diff --git a/lua/test-samurai/core.lua b/lua/test-samurai/core.lua
index 9bbf156..5c3b05b 100644
--- a/lua/test-samurai/core.lua
+++ b/lua/test-samurai/core.lua
@@ -395,12 +395,6 @@ local function run_command(command, opts)
     if not results then
       return
     end
-    local lines = format_results(results)
-    if #lines == 0 then
-      return
-    end
-    ensure_output_started()
-    append_lines(buf, lines)
     had_parsed_output = true
     if options.track_scope then
       if results.failures_all ~= nil then
@@ -409,6 +403,12 @@ local function run_command(command, opts)
         state.last_scope_failures = results.failures
       end
     end
+    local lines = format_results(results)
+    if #lines == 0 then
+      return
+    end
+    ensure_output_started()
+    append_lines(buf, lines)
   end
 
   run_cmd(cmd, cwd, {
diff --git a/lua/test-samurai/runners/js.lua b/lua/test-samurai/runners/js.lua
index e864da3..f3c51f6 100644
--- a/lua/test-samurai/runners/js.lua
+++ b/lua/test-samurai/runners/js.lua
@@ -445,7 +445,31 @@ function M.new(opts)
   local function parse_mocha(output)
     local ok, data = pcall(vim.json.decode, output)
     if not ok or type(data) ~= "table" then
-      return nil
+      local passes = {}
+      local failures = {}
+      local skips = {}
+      for line in (output or ""):gmatch("[^\n]+") do
+        local ok_line, entry = pcall(vim.json.decode, line)
+        if ok_line and type(entry) == "table" then
+          local event = entry.event or entry[1] or entry["1"]
+          local payload = entry
+          if not entry.event then
+            payload = entry[2] or entry["2"] or {}
+          end
+          local title = payload.fullTitle or payload.title
+          if event == "pass" and title then
+            table.insert(passes, title)
+          elseif event == "fail" and title then
+            table.insert(failures, title)
+          elseif event == "pending" and title then
+            table.insert(skips, title)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+      if #passes == 0 and #failures == 0 and #skips == 0 then
+        return nil
+      end
+      return { passes = passes, failures = failures, skips = skips }
     end
     local passes = {}
     local failures = {}
@@ -496,7 +520,7 @@ function M.new(opts)
   end
 
   function runner.output_parser()
-    local state = { raw = {}, done = false }
+    local state = { raw = {}, done = false, saw_stream = false }
     local failures = {}
     local skips = {}
     return {
@@ -514,28 +538,45 @@ function M.new(opts)
           end
           if uses_stream then
             local ok, data = pcall(vim.json.decode, line)
-            if ok and type(data) == "table" and data.event then
-              if data.event == "pass" and data.fullTitle then
+            if ok and type(data) == "table" then
+              local event = data.event
+              local payload = data
+              if not event then
+                event = data[1] or data["1"]
+                payload = data[2] or data["2"] or {}
+              end
+              if event == "pass" and payload.fullTitle then
+                state.saw_stream = true
                 return {
-                  passes = { data.fullTitle },
+                  passes = { payload.fullTitle },
                   failures = {},
                   skips = {},
                   failures_all = vim.deepcopy(failures),
                 }
-              elseif data.event == "fail" and data.fullTitle then
-                table.insert(failures, data.fullTitle)
+              elseif event == "fail" and payload.fullTitle then
+                state.saw_stream = true
+                table.insert(failures, payload.fullTitle)
                 return {
                   passes = {},
-                  failures = { data.fullTitle },
+                  failures = { payload.fullTitle },
                   skips = {},
                   failures_all = vim.deepcopy(failures),
                 }
-              elseif data.event == "pending" and data.fullTitle then
-                table.insert(skips, data.fullTitle)
+              elseif event == "pending" and payload.fullTitle then
+                state.saw_stream = true
+                table.insert(skips, payload.fullTitle)
                 return {
                   passes = {},
                   failures = {},
-                  skips = { data.fullTitle },
+                  skips = { payload.fullTitle },
+                  failures_all = vim.deepcopy(failures),
+                }
+              elseif event == "start" or event == "end" then
+                state.saw_stream = true
+                return {
+                  passes = {},
+                  failures = {},
+                  skips = {},
                   failures_all = vim.deepcopy(failures),
                 }
               end
@@ -596,7 +637,7 @@ function M.new(opts)
         return results
       end,
       on_complete = function(output, _state)
-        if state.done then
+        if state.done or state.saw_stream then
           return nil
         end
         local results = parse_output(output)
@@ -618,8 +659,13 @@ function M.new(opts)
     append_args(cmd, runner.json_args)
 
     if runner.framework == "mocha" then
-      table.insert(cmd, "--grep")
-      table.insert(cmd, pattern)
+      if #failures == 1 then
+        table.insert(cmd, "--fgrep")
+        table.insert(cmd, failures[1])
+      else
+        table.insert(cmd, "--grep")
+        table.insert(cmd, pattern)
+      end
     else
       table.insert(cmd, "-t")
       table.insert(cmd, pattern)
diff --git a/tests/test_samurai_failed_only_spec.lua b/tests/test_samurai_failed_only_spec.lua
index b5c4b00..cabb9af 100644
--- a/tests/test_samurai_failed_only_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/test_samurai_failed_only_spec.lua
@@ -221,6 +221,77 @@ describe("TSamFailedOnly", function()
     assert.is_false(has_raw)
   end)
 
+  it("reruns failed mocha tests from json-stream array output without raw JSON", function()
+    test_samurai.setup({
+      runner_modules = {
+        "test-samurai.runners.js-mocha",
+      },
+    })
+
+    local fail_line = vim.json.encode({
+      event = "fail",
+      fullTitle = "API :: /brands... GET: /",
+    })
+    local start_line = vim.json.encode({ "start", { total = 1 } })
+    local end_line = vim.json.encode({ "end", { tests = 0 } })
+
+    local calls, orig_jobstart = stub_jobstart({
+      exit_codes = { 1, 1 },
+      stdout = { { fail_line }, { start_line, end_line } },
+    })
+
+    local bufnr = mkbuf("/tmp/project/brands.test.js", "javascript", {
+      'describe("API :: /brands...", function() {',
+      '  it("GET: /", function() {',
+      "    -- inside test",
+      "  })",
+      "})",
+    })
+
+    vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(bufnr)
+    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 3, 0 })
+
+    core.run_file()
+    core.run_failed_only()
+
+    local out_buf = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
+    local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(out_buf, 0, -1, false)
+
+    vim.fn.jobstart = orig_jobstart
+
+    assert.equals(2, #calls)
+    assert.are.same(
+      { "npx", "mocha", "--reporter", "json-stream", "/tmp/project/brands.test.js" },
+      calls[1].cmd
+    )
+    local failed_cmd = calls[2].cmd or {}
+    local saw_grep = false
+    local saw_fgrep = false
+    local saw_title = false
+    local plain_title = "API :: /brands... GET: /"
+    for _, arg in ipairs(failed_cmd) do
+      if arg == "--grep" then
+        saw_grep = true
+      elseif arg == "--fgrep" then
+        saw_fgrep = true
+      elseif arg == plain_title then
+        saw_title = true
+      end
+    end
+    assert.is_false(saw_grep)
+    assert.is_true(saw_fgrep)
+    assert.is_true(saw_title)
+
+    local has_raw = false
+    for _, line in ipairs(lines) do
+      if line == start_line or line == end_line then
+        has_raw = true
+        break
+      end
+    end
+    assert.is_false(has_raw)
+  end)
+
   it("does not affect TSamLast history", function()
     local json = vim.json.encode({
       testResults = {
diff --git a/tests/test_samurai_output_spec.lua b/tests/test_samurai_output_spec.lua
index fa5945a..881bc7d 100644
--- a/tests/test_samurai_output_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/test_samurai_output_spec.lua
@@ -273,6 +273,67 @@ describe("test-samurai output formatting", function()
     assert.is_false(has_raw_json)
   end)
 
+  it("formats mocha json-stream array output as PASS/FAIL lines", function()
+    test_samurai.setup({
+      runner_modules = {
+        "test-samurai.runners.js-mocha",
+      },
+    })
+
+    local pass_line = vim.json.encode({
+      "pass",
+      {
+        title = "GET: /",
+        fullTitle = "API :: /brands... GET: /",
+      },
+    })
+
+    local orig_jobstart = vim.fn.jobstart
+    vim.fn.jobstart = function(_cmd, opts)
+      if opts and opts.on_stdout then
+        opts.on_stdout(1, { pass_line }, nil)
+      end
+      if opts and opts.on_exit then
+        opts.on_exit(1, 0, nil)
+      end
+      return 1
+    end
+
+    local bufnr = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(bufnr, "/tmp/output_mocha_json_stream.test.js")
+    vim.bo[bufnr].filetype = "javascript"
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false, {
+      'describe("outer", function() {',
+      '  it("inner 1", function() {',
+      "    -- inside 1",
+      "  })",
+      "})",
+    })
+
+    vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(bufnr)
+    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 3, 0 })
+
+    core.run_nearest()
+
+    local out_buf = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
+    local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(out_buf, 0, -1, false)
+
+    vim.fn.jobstart = orig_jobstart
+
+    local has_pass = false
+    local has_raw_json = false
+    for _, line in ipairs(lines) do
+      if line == "[ PASS ] - API :: /brands... GET: /" then
+        has_pass = true
+      elseif line == pass_line then
+        has_raw_json = true
+      end
+    end
+
+    assert.is_true(has_pass)
+    assert.is_false(has_raw_json)
+  end)
+
   it("does not print raw JSON when JSON arrives on stdout and stderr", function()
     test_samurai.setup({
       runner_modules = {
@@ -426,15 +487,19 @@ describe("test-samurai output formatting", function()
     assert.is_true(#job_calls >= 2)
     local failed_cmd = job_calls[2].cmd or {}
     local saw_grep = false
+    local saw_fgrep = false
     local saw_title = false
     for _, arg in ipairs(failed_cmd) do
       if arg == "--grep" then
         saw_grep = true
+      elseif arg == "--fgrep" then
+        saw_fgrep = true
       elseif arg == "outer inner 2" then
         saw_title = true
       end
     end
-    assert.is_true(saw_grep)
+    assert.is_false(saw_grep)
+    assert.is_true(saw_fgrep)
     assert.is_true(saw_title)
   end)