diff --git a/files/ansible-playbooks/ptsd-migrate.yml b/files/ansible-playbooks/ptsd-migrate.yml
index 3560a25..03ea512 100644
--- a/files/ansible-playbooks/ptsd-migrate.yml
+++ b/files/ansible-playbooks/ptsd-migrate.yml
@@ -534,69 +534,83 @@
       when: dev2_conn_final == "tunnel"
       delegate_to: localhost
       ansible.builtin.shell: |
-        set -e
         PORT="{{ _local_port }}"
         sshpass -f "{{ dev2_passfile_used }}" ssh {{ ssh_opts_common }} \
           -o AddressFamily=inet \
+          -o ConnectionAttempts=1 \
           -p "$PORT" "{{ dev2_ssh_user }}@127.0.0.1" \
-          "uptime 2>/dev/null || true"
+          "{{ pathprefix }} uptime 2>&1 || true"
       args: { executable: /bin/bash }
       register: dev2_uptime
       changed_when: false
+      failed_when: false
+
+    - name: DEV2 | uptime debug (tunnel)
+      when: dev2_conn_final == "tunnel"
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        msg:
+          - "uptime.rc={{ dev2_uptime.rc | default('n/a') }}"
+          - "uptime.stdout='{{ dev2_uptime.stdout | default('') | regex_replace('\r','') }}'"
+          - "uptime.stderr='{{ dev2_uptime.stderr | default('') | regex_replace('\r','') }}'"
+
 
     - name: DEV2 | uptime (direct LLDP IPv4 primary)
       when: dev2_conn_final == "direct_lldp"
       delegate_to: localhost
       ansible.builtin.shell: |
-        set -e
         HOST="{{ lldp_dev2_ip }}"
         sshpass -f "{{ dev2_passfile_used }}" ssh {{ ssh_opts_common }} \
           -o AddressFamily=inet \
+          -o ConnectionAttempts=1 \
           "{{ dev2_ssh_user }}@${HOST}" \
-          "uptime 2>/dev/null || true"
+          "{{ pathprefix }} uptime 2>&1 || true"
       args: { executable: /bin/bash }
       register: dev2_uptime
       changed_when: false
+      failed_when: false
 
     - name: DEV2 | uptime (LLDP IPv4 fallback)
       when: dev2_conn_final == "lldp4_fallback"
       delegate_to: localhost
       ansible.builtin.shell: |
-        set -e
         HOST="{{ lldp_dev2_ip }}"
         sshpass -f "{{ dev2_passfile_used_lldp }}" ssh {{ ssh_opts_common }} \
           -o AddressFamily=inet \
+          -o ConnectionAttempts=1 \
           "{{ dev2_ssh_user }}@${HOST}" \
-          "uptime 2>/dev/null || true"
+          "{{ pathprefix }} uptime 2>&1 || true"
       args: { executable: /bin/bash }
       register: dev2_uptime
       changed_when: false
+      failed_when: false
 
     - name: DEV2 | uptime (LLDP IPv6 via DEV1 nested)
       when: dev2_conn_final == "lldp6_via_dev1"
       delegate_to: localhost
       ansible.builtin.shell: |
-        set -e
         IP6="{{ lldp_dev2_ip6 }}"
         F="{{ dev2_passfile_used_lldp6 }}"
         sshpass -p '{{ dev1_pass }}' ssh {{ ssh_opts_common }} \
+          -o ConnectionAttempts=1 \
           "{{ dev1_user }}@{{ ansible_host|default(inventory_hostname) }}" \
           "sshpass -f '/tmp/${F}' ssh \
-             -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o PubkeyAuthentication=no \
-             -o PreferredAuthentications=password -o NumberOfPasswordPrompts=1 \
-             -o ConnectTimeout=30 \
-             '{{ dev2_ssh_user }}@\[${IP6}%{{ dev1_iface }}\]' \
-             'uptime 2>/dev/null || true'"
+            -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o PubkeyAuthentication=no \
+            -o PreferredAuthentications=password -o NumberOfPasswordPrompts=1 \
+            -o ConnectTimeout=30 \
+            '{{ dev2_ssh_user }}@\[${IP6}%{{ dev1_iface }}\]' \
+            '{{ pathprefix }} uptime 2>&1 || true'"
       args: { executable: /bin/bash }
       register: dev2_uptime
       changed_when: false
+      failed_when: false
 
     - name: Output DEV2 uptime (stdout)
       delegate_to: localhost
       ansible.builtin.debug:
         msg:
           - "DEV2 uptime via {{ dev2_conn_final }}:"
-          - "{{ (dev2_uptime.stdout | default('') | trim) if (dev2_uptime is defined) else '<no output>' }}"
+          - "{{ (dev2_uptime.stdout | default('') | regex_replace('\r','')) }}"
 
   post_tasks:
     - name: Cleanup (always)