diff --git a/code_review_graph/daemon.py b/code_review_graph/daemon.py
index cdbdd543..36db7a84 100644
--- a/code_review_graph/daemon.py
+++ b/code_review_graph/daemon.py
@@ -316,8 +316,10 @@ def clear_pid(path: Path | None = None) -> None:
 
 # Win32 constants for the OpenProcess-based liveness check (#511).
 _PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION = 0x1000
+_SYNCHRONIZE = 0x00100000
 _ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED = 5
 _WAIT_OBJECT_0 = 0x0
+_WAIT_FAILED = 0xFFFFFFFF
 
 
 def _pid_alive_windows(
@@ -327,6 +329,11 @@ def _pid_alive_windows(
 ) -> bool:
     """Win32 PID liveness check via OpenProcess/WaitForSingleObject.
 
+    The access mask must include SYNCHRONIZE: a handle opened with only
+    PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION cannot be waited on, so
+    WaitForSingleObject returns WAIT_FAILED (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED) and
+    every exited process reads as alive.
+
     The kernel32 interface is injected so tests can drive handle/wait
     outcomes on non-Windows platforms. *get_last_error* defaults to
     ``kernel32.GetLastError``; the real caller passes
@@ -334,14 +341,24 @@ def _pid_alive_windows(
     """
     if get_last_error is None:
         get_last_error = kernel32.GetLastError
-    handle = kernel32.OpenProcess(_PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION, False, pid)
+    handle = kernel32.OpenProcess(_PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION | _SYNCHRONIZE, False, pid)
     if not handle:
         # NULL handle: process is dead, or we lack access. ACCESS_DENIED
         # means it exists but is owned by another user — treat as alive.
         return get_last_error() == _ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED
     try:
+        result = kernel32.WaitForSingleObject(handle, 0)
+        if result == _WAIT_FAILED:
+            # The wait itself errored — we cannot prove the process dead,
+            # so err alive, consistent with the ACCESS_DENIED branch.
+            logger.debug(
+                "WaitForSingleObject on PID %d failed (error %d); presuming alive",
+                pid,
+                get_last_error(),
+            )
+            return True
         # WAIT_OBJECT_0 means the process handle is signaled (it exited).
-        return kernel32.WaitForSingleObject(handle, 0) != _WAIT_OBJECT_0
+        return result != _WAIT_OBJECT_0
     finally:
         kernel32.CloseHandle(handle)
 
@@ -355,8 +372,18 @@ def pid_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
     """
     if sys.platform == "win32":
         import ctypes
+        from ctypes import wintypes
 
         kernel32 = ctypes.WinDLL("kernel32", use_last_error=True)
+        # Explicit prototypes: ctypes otherwise defaults every argument and
+        # return value to c_int, which truncates 64-bit HANDLEs and returns
+        # WAIT_FAILED as -1 — never equal to the unsigned 0xFFFFFFFF constant.
+        kernel32.OpenProcess.argtypes = (wintypes.DWORD, wintypes.BOOL, wintypes.DWORD)
+        kernel32.OpenProcess.restype = wintypes.HANDLE
+        kernel32.WaitForSingleObject.argtypes = (wintypes.HANDLE, wintypes.DWORD)
+        kernel32.WaitForSingleObject.restype = wintypes.DWORD
+        kernel32.CloseHandle.argtypes = (wintypes.HANDLE,)
+        kernel32.CloseHandle.restype = wintypes.BOOL
         return _pid_alive_windows(pid, kernel32, ctypes.get_last_error)
     try:
         os.kill(pid, 0)  # signal 0 = existence check
diff --git a/tests/test_daemon.py b/tests/test_daemon.py
index 61f5139b..0c3a19fb 100644
--- a/tests/test_daemon.py
+++ b/tests/test_daemon.py
@@ -379,8 +379,8 @@ def test_alive_when_wait_times_out(self):
 
         kernel32 = _FakeKernel32(handle=1234, wait_result=0x102)
         assert _pid_alive_windows(4242, kernel32) is True
-        # PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION, no inherit, the pid
-        assert kernel32.open_calls == [(0x1000, False, 4242)]
+        # PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION | SYNCHRONIZE, no inherit, the pid
+        assert kernel32.open_calls == [(0x1000 | 0x00100000, False, 4242)]
         assert kernel32.wait_calls == [(1234, 0)]
         # The handle must always be closed
         assert kernel32.closed == [1234]
@@ -393,6 +393,19 @@ def test_dead_when_handle_is_signaled(self):
         assert _pid_alive_windows(4242, kernel32) is False
         assert kernel32.closed == [1234]
 
+    def test_alive_when_wait_fails(self):
+        """WAIT_FAILED (0xFFFFFFFF) cannot prove death — presume alive.
+
+        Regression guard: with a QUERY-only access mask the wait always
+        failed, so dead daemons were reported as running forever.
+        """
+        from code_review_graph.daemon import _pid_alive_windows
+
+        kernel32 = _FakeKernel32(handle=1234, wait_result=0xFFFFFFFF)
+        assert _pid_alive_windows(4242, kernel32) is True
+        # The handle must still be closed on this path
+        assert kernel32.closed == [1234]
+
     def test_alive_on_access_denied(self):
         """NULL handle + ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED (5) means alive (other user)."""
         from code_review_graph.daemon import _pid_alive_windows