diff --git a/packages/core/src/services/environmentSanitization.ts b/packages/core/src/services/environmentSanitization.ts
index 5d82ac227d..dc9c92484d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/services/environmentSanitization.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/services/environmentSanitization.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ export function sanitizeEnvironment(
   processEnv: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
   config: EnvironmentSanitizationConfig,
 ): NodeJS.ProcessEnv {
-  if (!config.enableEnvironmentVariableRedaction) {
+  // Enable strict sanitization in GitHub actions.
+  const isStrictSanitization =
+    !!processEnv['GITHUB_SHA'] || processEnv['SURFACE'] === 'Github';
+
+  // Always sanitize when in GitHub actions.
+  if (!config.enableEnvironmentVariableRedaction && !isStrictSanitization) {
     return { ...processEnv };
   }
 
@@ -27,9 +32,6 @@ export function sanitizeEnvironment(
     (config.blockedEnvironmentVariables || []).map((k) => k.toUpperCase()),
   );
 
-  // Enable strict sanitization in GitHub actions.
-  const isStrictSanitization = !!processEnv['GITHUB_SHA'];
-
   for (const key in processEnv) {
     const value = processEnv[key];
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/services/shellExecutionService.test.ts b/packages/core/src/services/shellExecutionService.test.ts
index 4061ed5b84..14ffafa3c0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/services/shellExecutionService.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/services/shellExecutionService.test.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ const shellExecutionConfig: ShellExecutionConfig = {
   showColor: false,
   disableDynamicLineTrimming: true,
   sanitizationConfig: {
-    enableEnvironmentVariableRedaction: true,
+    enableEnvironmentVariableRedaction: false,
     allowedEnvironmentVariables: [],
     blockedEnvironmentVariables: [],
   },
@@ -1422,9 +1422,74 @@ describe('ShellExecutionService environment variables', () => {
       vi.fn(),
       new AbortController().signal,
       true,
+      {
+        sanitizationConfig: {
+          enableEnvironmentVariableRedaction: false,
+          allowedEnvironmentVariables: [],
+          blockedEnvironmentVariables: [],
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    const cpEnv = mockCpSpawn.mock.calls[0][2].env;
+    expect(cpEnv).not.toHaveProperty('MY_SENSITIVE_VAR');
+    expect(cpEnv).toHaveProperty('PATH', '/test/path');
+    expect(cpEnv).toHaveProperty('GEMINI_CLI_TEST_VAR', 'test-value');
+
+    // Ensure child_process exits
+    mockChildProcess.emit('exit', 0, null);
+    mockChildProcess.emit('close', 0, null);
+    await new Promise(process.nextTick);
+  });
+
+  it('should use a sanitized environment when in a GitHub run (SURFACE=Github)', async () => {
+    // Mock the environment to simulate a GitHub Actions run via SURFACE variable
+    vi.stubEnv('SURFACE', 'Github');
+    vi.stubEnv('MY_SENSITIVE_VAR', 'secret-value'); // This should be stripped out
+    vi.stubEnv('PATH', '/test/path'); // An essential var that should be kept
+    vi.stubEnv('GEMINI_CLI_TEST_VAR', 'test-value'); // A test var that should be kept
+
+    vi.resetModules();
+    const { ShellExecutionService } = await import(
+      './shellExecutionService.js'
+    );
+
+    // Test pty path
+    await ShellExecutionService.execute(
+      'test-pty-command-surface',
+      '/',
+      vi.fn(),
+      new AbortController().signal,
+      true,
       shellExecutionConfig,
     );
 
+    const ptyEnv = mockPtySpawn.mock.calls[0][2].env;
+    expect(ptyEnv).not.toHaveProperty('MY_SENSITIVE_VAR');
+    expect(ptyEnv).toHaveProperty('PATH', '/test/path');
+    expect(ptyEnv).toHaveProperty('GEMINI_CLI_TEST_VAR', 'test-value');
+
+    // Ensure pty process exits for next test
+    mockPtyProcess.onExit.mock.calls[0][0]({ exitCode: 0, signal: null });
+    await new Promise(process.nextTick);
+
+    // Test child_process path
+    mockGetPty.mockResolvedValue(null); // Force fallback
+    await ShellExecutionService.execute(
+      'test-cp-command-surface',
+      '/',
+      vi.fn(),
+      new AbortController().signal,
+      true,
+      {
+        sanitizationConfig: {
+          enableEnvironmentVariableRedaction: false,
+          allowedEnvironmentVariables: [],
+          blockedEnvironmentVariables: [],
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
     const cpEnv = mockCpSpawn.mock.calls[0][2].env;
     expect(cpEnv).not.toHaveProperty('MY_SENSITIVE_VAR');
     expect(cpEnv).toHaveProperty('PATH', '/test/path');