diff --git a/bin/nexus_watchdog.py b/bin/nexus_watchdog.py
index f2f5cfa3..f6256724 100644
--- a/bin/nexus_watchdog.py
+++ b/bin/nexus_watchdog.py
@@ -586,8 +586,8 @@ def alert_on_failure(report: HealthReport, dry_run: bool = False) -> None:
                 logger.info("Created alert issue #%d", result["number"])
 
 
-def run_once(args: argparse.Namespace) -> bool:
-    """Run one health check cycle. Returns True if healthy."""
+def run_once(args: argparse.Namespace) -> tuple:
+    """Run one health check cycle. Returns (healthy, report)."""
     report = run_health_checks(
         ws_host=args.ws_host,
         ws_port=args.ws_port,
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ def run_once(args: argparse.Namespace) -> bool:
         except Exception:
             pass  # never crash the watchdog over its own heartbeat
 
-    return report.overall_healthy
+    return report.overall_healthy, report
 
 
 def main():
@@ -678,21 +678,15 @@ def main():
         signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, _handle_sigterm)
 
         while _running:
-            run_once(args)
+            run_once(args)  # (healthy, report) — not needed in watch mode
             for _ in range(args.interval):
                 if not _running:
                     break
                 time.sleep(1)
     else:
-        healthy = run_once(args)
+        healthy, report = run_once(args)
 
         if args.output_json:
-            report = run_health_checks(
-                ws_host=args.ws_host,
-                ws_port=args.ws_port,
-                heartbeat_path=Path(args.heartbeat_path),
-                stale_threshold=args.stale_threshold,
-            )
             print(json.dumps({
                 "healthy": report.overall_healthy,
                 "timestamp": report.timestamp,