diff --git a/app/core/outbox.py b/app/core/outbox.py
index 5dcdd1d..3d61d6b 100644
--- a/app/core/outbox.py
+++ b/app/core/outbox.py
@@ -214,16 +214,23 @@ def _json_payload(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
 def _get_handler_name(handler: Any) -> str:
     """Extract a human-readable name from a handler callable.
 
-    Prefers ``__qualname__`` (includes the owning class, e.g.
-    ``AutomationPlugin.on_contact_created``) over ``__name__`` so the
-    consumer registry distinguishes handlers that share a method name
+    For bound methods (plugin handlers are bound methods, e.g.
+    ``AutomationPlugin.on_contact_created``) prefers ``__qualname__`` so
+    the consumer registry distinguishes handlers that share a method name
     across plugins (automation/unified_search/system_notif all define
     ``on_contact_created`` — three distinct handlers, same short name).
+
+    Plain functions keep their ``__name__`` (nested test functions have
+    verbose qualnames like ``test_x.<locals>.handler``).
     """
-    name = getattr(handler, "__qualname__", None)
+    if hasattr(handler, "__self__"):
+        qualname = getattr(handler, "__qualname__", None)
+        if qualname:
+            return qualname
+    name = getattr(handler, "__name__", None)
     if name:
         return name
-    name = getattr(handler, "__name__", None)
+    name = getattr(handler, "__qualname__", None)
     if name:
         return name
     return str(handler)