diff --git a/doc/plans/2026-10-12-claude-runner-default.md b/doc/plans/2026-10-12-claude-runner-default.md
index b43f2fadd0a..3bd32e6b1ad 100644
--- a/doc/plans/2026-10-12-claude-runner-default.md
+++ b/doc/plans/2026-10-12-claude-runner-default.md
@@ -649,3 +649,20 @@ integration hold. The independent serialized issue-route timeout remains under
 phase diagnosis; a subsequent full mocked suite passes 36 controls but does not
 waive the cloud failure or prove its latency cause. Final source composition,
 required CI and the provider-free cloud packaging campaign remain pending.
+
+## Serialized route fixture initialization — 2026-10-12
+
+The failing inherited-pause cloud case timed out at its 15000 ms outer test bound.
+Temporary local phase instrumentation measured cold route imports at 9741 ms
+(and 11920 ms in a separate diagnostic attempt), followed by a POST 409 response
+in 11 ms and PATCH 409 in 4 ms. The subsequent full mocked suite passed 36 cases;
+these measurements do not establish the exact unrecorded cloud latency. Route
+module loading now runs in beforeEach after the same per-case module reset,
+unmocking and mock initialization. It uses the existing 30000 ms setup-hook bound;
+the 15000 ms request/test bound, application construction, policy assertions and
+mutation/wakeup checks are unchanged. All 36 treatment controls pass. Temporary
+phase instrumentation was removed. Evidence:
+`/private/tmp/claude-pause-route-phases.txt`,
+`/private/tmp/claude-pause-route-targeted-phases.log`, and
+`/private/tmp/claude-pause-route-hook-controls.log`. Exact-head cloud verification
+is still required; no timeout is waived and no provider or native build was run.
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/issue-update-comment-wakeup-routes.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/issue-update-comment-wakeup-routes.test.ts
index 217b07f0692..5bf63139673 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/issue-update-comment-wakeup-routes.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/issue-update-comment-wakeup-routes.test.ts
@@ -205,12 +205,17 @@ function registerModuleMocks() {
   }));
 }
 
-async function createApp(transaction: (callback: (tx: Record<string, never>) => Promise<unknown>) => Promise<unknown> =
-  async (callback) => callback({})) {
-  const [{ errorHandler }, { issueRoutes }] = await Promise.all([
+function loadRouteFixture() {
+  return Promise.all([
     vi.importActual<typeof import("../middleware/index.js")>("../middleware/index.js"),
     vi.importActual<typeof import("../routes/issues.js")>("../routes/issues.js"),
   ]);
+}
+let routeFixture: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof loadRouteFixture>>;
+
+async function createApp(transaction: (callback: (tx: Record<string, never>) => Promise<unknown>) => Promise<unknown> =
+  async (callback) => callback({})) {
+  const [{ errorHandler }, { issueRoutes }] = routeFixture;
   const app = express();
   app.use(express.json());
   app.use((req, _res, next) => {
@@ -253,7 +258,7 @@ function makeIssue(overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
 }
 
 describe("issue update comment wakeups", () => {
-  beforeEach(() => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
     vi.resetModules();
     vi.doUnmock("../routes/issues.js");
     vi.doUnmock("../routes/authz.js");
@@ -271,6 +276,9 @@ describe("issue update comment wakeups", () => {
     mockIssueService.getWakeableParentAfterChildCompletion.mockResolvedValue(null);
     mockIssueService.getCurrentScheduledRetry.mockResolvedValue(null);
     mockIssueService.listReviewAttention.mockResolvedValue(new Map());
+    // A fresh route graph is fixture preparation, not request execution. Keep
+    // per-case module resets while charging the cold transform to hookTimeout.
+    routeFixture = await loadRouteFixture();
   });
 
   it.each(["post", "patch"] as const)("rejects %s board messages under an inherited pause before any mutation", async (method) => {