test(release): fail when the asynchronous check queue cannot complete

Preserve contributor history while applying the exact reviewed current-main repair.

Source-PR: https://github.com/affaan-m/ECC/pull/3195
Source-Parent: f36b5d1fda
Review-Manifest-SHA256: ac156e1ed28f771f5ddb00913804dbdc79d96c13dc2090bc86f10e0fec7f5636

tests/ci/release-packed-artifact-workflow.test.js

@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ const {
 } = require('../../scripts/ci/verify-release-gates.js');
 const lifecycleRunnerSource = load('tests/ci/packed-artifact-lifecycle.js');
 
+// A pending Promise alone does not keep Node alive. Only a completed queue
+// may report success, including when a deadline regression leaves it unsettled.
+process.exitCode = 1;
 let passed = 0;
 let failed = 0;
 let pendingTests = Promise.resolve();