diff --git a/shared/python/utils.py b/shared/python/utils.py
index aab551c..e7378ec 100644
--- a/shared/python/utils.py
+++ b/shared/python/utils.py
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ def create_infrastructure(self, bypass_infrastructure_check: bool = False, allow
                             print_error('Infrastructure deployment cancelled by user.')
                             raise SystemExit("User cancelled deployment")
                     except (KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError) as exc:
-                        print_error('Infrastructure deployment cancelled by user (Escape/Ctrl+C pressed).')
                         raise SystemExit("User cancelled deployment") from exc
 
             # Check infrastructure existence for the normal flow
@@ -213,9 +212,9 @@ def create_infrastructure(self, bypass_infrastructure_check: bool = False, allow
 
             return True
 
-        except KeyboardInterrupt as exc:  # pragma: no cover
+        except (KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError):  # pragma: no cover
             print_error('\nInfrastructure deployment cancelled by user.')
-            raise SystemExit("User cancelled deployment") from exc
+            return False
         except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover
             print_error(f'Infrastructure deployment failed with error: {e}')
             raise SystemExit(1) from e
@@ -740,13 +739,13 @@ def _prompt_for_infrastructure_update(rg_name: str) -> tuple[bool, int | None]:
     print_plain('ℹ️ Choose an option (input box at the top of the screen):')
     print_plain('     1. Update the existing infrastructure (recommended)')
     print_plain('     2. Use a different index')
-    print_plain('     3. Delete the existing resource group first using the clean-up notebook\n')
+    print_plain('     3. Delete the existing resource group first using the clean-up notebook')
+    print_plain('     (Press ESC to cancel)\n')
 
     while True:
         choice = input('\nEnter your choice (1, 2, or 3): ').strip()
 
-        # Default to option 1 if user just presses Enter
-        if choice == '1' or not choice:
+        if choice == '1':
             return True, None
         elif choice == '2':
             # Option 2: Prompt for a different index
@@ -767,6 +766,9 @@ def _prompt_for_infrastructure_update(rg_name: str) -> tuple[bool, int | None]:
                     print_plain('❌ Please enter a valid integer for the index.')
         elif choice == '3':
             return False, None
+        elif not choice:
+            # Empty input (ESC pressed in Jupyter) - cancel
+            raise EOFError()
         else:
             print_plain('❌ Invalid choice. Please enter 1, 2, or 3.')
 
@@ -783,8 +785,7 @@ def does_infrastructure_exist(infrastructure: INFRASTRUCTURE, index: int, allow_
         bool: True if the infrastructure exists and no update is desired, False if infrastructure doesn't exist or update is confirmed.
     """
 
-    print_plain(f'� Debug: does_infrastructure_exist called with allow_update_option={allow_update_option}')
-    print_plain('�🔍 Checking if infrastructure already exists...')
+    print_plain('🔍 Checking if infrastructure already exists...')
 
     rg_name = az.get_infra_rg_name(infrastructure, index)
 
@@ -801,16 +802,19 @@ def does_infrastructure_exist(infrastructure: INFRASTRUCTURE, index: int, allow_
             print_info('Choose an option (input box at the top of the screen):')
             print_plain('     1. Update the existing infrastructure (recommended and not destructive if samples already exist)')
             print_plain('     2. Use a different index')
-            print_plain('     3. Exit, then delete the existing resource group separately via the clean-up notebook\n')
+            print_plain('     3. Exit, then delete the existing resource group separately via the clean-up notebook')
+            print_plain('     (Press ESC to cancel)\n')
 
             while True:
                 choice = input('\nEnter your choice (1, 2, or 3): ').strip()
 
-                # Default to option 1 if user just presses Enter
                 if choice == '1':
                     return False  # Allow deployment to proceed
-                elif not choice or choice in('2', '3'):
+                elif choice in ('2', '3'):
                     return True  # Block deployment
+                elif not choice:
+                    # Empty input (ESC pressed in Jupyter) - cancel
+                    raise EOFError()
                 else:
                     print_plain('❌ Invalid choice. Please enter 1, 2, or 3.')
         else:
diff --git a/tests/python/check_python.ps1 b/tests/python/check_python.ps1
index 0850c41..1a63d2c 100644
--- a/tests/python/check_python.ps1
+++ b/tests/python/check_python.ps1
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ Write-Host "╚═════════════════════
 Write-Host ""
 
 # Determine statuses
-$LintStatus = if ($LintExitCode -eq 0) { "✅ PASSED" } else { "⚠️  ISSUES FOUND" }
-$TestStatus = if ($TestExitCode -eq 0) { "✅ PASSED" } else { "❌ FAILED" }
+$LintStatus = if ($LintExitCode -eq 0) { "✅ PASSED" } else { "⚠️  ISSUES FOUND" } # leave two spaces after yellow triangle to display correctly
+$TestStatus = if ($FailedTests -eq 0) { "✅ PASSED" } else { "❌ FAILED" }
 
 # Get pylint score
 $PylintScore = $null
@@ -168,11 +168,7 @@ if (Test-Path $LatestPylintText) {
 
 # Set colors
 $LintColor = if ($LintExitCode -eq 0) { "Green" } else { "Yellow" }
-$TestColor = if ($TestExitCode -eq 0) { "Green" } else { "Red" }
-
-# Calculate column widths for alignment
-$LabelWidth = "Pylint   :".Length  # 7
-$Padding = " " * ($LabelWidth - 1)
+$TestColor = if ($FailedTests -eq 0) { "Green" } else { "Red" }
 
 # Display Pylint status with score
 Write-Host "Pylint   : " -NoNewline
diff --git a/tests/python/check_python.sh b/tests/python/check_python.sh
index 55c5ac8..8084c0e 100644
--- a/tests/python/check_python.sh
+++ b/tests/python/check_python.sh
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ echo ""
 if [ $LINT_EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ]; then
     LINT_STATUS="✅ PASSED"
 else
-    LINT_STATUS="⚠️  ISSUES FOUND"
+    LINT_STATUS="⚠️  ISSUES FOUND" # leave two spaces after yellow triangle to display correctly
 fi
 
 # Determine Test status
-if [ $TEST_EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ]; then
+if [ $FAILED_TESTS -eq 0 ]; then
     TEST_STATUS="✅ PASSED"
 else
     TEST_STATUS="❌ FAILED"
@@ -132,7 +132,11 @@ if [ -n "$PYLINT_SCORE" ]; then
     echo "             ($PYLINT_SCORE)"
 fi
 
-echo "Tests    : $TEST_STATUS"
+if [ $FAILED_TESTS -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "Tests    : $TEST_STATUS"
+else
+    echo -e "Tests    : \e[31m$TEST_STATUS\e[0m"  # Red color for failed tests
+fi
 if [ $TOTAL_TESTS -gt 0 ]; then
     # Calculate percentages (using bc for floating point)
     PASSED_PERCENT=$(echo "scale=2; $PASSED_TESTS / $TOTAL_TESTS * 100" | bc)
diff --git a/tests/python/test_apimtypes.py b/tests/python/test_apimtypes.py
index 360ff64..d3988e1 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_apimtypes.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_apimtypes.py
@@ -760,6 +760,49 @@ def test_sleep_time_constant(self):
         assert SLEEP_TIME_BETWEEN_REQUESTS_MS > 0
 
 
+# ------------------------------
+#    PROJECT ROOT TESTS
+# ------------------------------
+
+# ------------------------------
+#    PRIVATE FUNCTION TESTS
+# ------------------------------
+
+class TestReadPolicyXml:
+    """Test suite for _read_policy_xml private function."""
+
+    def test_read_policy_xml_returns_string(self):
+        """Test that _read_policy_xml returns a string when given a valid file."""
+        # Use an actual policy file from the repository
+        result = apimtypes._read_policy_xml(DEFAULT_XML_POLICY_PATH)
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+        assert len(result) > 0
+
+    def test_read_policy_xml_returns_xml_structure(self):
+        """Test that returned content has basic XML structure."""
+        result = apimtypes._read_policy_xml(DEFAULT_XML_POLICY_PATH)
+        assert '<' in result
+        assert '>' in result
+
+    def test_read_policy_xml_with_backend_file(self):
+        """Test reading backend policy XML file from repository."""
+        result = apimtypes._read_policy_xml(BACKEND_XML_POLICY_PATH)
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+        assert len(result) > 0
+
+    def test_read_policy_xml_with_hello_world_file(self):
+        """Test reading hello-world policy XML file from repository."""
+        result = apimtypes._read_policy_xml(HELLO_WORLD_XML_POLICY_PATH)
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+        assert len(result) > 0
+
+    def test_read_policy_xml_with_request_headers_file(self):
+        """Test reading request-headers policy XML file from repository."""
+        result = apimtypes._read_policy_xml(REQUEST_HEADERS_XML_POLICY_PATH)
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+        assert len(result) > 0
+
+
 # ------------------------------
 #    PROJECT ROOT TESTS
 # ------------------------------
diff --git a/tests/python/test_slowness_detection.py b/tests/python/test_miscellaneous.py
similarity index 80%
rename from tests/python/test_slowness_detection.py
rename to tests/python/test_miscellaneous.py
index 76f4e89..21024ec 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_slowness_detection.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_miscellaneous.py
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
-"""Verification tests for test infrastructure slowness detection."""
+"""Miscellaneous tests that are used sporadically to assess test harness behavior."""
 
+#import pytest
 #from __future__ import annotations
 
 
+# @pytest.mark.unit
+# def test_true_is_false():
+#     assert True is False
+
+
+
 # @pytest.mark.unit
 # def test_slowness_detection_verification():
 #     """Intentionally slow test to verify slowness detection feature works.
diff --git a/tests/python/test_utils.py b/tests/python/test_utils.py
index 5811b51..5d4709d 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_utils.py
@@ -993,8 +993,8 @@ def test_prompt_for_infrastructure_update_option_1(monkeypatch):
     assert result == (True, None)
 
 def test_prompt_for_infrastructure_update_option_1_default(monkeypatch):
-    """Test _prompt_for_infrastructure_update when user presses Enter (defaults to option 1)."""
-    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda prompt: '')
+    """Test _prompt_for_infrastructure_update when user selects option 1 explicitly."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda prompt: '1')
 
     result = utils._prompt_for_infrastructure_update('test-rg')
     assert result == (True, None)