Optional[Path] = None) -> bool:
+    """Return True when some process currently owns the gateway runtime lock."""
+    global _gateway_lock_handle
+    resolved_lock_path = lock_path or _get_gateway_lock_path()
+    if _gateway_lock_handle is not None and resolved_lock_path == _get_gateway_lock_path():
+        return True
+
+    if not resolved_lock_path.exists():
+        return False
+
+    handle = open(resolved_lock_path, "a+", encoding="utf-8")
+    try:
+        if _try_acquire_file_lock(handle):
+            _release_file_lock(handle)
+            return False
+        return True
+    finally:
+        try:
+            handle.close()
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+
+
 def write_pid_file() -> None:
     """Write the current process PID and metadata to the gateway PID file.
 
@@ -583,35 +707,42 @@ def get_running_pid(
     Cleans up stale PID files automatically.
     """
     resolved_pid_path = pid_path or _get_pid_path()
-    record = _read_pid_record(resolved_pid_path)
-    if not record:
+    resolved_lock_path = _get_gateway_lock_path(resolved_pid_path)
+    lock_active = is_gateway_runtime_lock_active(resolved_lock_path)
+    if not lock_active:
         _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(resolved_pid_path, cleanup_stale=cleanup_stale)
         return None
 
-    try:
-        pid = int(record["pid"])
-    except (KeyError, TypeError, ValueError):
-        _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(resolved_pid_path, cleanup_stale=cleanup_stale)
-        return None
+    primary_record = _read_pid_record(resolved_pid_path)
+    fallback_record = _read_gateway_lock_record(resolved_lock_path)
 
-    try:
-        os.kill(pid, 0)  # signal 0 = existence check, no actual signal sent
-    except (ProcessLookupError, PermissionError):
-        _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(resolved_pid_path, cleanup_stale=cleanup_stale)
-        return None
+    for record in (primary_record, fallback_record):
+        pid = _pid_from_record(record)
+        if pid is None:
+            continue
 
-    recorded_start = record.get("start_time")
-    current_start = _get_process_start_time(pid)
-    if recorded_start is not None and current_start is not None and current_start != recorded_start:
-        _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(resolved_pid_path, cleanup_stale=cleanup_stale)
-        return None
+        try:
+            os.kill(pid, 0)  # signal 0 = existence check, no actual signal sent
+        except ProcessLookupError:
+            continue
+        except PermissionError:
+            # The process exists but belongs to another user/service scope.
+            # With the runtime lock still held, prefer keeping it visible
+            # rather than deleting the PID file as "stale".
+            if _record_looks_like_gateway(record):
+                return pid
+            continue
 
-    if not _looks_like_gateway_process(pid):
-        if not _record_looks_like_gateway(record):
-            _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(resolved_pid_path, cleanup_stale=cleanup_stale)
-            return None
+        recorded_start = record.get("start_time")
+        current_start = _get_process_start_time(pid)
+        if recorded_start is not None and current_start is not None and current_start != recorded_start:
+            continue
 
-    return pid
+        if _looks_like_gateway_process(pid) or _record_looks_like_gateway(record):
+            return pid
+
+    _cleanup_invalid_pid_path(resolved_pid_path, cleanup_stale=cleanup_stale)
+    return None
 
 
 def is_gateway_running(
diff --git a/hermes_cli/gateway.py b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
index 59bd37d11..8b360087c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/gateway.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
@@ -333,6 +333,147 @@ def _probe_systemd_service_running(system: bool = False) -> tuple[bool, bool]:
     return selected_system, result.stdout.strip() == "active"
 
 
+def _read_systemd_unit_properties(
+    system: bool = False,
+    properties: tuple[str, ...] = (
+        "ActiveState",
+        "SubState",
+        "Result",
+        "ExecMainStatus",
+    ),
+) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Return selected ``systemctl show`` properties for the gateway unit."""
+    selected_system = _select_systemd_scope(system)
+    try:
+        result = _run_systemctl(
+            [
+                "show",
+                get_service_name(),
+                "--no-pager",
+                "--property",
+                ",".join(properties),
+            ],
+            system=selected_system,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            timeout=10,
+        )
+    except (RuntimeError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired, OSError):
+        return {}
+
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        return {}
+
+    parsed: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for line in result.stdout.splitlines():
+        if "=" not in line:
+            continue
+        key, value = line.split("=", 1)
+        parsed[key] = value.strip()
+    return parsed
+
+
+def _wait_for_systemd_service_restart(
+    *,
+    system: bool = False,
+    previous_pid: int | None = None,
+    timeout: float = 60.0,
+) -> bool:
+    """Wait for the gateway service to become active after a restart handoff."""
+    import time
+
+    svc = get_service_name()
+    scope_label = _service_scope_label(system).capitalize()
+    deadline = time.time() + timeout
+
+    while time.time() < deadline:
+        props = _read_systemd_unit_properties(system=system)
+        active_state = props.get("ActiveState", "")
+        sub_state = props.get("SubState", "")
+        new_pid = None
+        try:
+            from gateway.status import get_running_pid
+
+            new_pid = get_running_pid()
+        except Exception:
+            new_pid = None
+
+        if active_state == "active":
+            if new_pid and (previous_pid is None or new_pid != previous_pid):
+                print(f"✓ {scope_label} service restarted (PID {new_pid})")
+                return True
+            if previous_pid is None:
+                print(f"✓ {scope_label} service restarted")
+                return True
+
+        if active_state == "activating" and sub_state == "auto-restart":
+            time.sleep(1)
+            continue
+
+        time.sleep(2)
+
+    print(
+        f"⚠ {scope_label} service did not become active within {int(timeout)}s.\n"
+        f"  Check status: {'sudo ' if system else ''}hermes gateway status\n"
+        f"  Check logs:   journalctl {'--user ' if not system else ''}-u {svc} -l --since '2 min ago'"
+    )
+    return False
+
+
+def _recover_pending_systemd_restart(system: bool = False, previous_pid: int | None = None) -> bool:
+    """Recover a planned service restart that is stuck in systemd state."""
+    props = _read_systemd_unit_properties(system=system)
+    if not props:
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        from gateway.status import read_runtime_status
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+    runtime_state = read_runtime_status() or {}
+    if not runtime_state.get("restart_requested"):
+        return False
+
+    active_state = props.get("ActiveState", "")
+    sub_state = props.get("SubState", "")
+    exec_main_status = props.get("ExecMainStatus", "")
+    result = props.get("Result", "")
+
+    if active_state == "activating" and sub_state == "auto-restart":
+        print("⏳ Service restart already pending — waiting for systemd relaunch...")
+        return _wait_for_systemd_service_restart(
+            system=system,
+            previous_pid=previous_pid,
+        )
+
+    if active_state == "failed" and (
+        exec_main_status == str(GATEWAY_SERVICE_RESTART_EXIT_CODE)
+        or result == "exit-code"
+    ):
+        svc = get_service_name()
+        scope_label = _service_scope_label(system).capitalize()
+        print(f"↻ Clearing failed state for pending {scope_label.lower()} service restart...")
+        _run_systemctl(
+            ["reset-failed", svc],
+            system=system,
+            check=False,
+            timeout=30,
+        )
+        _run_systemctl(
+            ["start", svc],
+            system=system,
+            check=False,
+            timeout=90,
+        )
+        return _wait_for_systemd_service_restart(
+            system=system,
+            previous_pid=previous_pid,
+        )
+
+    return False
+
+
 def _probe_launchd_service_running() -> bool:
     if not get_launchd_plist_path().exists():
         return False
@@ -470,7 +611,8 @@ def stop_profile_gateway() -> bool:
         except (ProcessLookupError, PermissionError):
             break
 
-    remove_pid_file()
+    if get_running_pid() is None:
+        remove_pid_file()
     return True
 
 
@@ -1505,14 +1647,9 @@ def systemd_restart(system: bool = False):
 
     pid = get_running_pid()
     if pid is not None and _request_gateway_self_restart(pid):
-        # SIGUSR1 sent — the gateway will drain active agents, exit with
-        # code 75, and systemd will restart it after RestartSec (30s).
-        # Wait for the old process to die and the new one to become active
-        # so the CLI doesn't return while the service is still restarting.
         import time
         scope_label = _service_scope_label(system).capitalize()
         svc = get_service_name()
-        scope_cmd = _systemctl_cmd(system)
 
         # Phase 1: wait for old process to exit (drain + shutdown)
         print(f"⏳ {scope_label} service draining active work...")
@@ -1526,48 +1663,41 @@ def systemd_restart(system: bool = False):
         else:
             print(f"⚠ Old process (PID {pid}) still alive after 90s")
 
-        # Phase 2: wait for systemd to start the new process
-        print(f"⏳ Waiting for {svc} to restart...")
-        deadline = time.time() + 60
-        while time.time() < deadline:
-            try:
-                result = subprocess.run(
-                    scope_cmd + ["is-active", svc],
-                    capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
-                )
-                if result.stdout.strip() == "active":
-                    # Verify it's a NEW process, not the old one somehow
-                    new_pid = get_running_pid()
-                    if new_pid and new_pid != pid:
-                        print(f"✓ {scope_label} service restarted (PID {new_pid})")
-                        return
-            except (subprocess.TimeoutExpired, FileNotFoundError):
-                pass
-            time.sleep(2)
-
-        # Timed out — check final state
-        try:
-            result = subprocess.run(
-                scope_cmd + ["is-active", svc],
-                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
-            )
-            if result.stdout.strip() == "active":
-                print(f"✓ {scope_label} service restarted")
-                return
-        except Exception:
-            pass
-        print(
-            f"⚠ {scope_label} service did not become active within 60s.\n"
-            f"  Check status: {'sudo ' if system else ''}hermes gateway status\n"
-            f"  Check logs:   journalctl {'--user ' if not system else ''}-u {svc} --since '2 min ago'"
+        # The gateway exits with code 75 for a planned service restart.
+        # systemd can sit in the RestartSec window or even wedge itself into a
+        # failed/rate-limited state if the operator asks for another restart in
+        # the middle of that handoff. Clear any stale failed state and kick the
+        # unit immediately so `hermes gateway restart` behaves idempotently.
+        _run_systemctl(
+            ["reset-failed", svc],
+            system=system,
+            check=False,
+            timeout=30,
         )
+        _run_systemctl(
+            ["start", svc],
+            system=system,
+            check=False,
+            timeout=90,
+        )
+        _wait_for_systemd_service_restart(system=system, previous_pid=pid)
         return
+
+    if _recover_pending_systemd_restart(system=system, previous_pid=pid):
+        return
+
+    _run_systemctl(
+        ["reset-failed", get_service_name()],
+        system=system,
+        check=False,
+        timeout=30,
+    )
     _run_systemctl(["reload-or-restart", get_service_name()], system=system, check=True, timeout=90)
     print(f"✓ {_service_scope_label(system).capitalize()} service restarted")
 
 
 
-def systemd_status(deep: bool = False, system: bool = False):
+def systemd_status(deep: bool = False, system: bool = False, full: bool = False):
     system = _select_systemd_scope(system)
     unit_path = get_systemd_unit_path(system=system)
     scope_flag = " --system" if system else ""
@@ -1590,8 +1720,12 @@ def systemd_status(deep: bool = False, system: bool = False):
         print(f"  Run: {'sudo ' if system else ''}hermes gateway restart{scope_flag}  # auto-refreshes the unit")
         print()
 
+    status_cmd = ["status", get_service_name(), "--no-pager"]
+    if full:
+        status_cmd.append("-l")
+
     _run_systemctl(
-        ["status", get_service_name(), "--no-pager"],
+        status_cmd,
         system=system,
         capture_output=False,
         timeout=10,
@@ -1624,6 +1758,19 @@ def systemd_status(deep: bool = False, system: bool = False):
         for line in runtime_lines:
             print(f"  {line}")
 
+    unit_props = _read_systemd_unit_properties(system=system)
+    active_state = unit_props.get("ActiveState", "")
+    sub_state = unit_props.get("SubState", "")
+    exec_main_status = unit_props.get("ExecMainStatus", "")
+    result_code = unit_props.get("Result", "")
+    if active_state == "activating" and sub_state == "auto-restart":
+        print("  ⏳ Restart pending: systemd is waiting to relaunch the gateway")
+    elif active_state == "failed" and exec_main_status == str(GATEWAY_SERVICE_RESTART_EXIT_CODE):
+        print("  ⚠ Planned restart is stuck in systemd failed state (exit 75)")
+        print(f"  Run: systemctl {'--user ' if not system else ''}reset-failed {get_service_name()} && {'sudo ' if system else ''}hermes gateway start{scope_flag}")
+    elif active_state == "failed" and result_code:
+        print(f"  ⚠ Systemd unit result: {result_code}")
+
     if system:
         print("✓ System service starts at boot without requiring systemd linger")
     elif deep:
@@ -1639,7 +1786,10 @@ def systemd_status(deep: bool = False, system: bool = False):
     if deep:
         print()
         print("Recent logs:")
-        subprocess.run(_journalctl_cmd(system) + ["-u", get_service_name(), "-n", "20", "--no-pager"], timeout=10)
+        log_cmd = _journalctl_cmd(system) + ["-u", get_service_name(), "-n", "20", "--no-pager"]
+        if full:
+            log_cmd.append("-l")
+        subprocess.run(log_cmd, timeout=10)
 
 
 # =============================================================================
@@ -3762,12 +3912,13 @@ def gateway_command(args):
     
     elif subcmd == "status":
         deep = getattr(args, 'deep', False)
+        full = getattr(args, 'full', False)
         system = getattr(args, 'system', False)
         snapshot = get_gateway_runtime_snapshot(system=system)
         
         # Check for service first
         if supports_systemd_services() and (get_systemd_unit_path(system=False).exists() or get_systemd_unit_path(system=True).exists()):
-            systemd_status(deep, system=system)
+            systemd_status(deep, system=system, full=full)
             _print_gateway_process_mismatch(snapshot)
         elif is_macos() and get_launchd_plist_path().exists():
             launchd_status(deep)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 404e59089..5657e4b5f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -6888,6 +6888,12 @@ For more help on a command:
     # gateway status
     gateway_status = gateway_subparsers.add_parser("status", help="Show gateway status")
     gateway_status.add_argument("--deep", action="store_true", help="Deep status check")
+    gateway_status.add_argument(
+        "-l",
+        "--full",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Show full, untruncated service/log output where supported",
+    )
     gateway_status.add_argument(
         "--system",
         action="store_true",
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_status.py b/tests/gateway/test_status.py
index 6c371cfbe..68445b1cb 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_status.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_status.py
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ class TestGatewayPidState:
         monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_get_process_start_time", lambda pid: 123)
         monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_read_process_cmdline", lambda pid: None)
 
-        assert status.get_running_pid() == os.getpid()
+        assert status.acquire_gateway_runtime_lock() is True
+        try:
+            assert status.get_running_pid() == os.getpid()
+        finally:
+            status.release_gateway_runtime_lock()
 
     def test_get_running_pid_accepts_script_style_gateway_cmdline(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
@@ -85,7 +89,11 @@ class TestGatewayPidState:
             lambda pid: "/venv/bin/python /repo/hermes_cli/main.py gateway run --replace",
         )
 
-        assert status.get_running_pid() == os.getpid()
+        assert status.acquire_gateway_runtime_lock() is True
+        try:
+            assert status.get_running_pid() == os.getpid()
+        finally:
+            status.release_gateway_runtime_lock()
 
     def test_get_running_pid_accepts_explicit_pid_path_without_cleanup(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         other_home = tmp_path / "profile-home"
@@ -102,9 +110,82 @@ class TestGatewayPidState:
         monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_get_process_start_time", lambda pid: 123)
         monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_read_process_cmdline", lambda pid: None)
 
+        lock_path = other_home / "gateway.lock"
+        lock_path.write_text(json.dumps({
+            "pid": os.getpid(),
+            "kind": "hermes-gateway",
+            "argv": ["python", "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "gateway"],
+            "start_time": 123,
+        }))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status, "is_gateway_runtime_lock_active", lambda lock_path=None: True)
+
         assert status.get_running_pid(pid_path, cleanup_stale=False) == os.getpid()
         assert pid_path.exists()
 
+    def test_runtime_lock_claims_and_releases_liveness(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+
+        assert status.is_gateway_runtime_lock_active() is False
+        assert status.acquire_gateway_runtime_lock() is True
+        assert status.is_gateway_runtime_lock_active() is True
+
+        status.release_gateway_runtime_lock()
+
+        assert status.is_gateway_runtime_lock_active() is False
+
+    def test_get_running_pid_treats_pid_file_as_stale_without_runtime_lock(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        pid_path = tmp_path / "gateway.pid"
+        pid_path.write_text(json.dumps({
+            "pid": os.getpid(),
+            "kind": "hermes-gateway",
+            "argv": ["python", "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "gateway"],
+            "start_time": 123,
+        }))
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status.os, "kill", lambda pid, sig: None)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_get_process_start_time", lambda pid: 123)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_read_process_cmdline", lambda pid: None)
+
+        assert status.get_running_pid() is None
+        assert not pid_path.exists()
+
+    def test_get_running_pid_falls_back_to_live_lock_record(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        pid_path = tmp_path / "gateway.pid"
+        pid_path.write_text(json.dumps({
+            "pid": 99999,
+            "kind": "hermes-gateway",
+            "argv": ["python", "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "gateway"],
+            "start_time": 123,
+        }))
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_get_process_start_time", lambda pid: 123)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status, "_read_process_cmdline", lambda pid: None)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            status,
+            "_build_pid_record",
+            lambda: {
+                "pid": os.getpid(),
+                "kind": "hermes-gateway",
+                "argv": ["python", "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "gateway"],
+                "start_time": 123,
+            },
+        )
+        assert status.acquire_gateway_runtime_lock() is True
+
+        def fake_kill(pid, sig):
+            if pid == 99999:
+                raise ProcessLookupError
+            return None
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(status.os, "kill", fake_kill)
+
+        try:
+            assert status.get_running_pid() == os.getpid()
+        finally:
+            status.release_gateway_runtime_lock()
+
 
 class TestGatewayRuntimeStatus:
     def test_write_runtime_status_overwrites_stale_pid_on_restart(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py
index 07265b2c3..9dea51987 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py
@@ -121,6 +121,12 @@ def test_systemd_status_warns_when_linger_disabled(monkeypatch, tmp_path, capsys
             return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
         if cmd[:3] == ["systemctl", "--user", "is-active"]:
             return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="active\n", stderr="")
+        if cmd[:3] == ["systemctl", "--user", "show"]:
+            return SimpleNamespace(
+                returncode=0,
+                stdout="ActiveState=active\nSubState=running\nResult=success\nExecMainStatus=0\n",
+                stderr="",
+            )
         raise AssertionError(f"Unexpected command: {cmd}")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(gateway.subprocess, "run", fake_run)
@@ -352,3 +358,24 @@ class TestWaitForGatewayExit:
 
         assert killed == 2
         assert calls == [(11, True), (22, True)]
+
+
+class TestStopProfileGateway:
+    def test_stop_profile_gateway_keeps_pid_file_when_process_still_running(self, monkeypatch):
+        calls = {"kill": 0, "remove": 0}
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("gateway.status.get_running_pid", lambda: 12345)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway.os,
+            "kill",
+            lambda pid, sig: calls.__setitem__("kill", calls["kill"] + 1),
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setattr("time.sleep", lambda _: None)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "gateway.status.remove_pid_file",
+            lambda: calls.__setitem__("remove", calls["remove"] + 1),
+        )
+
+        assert gateway.stop_profile_gateway() is True
+        assert calls["kill"] == 21
+        assert calls["remove"] == 0
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
index 3c03aab7e..fda893e1e 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ class TestSystemdServiceRefresh:
         gateway_cli.systemd_restart()
 
         assert unit_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == "new unit\n"
-        assert calls[:2] == [
+        assert calls[:4] == [
             ["systemctl", "--user", "daemon-reload"],
+            ["systemctl", "--user", "show", gateway_cli.get_service_name(), "--no-pager", "--property", "ActiveState,SubState,Result,ExecMainStatus"],
+            ["systemctl", "--user", "reset-failed", gateway_cli.get_service_name()],
             ["systemctl", "--user", "reload-or-restart", gateway_cli.get_service_name()],
         ]
 
@@ -474,13 +476,21 @@ class TestGatewaySystemServiceRouting:
                 raise ProcessLookupError()
         monkeypatch.setattr(os, "kill", fake_kill)
 
-        # Simulate systemctl is-active returning "active" with a new PID
+        # Simulate systemctl reset-failed/start followed by an active unit
         new_pid = [None]
         def fake_subprocess_run(cmd, **kwargs):
-            if "is-active" in cmd:
-                result = SimpleNamespace(stdout="active\n", returncode=0)
-                new_pid[0] = 999  # new PID
-                return result
+            if "reset-failed" in cmd:
+                calls.append(("reset-failed", cmd))
+                return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", returncode=0)
+            if "start" in cmd:
+                calls.append(("start", cmd))
+                return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", returncode=0)
+            if "show" in cmd:
+                new_pid[0] = 999
+                return SimpleNamespace(
+                    stdout="ActiveState=active\nSubState=running\nResult=success\nExecMainStatus=0\n",
+                    returncode=0,
+                )
             raise AssertionError(f"Unexpected systemctl call: {cmd}")
 
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli.subprocess, "run", fake_subprocess_run)
@@ -494,9 +504,131 @@ class TestGatewaySystemServiceRouting:
         gateway_cli.systemd_restart()
 
         assert ("self", 654) in calls
+        assert any(call[0] == "reset-failed" for call in calls)
+        assert any(call[0] == "start" for call in calls)
         out = capsys.readouterr().out.lower()
         assert "restarted" in out
 
+    def test_systemd_restart_recovers_failed_planned_restart(self, monkeypatch, capsys):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_select_systemd_scope", lambda system=False: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "refresh_systemd_unit_if_needed", lambda system=False: None)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "gateway.status.read_runtime_status",
+            lambda: {"restart_requested": True, "gateway_state": "stopped"},
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_request_gateway_self_restart", lambda pid: False)
+
+        calls = []
+        started = {"value": False}
+
+        def fake_subprocess_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+            if "show" in cmd:
+                if not started["value"]:
+                    return SimpleNamespace(
+                        stdout=(
+                            "ActiveState=failed\n"
+                            "SubState=failed\n"
+                            "Result=exit-code\n"
+                            f"ExecMainStatus={GATEWAY_SERVICE_RESTART_EXIT_CODE}\n"
+                        ),
+                        returncode=0,
+                    )
+                return SimpleNamespace(
+                    stdout="ActiveState=active\nSubState=running\nResult=success\nExecMainStatus=0\n",
+                    returncode=0,
+                )
+            if "reset-failed" in cmd:
+                calls.append(("reset-failed", cmd))
+                return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", returncode=0)
+            if "start" in cmd:
+                started["value"] = True
+                calls.append(("start", cmd))
+                return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", returncode=0)
+            raise AssertionError(f"Unexpected command: {cmd}")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli.subprocess, "run", fake_subprocess_run)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "gateway.status.get_running_pid",
+            lambda: 999 if started["value"] else None,
+        )
+
+        gateway_cli.systemd_restart()
+
+        assert any(call[0] == "reset-failed" for call in calls)
+        assert any(call[0] == "start" for call in calls)
+        out = capsys.readouterr().out.lower()
+        assert "restarted" in out
+
+    def test_systemd_status_surfaces_planned_restart_failure(self, monkeypatch, capsys):
+        unit = SimpleNamespace(exists=lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_select_systemd_scope", lambda system=False: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "get_systemd_unit_path", lambda system=False: unit)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "has_conflicting_systemd_units", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "has_legacy_hermes_units", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "systemd_unit_is_current", lambda system=False: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_runtime_health_lines", lambda: ["⚠ Last shutdown reason: Gateway restart requested"])
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "get_systemd_linger_status", lambda: (True, ""))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_read_systemd_unit_properties", lambda system=False: {
+            "ActiveState": "failed",
+            "SubState": "failed",
+            "Result": "exit-code",
+            "ExecMainStatus": str(GATEWAY_SERVICE_RESTART_EXIT_CODE),
+        })
+
+        calls = []
+
+        def fake_run_systemctl(args, **kwargs):
+            calls.append(args)
+            if args[:2] == ["status", gateway_cli.get_service_name()]:
+                return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+            if args[:2] == ["is-active", gateway_cli.get_service_name()]:
+                return SimpleNamespace(returncode=3, stdout="failed\n", stderr="")
+            raise AssertionError(f"Unexpected args: {args}")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_run_systemctl", fake_run_systemctl)
+
+        gateway_cli.systemd_status()
+
+        out = capsys.readouterr().out
+        assert "Planned restart is stuck in systemd failed state" in out
+
+    def test_gateway_status_dispatches_full_flag(self, monkeypatch):
+        user_unit = SimpleNamespace(exists=lambda: True)
+        system_unit = SimpleNamespace(exists=lambda: False)
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "supports_systemd_services", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_termux", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_macos", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_cli,
+            "get_systemd_unit_path",
+            lambda system=False: system_unit if system else user_unit,
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_cli,
+            "get_gateway_runtime_snapshot",
+            lambda system=False: gateway_cli.GatewayRuntimeSnapshot(
+                manager="systemd (user)",
+                service_installed=True,
+                service_running=False,
+                gateway_pids=(),
+                service_scope="user",
+            ),
+        )
+
+        calls = []
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_cli,
+            "systemd_status",
+            lambda deep=False, system=False, full=False: calls.append((deep, system, full)),
+        )
+
+        gateway_cli.gateway_command(
+            SimpleNamespace(gateway_command="status", deep=False, system=False, full=True)
+        )
+
+        assert calls == [(False, False, True)]
+
     def test_gateway_install_passes_system_flags(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "supports_systemd_services", lambda: True)
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_termux", lambda: False)
@@ -547,11 +679,15 @@ class TestGatewaySystemServiceRouting:
         )
 
         calls = []
-        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "systemd_status", lambda deep=False, system=False: calls.append((deep, system)))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_cli,
+            "systemd_status",
+            lambda deep=False, system=False, full=False: calls.append((deep, system, full)),
+        )
 
         gateway_cli.gateway_command(SimpleNamespace(gateway_command="status", deep=False, system=False))
 
-        assert calls == [(False, False)]
+        assert calls == [(False, False, False)]
 
     def test_gateway_status_reports_manual_process_when_service_is_stopped(self, monkeypatch, capsys):
         user_unit = SimpleNamespace(exists=lambda: True)
@@ -565,7 +701,11 @@ class TestGatewaySystemServiceRouting:
             "get_systemd_unit_path",
             lambda system=False: system_unit if system else user_unit,
         )
-        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "systemd_status", lambda deep=False, system=False: print("service stopped"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_cli,
+            "systemd_status",
+            lambda deep=False, system=False, full=False: print("service stopped"),
+        )
         monkeypatch.setattr(
             gateway_cli,
             "get_gateway_runtime_snapshot",
@@ -1570,6 +1710,23 @@ class TestMigrateLegacyCommand:
 
         assert called == {"interactive": False, "dry_run": False}
 
+
+class TestGatewayStatusParser:
+    def test_gateway_status_subparser_accepts_full_flag(self):
+        import subprocess
+        import sys
+
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            [sys.executable, "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "gateway", "status", "-l", "--help"],
+            cwd=str(gateway_cli.PROJECT_ROOT),
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            timeout=15,
+        )
+
+        assert result.returncode == 0
+        assert "unrecognized arguments" not in result.stderr
+
     def test_gateway_command_migrate_legacy_dry_run_passes_through(
         self, monkeypatch
     ):