diff --git a/ci/test-risk-map.json b/ci/test-risk-map.json
index eec300d..f08290b 100644
--- a/ci/test-risk-map.json
+++ b/ci/test-risk-map.json
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
         "tests/test_offload_surgery.py",
         "tests/test_persistence_contracts.py",
         "tests/test_persistence_pipeline.py",
+        "tests/test_telemetry.py",
         "tests/conditional/test_cuda_runtime.py",
         "tests/conditional/test_jetson_runtime.py"
       ]
@@ -551,7 +552,8 @@
         "tests/test_persistence_contracts.py",
         "tests/test_persistence_pipeline.py",
         "tests/test_projection_math_contracts.py",
-        "tests/test_offline_integration.py"
+        "tests/test_offline_integration.py",
+        "tests/test_telemetry.py"
       ],
       "conditional_gates": [
         "model-download-runtime"
diff --git a/obliteratus/abliterate.py b/obliteratus/abliterate.py
index f550e4e..41ace51 100644
--- a/obliteratus/abliterate.py
+++ b/obliteratus/abliterate.py
@@ -1189,8 +1189,9 @@ class AbliterationPipeline:
         self._cancellation_event.set()
 
     def _check_cancelled(self, stage: str | None = None) -> None:
-        if self._cancellation_event.is_set():
-            active_stage = stage or self._active_stage
+        cancellation_event = getattr(self, "_cancellation_event", None)
+        if cancellation_event is not None and cancellation_event.is_set():
+            active_stage = stage or getattr(self, "_active_stage", "pipeline")
             raise PipelineCancelledError(
                 f"Pipeline cancelled during {active_stage.upper()}.",
                 stage=active_stage,
diff --git a/tests/test_abliterate.py b/tests/test_abliterate.py
index 227d59c..e0be4a8 100644
--- a/tests/test_abliterate.py
+++ b/tests/test_abliterate.py
@@ -297,6 +297,11 @@ class TestPipelineInit:
         assert pipeline.handle.model is None
         assert pipeline.handle.tokenizer is None
 
+    def test_cancellation_check_treats_missing_event_as_not_cancelled(self):
+        pipeline = AbliterationPipeline.__new__(AbliterationPipeline)
+
+        pipeline._check_cancelled("verify")
+
     def test_public_run_cleans_up_terminal_pipeline_failure(self, monkeypatch):
         from obliteratus.abliterate import PipelineValidationError