diff --git a/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift b/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift
index b188c73..2d4be6f 100644
--- a/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift
+++ b/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public final class NotesReader {
         """
         let (ok, out) = await runAppleScript(script)
         guard ok else {
-            log.warning("fetchAllNotes script failed: \(out)")
+            log.warning("fetchAllNotes script failed: \(out, privacy: .public)")
             return []
         }
         return Self.parse(out)
@@ -140,35 +140,64 @@ public final class NotesReader {
         return out
     }
 
-    /// Run AppleScript IN-PROCESS via `NSAppleScript`. Returns
-    /// `(success, output-or-error)`.
+    /// Run AppleScript IN-PROCESS via `NSAppleScript`, on a dedicated thread that
+    /// owns a continuously-running run loop.
     ///
-    /// We must NOT shell out to `/usr/bin/osascript`: TCC attributes the Apple
-    /// event a subprocess sends to that subprocess (`osascript`), not to MacSync,
-    /// so the `MacSync → Notes` Automation grant doesn't apply and every read is
-    /// denied even after the user allows it. NSAppleScript sends the event from
-    /// MacSync itself, so the grant is honored.
-    ///
-    /// Run on a dedicated thread, not the main actor: a ~25s `tell application`
-    /// read on the main thread blocks the run loop the rest of the app (and the
-    /// sync coordinator) needs. `NSAppleScript.executeAndReturnError` is
-    /// synchronous and handles its own Apple-event reply, so a fresh thread is
-    /// safe and keeps the caller async via a continuation.
+    /// Three constraints must hold at once and only this satisfies all of them:
+    /// - IN-PROCESS — TCC attributes the Apple event to MacSync (a subprocess
+    ///   like `osascript` would be the responsible process and the
+    ///   `MacSync → Notes` grant would NOT apply). NSAppleScript sends from us.
+    /// - REAL RUN LOOP — `executeAndReturnError` does `AESendMessage(…kAEWaitReply…)`
+    ///   whose reply is a mach message that must be pumped by a CFRunLoop on the
+    ///   sending thread. A bare detached thread has none, so the reply for the
+    ///   long ~25s notes fetch is never received (it errored). The dedicated
+    ///   thread runs a real run loop forever.
+    /// - OFF MAIN — a 25s `tell application` on the main thread freezes the agent
+    ///   (the @MainActor sync coordinator / timers live there).
     private func runAppleScript(_ source: String) async -> (Bool, String) {
         await withCheckedContinuation { (continuation: CheckedContinuation<(Bool, String), Never>) in
-            let thread = Thread {
-                var errorInfo: NSDictionary?
-                let script = NSAppleScript(source: source)
-                let result = script?.executeAndReturnError(&errorInfo)
-                if let errorInfo {
-                    let msg = (errorInfo[NSAppleScript.errorMessage] as? String) ?? "\(errorInfo)"
-                    continuation.resume(returning: (false, msg))
-                } else {
-                    continuation.resume(returning: (true, result?.stringValue ?? ""))
-                }
+            AppleScriptRunner.shared.run(source) { ok, out in
+                continuation.resume(returning: (ok, out))
             }
-            thread.stackSize = 8 << 20
-            thread.start()
         }
     }
 }
+
+/// One long-lived thread with a continuously-running CFRunLoop. Scripts are
+/// marshaled onto it so in-process NSAppleScript can send long `tell application`
+/// events and receive their replies without blocking the main thread.
+private final class AppleScriptRunner: @unchecked Sendable {
+    static let shared = AppleScriptRunner()
+    private var runLoop: CFRunLoop!
+
+    private init() {
+        let ready = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)
+        let thread = Thread { [self] in
+            runLoop = CFRunLoopGetCurrent()
+            // A far-future repeating timer is a perpetual run-loop source, so
+            // RunLoop.run() blocks waiting for work instead of returning at once.
+            RunLoop.current.add(Timer(timeInterval: 1e9, repeats: true) { _ in }, forMode: .default)
+            ready.signal()
+            RunLoop.current.run()
+        }
+        thread.name = "com.lilith.mac-sync.applescript"
+        thread.stackSize = 8 << 20
+        thread.start()
+        ready.wait() // ensure `runLoop` is captured before first use
+    }
+
+    func run(_ source: String, completion: @escaping (Bool, String) -> Void) {
+        CFRunLoopPerformBlock(runLoop, CFRunLoopMode.defaultMode.rawValue) {
+            var errorInfo: NSDictionary?
+            let result = NSAppleScript(source: source)?.executeAndReturnError(&errorInfo)
+            if let errorInfo {
+                let code = (errorInfo[NSAppleScript.errorNumber] as? Int) ?? 0
+                let msg = (errorInfo[NSAppleScript.errorMessage] as? String) ?? "\(errorInfo)"
+                completion(false, "AppleScript error \(code): \(msg)")
+            } else {
+                completion(true, result?.stringValue ?? "")
+            }
+        }
+        CFRunLoopWakeUp(runLoop) // PerformBlock alone won't wake a sleeping loop
+    }
+}