diff --git a/scripts/cycle_retro.py b/scripts/cycle_retro.py
index 77ba9fd..ddfc4c5 100644
--- a/scripts/cycle_retro.py
+++ b/scripts/cycle_retro.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 RETRO_FILE = REPO_ROOT / ".loop" / "retro" / "cycles.jsonl"
 SUMMARY_FILE = REPO_ROOT / ".loop" / "retro" / "summary.json"
 EPOCH_COUNTER_FILE = REPO_ROOT / ".loop" / "retro" / ".epoch_counter"
+CYCLE_RESULT_FILE = REPO_ROOT / ".loop" / "cycle_result.json"
 
 # How many recent entries to include in rolling summary
 SUMMARY_WINDOW = 50
@@ -246,9 +247,37 @@ def update_summary() -> None:
     SUMMARY_FILE.write_text(json.dumps(summary, indent=2) + "\n")
 
 
+def _load_cycle_result() -> dict:
+    """Read .loop/cycle_result.json if it exists; return empty dict on failure."""
+    if not CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.exists():
+        return {}
+    try:
+        raw = CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.read_text().strip()
+        # Strip hermes fence markers (```json ... ```) if present
+        if raw.startswith("```"):
+            lines = raw.splitlines()
+            lines = [l for l in lines if not l.startswith("```")]
+            raw = "\n".join(lines)
+        return json.loads(raw)
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
+        return {}
+
+
 def main() -> None:
     args = parse_args()
 
+    # Backfill from cycle_result.json when CLI args have defaults
+    cr = _load_cycle_result()
+    if cr:
+        if args.issue is None and cr.get("issue"):
+            args.issue = int(cr["issue"])
+        if args.type == "unknown" and cr.get("type"):
+            args.type = cr["type"]
+        if args.tests_passed == 0 and cr.get("tests_passed"):
+            args.tests_passed = int(cr["tests_passed"])
+        if not args.notes and cr.get("notes"):
+            args.notes = cr["notes"]
+
     # Auto-detect issue from branch when not explicitly provided
     if args.issue is None:
         args.issue = detect_issue_from_branch()