diff --git a/k8s/apps/agent-pod/coordinator-configmap.yaml b/k8s/apps/agent-pod/coordinator-configmap.yaml
index 6634187..2e99b6a 100644
--- a/k8s/apps/agent-pod/coordinator-configmap.yaml
+++ b/k8s/apps/agent-pod/coordinator-configmap.yaml
@@ -810,12 +810,18 @@ data:
           "usage: coordinator.js --repo <url> [--tasks T0.1,T0.2;T1.1,T1.2,...] [--base main] [--branch <name>]\n" +
             "  --tasks omitted: discovers phases from the cloned repo's own tasks/INDEX.md"
         );
-        process.exit(1);
+        // process.exitCode + natural exit, not process.exit() -- stdout piped
+        // through kubectl exec (not a TTY) can drop buffered console.log/
+        // console.error output if the process exits before it flushes. Setting
+        // exitCode and letting the event loop drain naturally is the
+        // documented-safe way to exit with a specific code without racing it.
+        process.exitCode = 1;
+        return;
       }
       const phases = opts.tasks ? opts.tasks.split(";").map((phase) => phase.split(",")) : null;
       const pipelineId = require("node:crypto").randomUUID();
       const result = await runPipeline({ pipelineId, repo: opts.repo, baseBranch: opts.base, tasks: phases, branchName: opts.branch });
-      process.exit(result.status === "completed" ? 0 : 1);
+      process.exitCode = result.status === "completed" ? 0 : 1;
     }
     
     if (require.main === module) {