diff --git a/tests/control_plane/test_causal_blocked_closeout_cli.py b/tests/control_plane/test_causal_blocked_closeout_cli.py
index 8646087c72..f5cdd149ba 100644
--- a/tests/control_plane/test_causal_blocked_closeout_cli.py
+++ b/tests/control_plane/test_causal_blocked_closeout_cli.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     _configure_selectable_alternative, _initialize_git_checkout, _spend_run_count, _write_fixture,
 )
 from loopx.control_plane.coordination.runtime_shadow import build_todo_runtime_shadow_projection
+from tests.control_plane.codex_checkpoint_fixture import read_cli_policy_payload
 
 MONITOR_ID = "todo_causal_monitor"
 
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ def cli(*args: str, cwd: Path = project) -> tuple[int, dict]:
             context.chdir(cwd)
             rc = cli_main(["--registry", str(registry), "--runtime-root", str(runtime),
                            "--format", "json", *args])
-            return rc, json.loads(capsys.readouterr().out)
+            return rc, read_cli_policy_payload(capsys.readouterr().out, returncode=rc)
 
     state = _configure_completion_validation_todo(project)
     _configure_selectable_alternative(project)
diff --git a/tests/control_plane/test_deferred_original_turn_binding.py b/tests/control_plane/test_deferred_original_turn_binding.py
index 14ccf86ee5..e32df457d9 100644
--- a/tests/control_plane/test_deferred_original_turn_binding.py
+++ b/tests/control_plane/test_deferred_original_turn_binding.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 """A compact candidate view cannot replace an admitted Turn's identity."""
 import copy
-import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 
+from tests.control_plane.codex_checkpoint_fixture import read_cli_policy_payload
 from tests.control_plane.test_quota_settlement_cli import (
     AGENT_ID,
     GOAL_ID,
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def compact(value):
     capsys.readouterr()
     rc = main(["--format", "json", "--registry", str(registry),
         "--runtime-root", str(runtime), *guard, ])
-    replay = json.loads(capsys.readouterr().out)
+    replay = read_cli_policy_payload(capsys.readouterr().out, returncode=rc)
     assert rc == 0, replay
     assert replay["heartbeat_receipt"]["settlement_identity"] == identity
     channel = replay["interaction_contract"]["cli_channel"]