diff --git a/cron/scheduler.py b/cron/scheduler.py
index d9c6ae21c6..f7474e387e 100644
--- a/cron/scheduler.py
+++ b/cron/scheduler.py
@@ -3261,6 +3261,18 @@ def _launch_external_cron_worker(job: dict) -> bool:
     finally:
         _reset_fire_secret_scope(fire_scope_tokens)
     worker_env = systemd_user_bus_env(worker_env)
+    # Cron workers are unattended: presence vars inherited from a gateway that
+    # set them at runtime (start_gateway sets HERMES_EXEC_ASK; interactive
+    # launches set the rest) invert the approval gate — `_is_interactive_cli()`
+    # sees HERMES_INTERACTIVE=1 and `approvals.cron_mode` is never consulted for
+    # `terminal`, so the run hangs 10-30s on a pending card nobody can answer
+    # (measured 2026-09-14: ms197 cron left 6 claims stranded; fab-swarm #105).
+    for _presence_var in (
+        "HERMES_INTERACTIVE",
+        "HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION",
+        "HERMES_EXEC_ASK",
+    ):
+        worker_env.pop(_presence_var, None)
     try:
         process = subprocess.Popen(
             dispatch.argv,