diff --git a/extension/src/service-worker/vault.ts b/extension/src/service-worker/vault.ts
index b189e18..ad91ad3 100644
--- a/extension/src/service-worker/vault.ts
+++ b/extension/src/service-worker/vault.ts
@@ -566,9 +566,7 @@ export function handleGetVaultStatus(
   },
 ): GetVaultStatusResponse | { ok: false; error: string } {
   if (!state.gitHost) return { ok: false, error: 'vault_locked' };
-  const pendingItems = state.manifest
-    ? Object.values(state.manifest.items).filter((e) => e.trashed_at === undefined).length
-    : 0;
+  const pendingItems = state.manifest ? listItems(state.manifest).length : 0;
   return {
     ok: true,
     data: {
diff --git a/extension/src/vault/vault-status.ts b/extension/src/vault/vault-status.ts
index b55132f..d68a1b9 100644
--- a/extension/src/vault/vault-status.ts
+++ b/extension/src/vault/vault-status.ts
@@ -5,16 +5,13 @@ import {
   GLYPH_PENDING,
 } from '../shared/glyphs';
 import { relativeTime } from '../shared/relative-time';
+import type { GetVaultStatusResponse } from '../shared/messages';
 
-// Local shape for the sidebar-footer indicator. Mirrors the get_vault_status
-// response data (ahead/behind/lastSyncAt/pendingItems). lastSyncAt is a unix
-// timestamp in SECONDS, or null when the vault has never synced.
-export interface VaultStatus {
-  ahead: number;
-  behind: number;
-  lastSyncAt: number | null;
-  pendingItems: number;
-}
+// The indicator consumes exactly the get_vault_status response payload; alias
+// it (rather than re-declaring the four fields) so the shape stays single-
+// sourced and can't drift from the SW handler. lastSyncAt is a unix timestamp
+// in SECONDS, or null when the vault has never synced.
+export type VaultStatus = GetVaultStatusResponse['data'];
 
 export function renderStatusIndicator(el: HTMLElement, status: VaultStatus): void {
   const ts = status.lastSyncAt !== null