diff --git a/rust/src/runtime/queries.rs b/rust/src/runtime/queries.rs
index f91c4e04e..861532c37 100644
--- a/rust/src/runtime/queries.rs
+++ b/rust/src/runtime/queries.rs
@@ -357,14 +357,14 @@ where
         loop {
             let wake = self.wake.notified();
             match self.claim_query(&body, config, &proof).await? {
-                QueryClaim::Task(task) => return Ok(poll_result(Some(task), "task")),
+                QueryClaim::Task(task) => return Ok(poll_result(Some(task), "leased")),
                 QueryClaim::StaleWorker => {
                     return Ok(poll_result(None, "stale_worker_registration"));
                 }
                 QueryClaim::Empty => {}
             }
             if tokio::time::Instant::now() >= deadline {
-                return Ok(poll_result(None, "timeout"));
+                return Ok(poll_result(None, "empty"));
             }
             if self
                 .poll_queue_changed(&body, "query", &mut cross_kind)
diff --git a/rust/src/runtime/store.rs b/rust/src/runtime/store.rs
index 6490d0f95..2f25c77c3 100644
--- a/rust/src/runtime/store.rs
+++ b/rust/src/runtime/store.rs
@@ -939,12 +939,12 @@ where
             let wake = self.wake.notified();
             if let Some(task) = self.claim(&body, kind, protocol_version).await? {
                 return Ok(
-                    json!({"task": task, "poll_status": "task", "server_capabilities": capabilities()}),
+                    json!({"task": task, "poll_status": "leased", "server_capabilities": capabilities()}),
                 );
             }
             if tokio::time::Instant::now() >= deadline {
                 return Ok(
-                    json!({"task": null, "poll_status": "timeout", "server_capabilities": capabilities()}),
+                    json!({"task": null, "poll_status": "empty", "server_capabilities": capabilities()}),
                 );
             }
             if self
diff --git a/rust/tests/execution/cross_kind_poll.rs b/rust/tests/execution/cross_kind_poll.rs
index 754af04ff..5986b0ce4 100644
--- a/rust/tests/execution/cross_kind_poll.rs
+++ b/rust/tests/execution/cross_kind_poll.rs
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ async fn scoped_hints_require_original_opt_in_and_a_new_ready_identity() {
         let result = held.await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.0, StatusCode::OK, "{scenario}: {}", result.1);
         assert_eq!(
-            result.1["poll_status"], "timeout",
+            result.1["poll_status"], "empty",
             "{scenario}: {}",
             result.1
         );
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ async fn activity_admission_wakes_other_polls_but_same_kind_claim_wins() {
         json!({"lease_owner":"mixed","activity_attempt_id":activity["activity_attempt_id"],"result":envelope(Payload::Null)})).await.0,StatusCode::OK);
         let result = held.await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.0, StatusCode::OK, "{}", result.1);
-        assert_eq!(result.1["poll_status"], "task");
+        assert_eq!(result.1["poll_status"], "leased");
         assert!(result.1["task"].is_object());
         runtime.close().await;
         database.remove().await;
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ async fn zero_timeout_polls_keep_the_existing_empty_reply() {
         )
         .await;
         assert_eq!(result.0, StatusCode::OK, "{}", result.1);
-        assert_eq!(result.1["poll_status"], "timeout");
+        assert_eq!(result.1["poll_status"], "empty");
         assert_eq!(result.1.get("task"), Some(&Value::Null));
     }
     runtime.close().await;
diff --git a/scripts/conformance/server-parity/cross-kind-poll-contract.mjs b/scripts/conformance/server-parity/cross-kind-poll-contract.mjs
index 5dceb69a9..adf89f2d3 100644
--- a/scripts/conformance/server-parity/cross-kind-poll-contract.mjs
+++ b/scripts/conformance/server-parity/cross-kind-poll-contract.mjs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export function checkCrossKindPollWake(record, profile) {
   }
   const sweep = following[sweepIndex];
   assert.equal(sweep.http, 200);
-  assert(['task', 'leased'].includes(sweep.poll_status));
+  assert.equal(sweep.poll_status, 'leased', 'a claim reports leased, as the worker protocol requires');
   assert.equal(sweep.task_is_null, false);
   assert.equal(typeof sweep.task_id, 'string');
   assert(sweep.task_id.length > 0, 'the ordinary poll separately grants a task');