diff --git a/internal/refinery/manager.go b/internal/refinery/manager.go
index 3fd2cc8f..11a0fd7c 100644
--- a/internal/refinery/manager.go
+++ b/internal/refinery/manager.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (m *Manager) Start(foreground bool) error {
 	if foreground {
 		// In foreground mode, we're likely running inside the tmux session
 		// that background mode created. Only check PID to avoid self-detection.
-		if ref.State == StateRunning && ref.PID > 0 && processExists(ref.PID) {
+		if ref.State == StateRunning && ref.PID > 0 && util.ProcessExists(ref.PID) {
 			return ErrAlreadyRunning
 		}
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func (m *Manager) Start(foreground bool) error {
 	}
 
 	// Also check via PID for backwards compatibility
-	if ref.State == StateRunning && ref.PID > 0 && processExists(ref.PID) {
+	if ref.State == StateRunning && ref.PID > 0 && util.ProcessExists(ref.PID) {
 		return ErrAlreadyRunning
 	}
 
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func (m *Manager) Stop() error {
 	}
 
 	// If we have a PID and it's a different process, try to stop it gracefully
-	if ref.PID > 0 && ref.PID != os.Getpid() && processExists(ref.PID) {
+	if ref.PID > 0 && ref.PID != os.Getpid() && util.ProcessExists(ref.PID) {
 		// Send SIGTERM (best-effort graceful stop)
 		if proc, err := os.FindProcess(ref.PID); err == nil {
 			_ = proc.Signal(os.Interrupt)
@@ -638,16 +638,6 @@ func (m *Manager) pushWithRetry(targetBranch string, config MergeConfig) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("push failed after %d retries: %v", config.PushRetryCount, lastErr)
 }
 
-// processExists checks if a process with the given PID exists.
-func processExists(pid int) bool {
-	proc, err := os.FindProcess(pid)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	// On Unix, FindProcess always succeeds; signal 0 tests existence
-	err = proc.Signal(nil)
-	return err == nil
-}
 
 // formatAge formats a duration since the given time.
 func formatAge(t time.Time) string {
diff --git a/internal/util/process.go b/internal/util/process.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d175d298
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/util/process.go
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package util
+
+import "os"
+
+// ProcessExists checks if a process with the given PID exists.
+// It uses the Unix convention of sending signal 0 to test for process existence.
+func ProcessExists(pid int) bool {
+	proc, err := os.FindProcess(pid)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return proc.Signal(nil) == nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/util/process_test.go b/internal/util/process_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1618d1d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/util/process_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package util
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestProcessExistsNonExistent(t *testing.T) {
+	// Using a very high PID that's unlikely to exist
+	pid := 999999999
+	if ProcessExists(pid) {
+		t.Errorf("ProcessExists(%d) = true, want false for non-existent process", pid)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessExistsNegativePID(t *testing.T) {
+	// Negative PIDs are invalid and should return false or may cause errors
+	// depending on the platform, so just test that it doesn't panic
+	_ = ProcessExists(-1)
+}
+
+func TestProcessExistsZero(t *testing.T) {
+	// PID 0 is special (kernel process on Unix)
+	// Test that we can call it without panicking
+	_ = ProcessExists(0)
+}
diff --git a/internal/witness/manager.go b/internal/witness/manager.go
index 747d92ff..bcb3a8e8 100644
--- a/internal/witness/manager.go
+++ b/internal/witness/manager.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (m *Manager) Start() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if w.State == StateRunning && w.PID > 0 && processExists(w.PID) {
+	if w.State == StateRunning && w.PID > 0 && util.ProcessExists(w.PID) {
 		return ErrAlreadyRunning
 	}
 
@@ -128,13 +128,3 @@ func (m *Manager) Stop() error {
 	return m.saveState(w)
 }
 
-// processExists checks if a process with the given PID exists.
-func processExists(pid int) bool {
-	proc, err := os.FindProcess(pid)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	// On Unix, FindProcess always succeeds; signal 0 tests existence
-	err = proc.Signal(nil)
-	return err == nil
-}