diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index f10fef3fd958..ce3f7a5ba782 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -13862,9 +13862,10 @@ def cmd_sessions(args):
             print(f"Error: Could not open session database: {e}")
             return
 
-        # Hide third-party tool sessions by default, but honour explicit --source
+        # Hide background/internal session sources by default, but honour explicit --source.
+        # `action` was already initialized at the start of cmd_sessions().
         _source = getattr(args, "source", None)
-        _exclude = None if _source else ["tool"]
+        _exclude = None if _source else ["tool", "cron"]
 
         if action == "list":
             from hermes_state import workspace_key as _ws_key
@@ -14490,9 +14491,11 @@ def _export_one(session_id: str):
         elif action == "browse":
             limit = getattr(args, "limit", 500) or 500
             source = getattr(args, "source", None)
-            _browse_exclude = None if source else ["tool"]
+            _browse_exclude = None if source else ["tool", "cron"]
             sessions = db.list_sessions_rich(
-                source=source, exclude_sources=_browse_exclude, limit=limit
+                source=source,
+                exclude_sources=_browse_exclude,
+                limit=limit,
             )
             db.close()
             if not sessions:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py
index 833729973ae5..47183c8470d7 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_browse.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 
-from hermes_cli.main import _session_browse_picker
+from hermes_cli.main import _session_browse_picker, main as hermes_main
 
 
 # ─── Sample session data ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -442,6 +442,72 @@ def mock_import(name, *args, **kwargs):
 
         assert result == "s1"
 
+    def test_browse_hides_cron_and_tool_sessions_by_default(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Browse should exclude cron/tool sources unless the user explicitly asks for one."""
+        mock_db = MagicMock()
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.return_value = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_state.SessionDB", lambda: mock_db)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("sys.argv", ["hermes", "sessions", "browse"])
+
+        hermes_main()
+
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.assert_called_once_with(
+            source=None,
+            exclude_sources=["tool", "cron"],
+            limit=500,
+        )
+        mock_db.close.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_browse_source_filter_disables_default_exclusions(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Explicit --source should bypass default source exclusions."""
+        mock_db = MagicMock()
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.return_value = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_state.SessionDB", lambda: mock_db)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("sys.argv", ["hermes", "sessions", "browse", "--source", "cron"])
+
+        hermes_main()
+
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.assert_called_once_with(
+            source="cron",
+            exclude_sources=None,
+            limit=500,
+        )
+        mock_db.close.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_list_hides_cron_and_tool_sessions_by_default(self, monkeypatch):
+        """List should exclude cron/tool sources unless the user explicitly asks for one."""
+        mock_db = MagicMock()
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.return_value = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_state.SessionDB", lambda: mock_db)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("sys.argv", ["hermes", "sessions", "list"])
+
+        hermes_main()
+
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.assert_called_once_with(
+            source=None,
+            exclude_sources=["tool", "cron"],
+            limit=20,
+        )
+
+    def test_list_source_filter_disables_default_exclusions(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Explicit --source should bypass list default source exclusions too."""
+        mock_db = MagicMock()
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.return_value = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_state.SessionDB", lambda: mock_db)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("sys.argv", ["hermes", "sessions", "list", "--source", "cron"])
+
+        hermes_main()
+
+        mock_db.list_sessions_rich.assert_called_once_with(
+            source="cron",
+            exclude_sources=None,
+            limit=20,
+        )
+
 
 # ─── Edge cases ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────