diff --git a/packages/runs/src/state.mjs b/packages/runs/src/state.mjs
index a92c8713..c32758bc 100644
--- a/packages/runs/src/state.mjs
+++ b/packages/runs/src/state.mjs
@@ -78,5 +78,5 @@ export function readActivationLog(dataRoot, { last } = {}) {
     if (entry === null) malformed += 1;
     else entries.push(entry);
   }
-  return { entries: last === undefined ? entries : entries.slice(-last), malformed };
+  return { entries: last === undefined ? entries : entries.slice(0, last), malformed };
 }