diff --git a/tests/tools/test_subagent_worktree.py b/tests/tools/test_subagent_worktree.py
index 027f44df729bf..d452151063ba0 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_subagent_worktree.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_subagent_worktree.py
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 from tools import subagent_worktree as sw  # noqa: E402
 
 
-def _git(args, cwd):
+def _git(args, cwd, check=True):
     return subprocess.run(
-        ["git", *args], cwd=cwd, capture_output=True, text=True, check=True
+        ["git", *args], cwd=cwd, capture_output=True, text=True, check=check
     )
 
 
@@ -132,6 +132,38 @@ def test_finalize_keeps_dirty_worktree(self):
         self.assertTrue(payload["dirty"])
         self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(info["path"]))
 
+    def test_finalize_keeps_worktree_when_git_inspection_fails(self):
+        """#88113: a non-zero git status exit must not be read as "clean".
+
+        Corrupting the index makes the real `git status --porcelain` probe
+        exit 128. The old code kept the payload defaults (commits=0,
+        dirty=False) and pruned on them — permanently deleting the child's
+        uncommitted work. A destructive cleanup requires affirmative proof
+        of a clean tree."""
+        repo = _make_repo(self.tmp)
+        info = sw.create_subagent_worktree(str(repo), "inspect-fail1")
+        assert info is not None
+        wt = Path(info["path"])
+        (wt / "UNCOMMITTED-WORK.txt").write_text(
+            "irreplaceable\n", encoding="utf-8"
+        )
+
+        git_dir = Path(_git(["rev-parse", "--git-dir"], wt).stdout.strip())
+        if not git_dir.is_absolute():
+            git_dir = (wt / git_dir).resolve()
+        (git_dir / "index").write_bytes(b"not-a-valid-git-index\n")
+        # Sanity: the probe really fails now.
+        broken = _git(["status", "--porcelain"], wt, check=False)
+        self.assertNotEqual(broken.returncode, 0)
+
+        payload = sw.finalize_subagent_worktree(info)
+
+        self.assertFalse(payload["pruned"])
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(info["path"]))
+        self.assertTrue((wt / "UNCOMMITTED-WORK.txt").exists())
+        branches = _git(["branch", "--list", info["branch"]], repo).stdout
+        self.assertNotEqual(branches.strip(), "")
+
     def test_finalize_missing_path_reports_pruned(self):
         payload = sw.finalize_subagent_worktree(
             {"path": str(self.tmp / "gone"), "branch": "b", "repo_root": "",
diff --git a/tools/subagent_worktree.py b/tools/subagent_worktree.py
index 4b1ab0b6e04c1..e401b3c1a901b 100644
--- a/tools/subagent_worktree.py
+++ b/tools/subagent_worktree.py
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ def finalize_subagent_worktree(
         payload["pruned"] = True  # nothing on disk to review
         return payload
 
+    inspection_ok = True
     try:
         if base_commit:
             counted = _run_git(
@@ -203,14 +204,33 @@ def finalize_subagent_worktree(
             )
             if counted.returncode == 0:
                 payload["commits"] = int(counted.stdout.strip() or 0)
+            else:
+                inspection_ok = False
         status = _run_git(["status", "--porcelain"], cwd=path)
         if status.returncode == 0:
             payload["dirty"] = bool(status.stdout.strip())
+        else:
+            inspection_ok = False
     except Exception as exc:
         logger.debug("subagent worktree: finalize inspection failed: %s", exc)
         # Unknown state — keep the worktree rather than risk deleting work.
         return payload
 
+    if not inspection_ok:
+        # Fail-safe (#88113): a non-zero git exit proves nothing about the
+        # tree — the payload defaults (0 commits, clean) were never
+        # overwritten, and pruning on them permanently deleted uncommitted
+        # child work. A destructive cleanup requires affirmative proof of
+        # "zero commits + clean tree"; otherwise keep the worktree and
+        # branch for manual inspection.
+        logger.warning(
+            "subagent worktree: git inspection failed (rev-list/status "
+            "non-zero) — keeping %s (branch %s) for manual review",
+            path,
+            branch,
+        )
+        return payload
+
     if prune and payload["commits"] == 0 and not payload["dirty"]:
         try:
             removed = _run_git(