diff --git a/cc-ci-plan/launch.py b/cc-ci-plan/launch.py
index 7070abb..91a07ae 100644
--- a/cc-ci-plan/launch.py
+++ b/cc-ci-plan/launch.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ LOG_DIR     = os.environ.get("LOG_DIR",      "/srv/cc-ci/.cc-ci-logs")
 # This ensures the watchdog (which runs in its own tmux session without the caller's env)
 # uses the same backend/model when it restarts a dead session.
 _BACKEND_FILE = os.path.join(LOG_DIR, ".loop-backend")
+_PHASES_FILE  = os.path.join(LOG_DIR, ".phases-spec")
 _MODEL_FILE   = os.path.join(LOG_DIR, ".loop-model")
 
 def _read_file_default(path, default):
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ ORCH_WAKE_PROMPT   = os.environ.get("ORCH_WAKE_PROMPT", f"{PLAN_DIR}/ai-progress
 STALL_IDLE      = int(os.environ.get("STALL_IDLE",      300))
 STALL_GRACE     = int(os.environ.get("STALL_GRACE",     180))
 
-PHASES_SPEC = os.environ.get("PHASES_SPEC", ";".join([
+_DEFAULT_PHASES_SPEC = ";".join([
     "1c|plan-phase1c-full-reproducibility.md|STATUS-1c.md",
     "1b|plan-phase1b-review-lint.md|STATUS-1b.md",
     "1d|plan-phase1d-generic-test-suite.md|STATUS-1d.md",
@@ -100,7 +101,10 @@ PHASES_SPEC = os.environ.get("PHASES_SPEC", ";".join([
     "3|plan-phase3-results-ux.md|STATUS-3.md",
     "4|plan-phase4-final-review-polish-cleanup.md|STATUS-4.md",
     "5|plan-phase5-verify-upgrade-flow.md|STATUS-5.md",
-]))
+])
+# Env wins; else a persisted file written by `start` (so status/watchdog/reboot all agree on the
+# current phase set); else the default build sequence above.
+PHASES_SPEC = os.environ.get("PHASES_SPEC") or _read_file_default(_PHASES_FILE, _DEFAULT_PHASES_SPEC)
 PHASES = [p.split("|") for p in PHASES_SPEC.split(";")]
 PHASE_IDX_FILE = os.environ.get("PHASE_IDX_FILE", f"{LOG_DIR}/.phase-idx")
 
@@ -677,7 +681,9 @@ def main():
         # Persist backend/model so the watchdog uses them when restarting dead sessions.
         Path(_BACKEND_FILE).write_text(BACKEND)
         Path(_MODEL_FILE).write_text(LOOP_MODEL)
+        Path(_PHASES_FILE).write_text(PHASES_SPEC)
         log(f"backend={BACKEND} model={LOOP_MODEL or '<default>'} (persisted to {_BACKEND_FILE})")
+        log(f"phases='{all_ids()}' (persisted to {_PHASES_FILE})")
         start_loops()
         start_watchdog()
         log(f"started at phase {phase_id(cur_idx())}.")