diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bdbe7a1d..f6aa7323 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 ### Changed
 - Core string assertions (`assert_contains`/`assert_not_contains`, `assert_matches`/`assert_not_matches`, `assert_string_starts_with`/`assert_string_ends_with` and their negations) no longer fork a subshell per call to join their arguments; a fork-free join with identical behaviour replaces it (#844)
+- The array, date, duration, json, files and folders assertions now resolve their failure label through the fork-free slot helper instead of a per-call command substitution — same labels, fewer forks
 
 ## [0.42.0](https://github.com/TypedDevs/bashunit/compare/0.41.0...0.42.0) - 2026-07-20
 
diff --git a/src/assert.sh b/src/assert.sh
index 6436fb5b..a893a28d 100755
--- a/src/assert.sh
+++ b/src/assert.sh
@@ -31,9 +31,8 @@ function bashunit::assert::label_to_slot() {
 _BASHUNIT_ASSERT_JOINED_OUT=""
 
 # Join positional args into _BASHUNIT_ASSERT_JOINED_OUT with no fork.
-# Mirrors $(printf '%s\n' "$@"): joins with newlines and strips trailing
-# newlines, so callers that match on the result behave exactly as the previous
-# command-substitution did.
+# Output matches $(printf '%s\n' "$@") exactly: newline-joined, trailing
+# newlines stripped (as command substitution strips them).
 function bashunit::assert::join_to_slot() {
   local IFS=$'\n'
   local joined="$*"
diff --git a/src/assert_arrays.sh b/src/assert_arrays.sh
index 2f917cc6..705cd7da 100644
--- a/src/assert_arrays.sh
+++ b/src/assert_arrays.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,8 @@ function assert_array_contains() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label
-  label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+  bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+  local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
   shift
 
   local -a actual
@@ -82,10 +80,8 @@ function assert_array_length() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label
-  label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+  bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+  local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
   shift
 
   # Use $# / $* rather than building an array: on Bash 3.0 under `set -u`,
@@ -106,10 +102,8 @@ function assert_array_not_contains() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label
-  label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+  bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+  local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
   shift
   local -a actual
   actual=("$@")
diff --git a/src/assert_dates.sh b/src/assert_dates.sh
index 849aff9d..48a609df 100644
--- a/src/assert_dates.sh
+++ b/src/assert_dates.sh
@@ -105,10 +105,8 @@ function assert_date_equals() {
   actual="$(bashunit::date::to_epoch "$2")"
 
   if [ "$actual" -ne "$expected" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be equal to" "${expected}"
     return
@@ -126,10 +124,8 @@ function assert_date_before() {
   actual="$(bashunit::date::to_epoch "$2")"
 
   if [ "$actual" -ge "$expected" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be before" "${expected}"
     return
@@ -147,10 +143,8 @@ function assert_date_after() {
   actual="$(bashunit::date::to_epoch "$2")"
 
   if [ "$actual" -le "$expected" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be after" "${expected}"
     return
@@ -170,10 +164,8 @@ function assert_date_within_range() {
   actual="$(bashunit::date::to_epoch "$3")"
 
   if [ "$actual" -lt "$from" ] || [ "$actual" -gt "$to" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be between" "${from} and ${to}"
     return
@@ -197,10 +189,8 @@ function assert_date_within_delta() {
   fi
 
   if [ "$diff" -gt "$delta" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be within" "${delta} seconds of ${expected}"
     return
diff --git a/src/assert_duration.sh b/src/assert_duration.sh
index 7e33f0b9..af290e9c 100644
--- a/src/assert_duration.sh
+++ b/src/assert_duration.sh
@@ -27,10 +27,8 @@ function assert_duration() {
   elapsed_ms=$(bashunit::duration::measure_ms "$command")
 
   if [ "$elapsed_ms" -gt "$threshold_ms" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${threshold_ms}" "to complete within (ms)" "${command}"
     return
@@ -49,10 +47,8 @@ function assert_duration_less_than() {
   elapsed_ms=$(bashunit::duration::measure_ms "$command")
 
   if [ "$elapsed_ms" -ge "$threshold_ms" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${threshold_ms}" "to complete within (ms)" "${command}"
     return
@@ -71,10 +67,8 @@ function assert_duration_greater_than() {
   elapsed_ms=$(bashunit::duration::measure_ms "$command")
 
   if [ "$elapsed_ms" -le "$threshold_ms" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${threshold_ms}" "to take at least (ms)" "${command}"
     return
diff --git a/src/assert_files.sh b/src/assert_files.sh
index aeca0048..757ff09a 100644
--- a/src/assert_files.sh
+++ b/src/assert_files.sh
@@ -4,11 +4,10 @@ function assert_file_exists() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${3:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -f "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${3:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to exist but" "do not exist"
     return
@@ -21,11 +20,10 @@ function assert_file_not_exists() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${3:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ -f "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${3:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to not exist but" "the file exists"
     return
@@ -38,11 +36,10 @@ function assert_is_file() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${3:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -f "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${3:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be a file" "but is not a file"
     return
@@ -55,11 +52,10 @@ function assert_is_file_empty() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${3:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ -s "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${3:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be empty" "but is not empty"
     return
@@ -75,10 +71,8 @@ function assert_files_equals() {
   local actual="$2"
 
   if [ "$(diff -u "$expected" "$actual")" != '' ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
 
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "Compared" "${actual}" \
@@ -96,10 +90,8 @@ function assert_files_not_equals() {
   local actual="$2"
 
   if [ "$(diff -u "$expected" "$actual")" = '' ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
 
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "Compared" "${actual}" \
@@ -117,10 +109,8 @@ function assert_file_contains() {
   local string="$2"
 
   if ! grep -F -q "$string" "$file"; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
 
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${file}" "to contain" "${string}"
@@ -137,10 +127,8 @@ function assert_file_not_contains() {
   local string="$2"
 
   if grep -q "$string" "$file"; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
 
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${file}" "to not contain" "${string}"
@@ -172,10 +160,8 @@ function assert_file_permissions() {
 
   local expected="$1"
   local file="$2"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label
-  label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+  bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+  local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
 
   if [ ! -e "$file" ]; then
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
diff --git a/src/assert_folders.sh b/src/assert_folders.sh
index 9faddacc..369b21d2 100644
--- a/src/assert_folders.sh
+++ b/src/assert_folders.sh
@@ -4,11 +4,10 @@ function assert_directory_exists() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to exist but" "do not exist"
     return
@@ -21,11 +20,10 @@ function assert_directory_not_exists() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ -d "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to not exist but" "the directory exists"
     return
@@ -38,11 +36,10 @@ function assert_is_directory() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be a directory" "but is not a directory"
     return
@@ -55,11 +52,10 @@ function assert_is_directory_empty() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ] || [ -n "$(ls -A "$expected")" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be empty" "but is not empty"
     return
@@ -72,11 +68,10 @@ function assert_is_directory_not_empty() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ] || [ -z "$(ls -A "$expected")" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to not be empty" "but is empty"
     return
@@ -89,11 +84,10 @@ function assert_is_directory_readable() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ] || [ ! -r "$expected" ] || [ ! -x "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be readable" "but is not readable"
     return
@@ -106,11 +100,10 @@ function assert_is_directory_not_readable() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ] || { [ -r "$expected" ] && [ -x "$expected" ]; }; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be not readable" "but is readable"
     return
@@ -123,11 +116,10 @@ function assert_is_directory_writable() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ] || [ ! -w "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be writable" "but is not writable"
     return
@@ -140,11 +132,10 @@ function assert_is_directory_not_writable() {
   bashunit::assert::should_skip && return 0
 
   local expected="$1"
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label="${2:-$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")}"
 
   if [ ! -d "$expected" ] || [ -w "$expected" ]; then
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot "${2:-}"
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "to be not writable" "but is writable"
     return
diff --git a/src/assert_json.sh b/src/assert_json.sh
index 8ec163a1..3ddf55ef 100644
--- a/src/assert_json.sh
+++ b/src/assert_json.sh
@@ -17,10 +17,8 @@ function assert_json_key_exists() {
 
   local result
   if ! result=$(printf '%s' "$json" | jq -e "$key" 2>/dev/null) || [ "$result" = "null" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${json}" "to have key" "${key}"
     return
@@ -39,20 +37,16 @@ function assert_json_contains() {
 
   local result
   if ! result=$(printf '%s' "$json" | jq -e -r "$key" 2>/dev/null) || [ "$result" = "null" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${json}" "to have key" "${key}"
     return
   fi
 
   if [ "$result" != "$expected" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "but got " "${result}"
     return
@@ -74,10 +68,8 @@ function assert_json_equals() {
   actual_sorted=$(printf '%s' "$actual" | jq -S '.' 2>/dev/null)
 
   if [ "$expected_sorted" != "$actual_sorted" ]; then
-    local test_fn
-    test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-    local label
-    label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+    bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+    local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
     bashunit::assert::mark_failed
     bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "but got " "${actual}"
     return
diff --git a/src/bashunit.sh b/src/bashunit.sh
index d7c56ef5..48f6a99b 100644
--- a/src/bashunit.sh
+++ b/src/bashunit.sh
@@ -11,10 +11,8 @@ function bashunit::assertion_failed() {
   local actual=$2
   local failure_condition_message=${3:-"but got "}
 
-  local test_fn
-  test_fn="$(bashunit::helper::find_test_function_name)"
-  local label
-  label="$(bashunit::helper::normalize_test_function_name "$test_fn")"
+  bashunit::assert::label_to_slot
+  local label=$_BASHUNIT_ASSERT_LABEL_OUT
   bashunit::assert::mark_failed
   bashunit::console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" \
     "$failure_condition_message" "${actual}"
diff --git a/src/console_results.sh b/src/console_results.sh
index 5ef55a30..e6d685a9 100644
--- a/src/console_results.sh
+++ b/src/console_results.sh
@@ -607,68 +607,53 @@ function bashunit::console_results::print_profile_and_reset() {
   rm -f "$PROFILE_OUTPUT_PATH"
 }
 
-function bashunit::console_results::print_skipped_tests_and_reset() {
-  if [ -s "$SKIPPED_OUTPUT_PATH" ] && bashunit::env::is_show_skipped_enabled; then
-    local total_skipped
-    total_skipped=$(bashunit::state::get_tests_skipped)
+##
+# Flushes a deferred summary block (skipped/incomplete/risky): prints the
+# "There was 1 <noun>" / "There were N <nouns>" header, then the recorded lines
+# from output_path (carriage returns stripped, blank lines dropped, each prefixed
+# with "|"), removes the file and prints a trailing blank line. Callers own the
+# `[ -s path ]` (and any `is_show_*`) guard so each block keeps its own gate.
+# Arguments: $1 output path, $2 total count, $3 singular noun, $4 plural noun
+##
+function bashunit::console_results::flush_deferred_block() {
+  local output_path=$1
+  local total=$2
+  local singular=$3
+  local plural=$4
 
-    if bashunit::env::is_simple_output_enabled; then
-      printf "\n"
-    fi
+  if bashunit::env::is_simple_output_enabled; then
+    printf "\n"
+  fi
 
-    if [ "$total_skipped" -eq 1 ]; then
-      echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There was 1 skipped test:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
-    else
-      echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There were $total_skipped skipped tests:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
-    fi
+  if [ "$total" -eq 1 ]; then
+    echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There was 1 ${singular}:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
+  else
+    echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There were ${total} ${plural}:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
+  fi
 
-    tr -d '\r' <"$SKIPPED_OUTPUT_PATH" | sed '/^[[:space:]]*$/d' | sed 's/^/|/'
-    rm "$SKIPPED_OUTPUT_PATH"
+  tr -d '\r' <"$output_path" | sed '/^[[:space:]]*$/d' | sed 's/^/|/'
+  rm "$output_path"
 
-    echo ""
+  echo ""
+}
+
+function bashunit::console_results::print_skipped_tests_and_reset() {
+  if [ -s "$SKIPPED_OUTPUT_PATH" ] && bashunit::env::is_show_skipped_enabled; then
+    bashunit::console_results::flush_deferred_block "$SKIPPED_OUTPUT_PATH" \
+      "$(bashunit::state::get_tests_skipped)" "skipped test" "skipped tests"
   fi
 }
 
 function bashunit::console_results::print_incomplete_tests_and_reset() {
   if [ -s "$INCOMPLETE_OUTPUT_PATH" ] && bashunit::env::is_show_incomplete_enabled; then
-    local total_incomplete
-    total_incomplete=$(bashunit::state::get_tests_incomplete)
-
-    if bashunit::env::is_simple_output_enabled; then
-      printf "\n"
-    fi
-
-    if [ "$total_incomplete" -eq 1 ]; then
-      echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There was 1 incomplete test:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
-    else
-      echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There were $total_incomplete incomplete tests:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
-    fi
-
-    tr -d '\r' <"$INCOMPLETE_OUTPUT_PATH" | sed '/^[[:space:]]*$/d' | sed 's/^/|/'
-    rm "$INCOMPLETE_OUTPUT_PATH"
-
-    echo ""
+    bashunit::console_results::flush_deferred_block "$INCOMPLETE_OUTPUT_PATH" \
+      "$(bashunit::state::get_tests_incomplete)" "incomplete test" "incomplete tests"
   fi
 }
 
 function bashunit::console_results::print_risky_tests_and_reset() {
   if [ -s "$RISKY_OUTPUT_PATH" ]; then
-    local total_risky
-    total_risky=$(bashunit::state::get_tests_risky)
-
-    if bashunit::env::is_simple_output_enabled; then
-      printf "\n"
-    fi
-
-    if [ "$total_risky" -eq 1 ]; then
-      echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There was 1 risky test:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
-    else
-      echo -e "${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_BOLD}There were $total_risky risky tests:${_BASHUNIT_COLOR_DEFAULT}\n"
-    fi
-
-    tr -d '\r' <"$RISKY_OUTPUT_PATH" | sed '/^[[:space:]]*$/d' | sed 's/^/|/'
-    rm "$RISKY_OUTPUT_PATH"
-
-    echo ""
+    bashunit::console_results::flush_deferred_block "$RISKY_OUTPUT_PATH" \
+      "$(bashunit::state::get_tests_risky)" "risky test" "risky tests"
   fi
 }
diff --git a/src/helpers.sh b/src/helpers.sh
index deb9c310..555a5463 100755
--- a/src/helpers.sh
+++ b/src/helpers.sh
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ function bashunit::helper::encode_base64() {
 
   # Handle empty string specially - base64 of "" is "", which gets lost in line parsing
   if [ -z "$value" ]; then
-    printf '%s' "_BASHUNIT_EMPTY_"
+    printf '%s' "$_BASHUNIT_BASE64_EMPTY_SENTINEL"
     return
   fi
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ function bashunit::helper::decode_base64() {
   local value="$1"
 
   # Empty input decodes to empty; short-circuit to skip the base64 fork (#762).
-  if [ -z "$value" ] || [ "$value" = "_BASHUNIT_EMPTY_" ]; then
+  if [ -z "$value" ] || [ "$value" = "$_BASHUNIT_BASE64_EMPTY_SENTINEL" ]; then
     printf ''
     return
   fi
@@ -569,8 +569,6 @@ function bashunit::helper::find_total_tests() {
         local -a functions_to_run=()
         # shellcheck disable=SC2206
         functions_to_run=($filtered_functions)
-        # shellcheck disable=SC2034
-        local -a provider_data=()
         local provider_data_count=0
         local fn_name line
         # Scan once; functions without a provider count as 1 with no fork (#763).
diff --git a/src/runner.sh b/src/runner.sh
index b07ff49d..bc3864e8 100755
--- a/src/runner.sh
+++ b/src/runner.sh
@@ -1482,7 +1482,7 @@ function bashunit::runner::decode_subshell_output() {
 
   local test_output_base64="${test_execution_result##*##TEST_OUTPUT=}"
   test_output_base64="${test_output_base64%%##*}"
-  if [ -z "$test_output_base64" ] || [ "$test_output_base64" = "_BASHUNIT_EMPTY_" ]; then
+  if [ -z "$test_output_base64" ] || [ "$test_output_base64" = "$_BASHUNIT_BASE64_EMPTY_SENTINEL" ]; then
     _BASHUNIT_RUNNER_SUBSHELL_OUTPUT_OUT=""
     return
   fi
diff --git a/src/state.sh b/src/state.sh
index 67b8a19a..c36b74ff 100644
--- a/src/state.sh
+++ b/src/state.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@ case "$_bashunit_base64_help" in
 esac
 unset _bashunit_base64_help
 
+# Wire sentinel for an empty base64 payload. base64 of "" is "", which gets lost
+# in line parsing, so encode_base64 emits this token and both decode sites map it
+# back to "". Single source of truth keeps the encode (helpers.sh) and decode
+# (helpers.sh, runner.sh) sides byte-identical.
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034 # read cross-file in helpers.sh and runner.sh
+_BASHUNIT_BASE64_EMPTY_SENTINEL="_BASHUNIT_EMPTY_"
+
 _BASHUNIT_TESTS_PASSED=0
 _BASHUNIT_TESTS_FAILED=0
 _BASHUNIT_TESTS_SKIPPED=0