diff --git a/gunicorn/ctl/handlers.py b/gunicorn/ctl/handlers.py
index dedf349f..690c9842 100644
--- a/gunicorn/ctl/handlers.py
+++ b/gunicorn/ctl/handlers.py
@@ -474,7 +474,13 @@ class CommandHandlers:
             List of dirty worker info dicts, or empty list on error
         """
         import socket
-        dirty_socket_path = os.environ.get('GUNICORN_DIRTY_SOCKET')
+
+        # Get socket path from arbiter object or environment
+        dirty_socket_path = None
+        if hasattr(self.arbiter, 'dirty_arbiter') and self.arbiter.dirty_arbiter:
+            dirty_socket_path = getattr(self.arbiter.dirty_arbiter, 'socket_path', None)
+        if not dirty_socket_path:
+            dirty_socket_path = os.environ.get('GUNICORN_DIRTY_SOCKET')
         if not dirty_socket_path:
             return []
 
@@ -500,8 +506,10 @@ class CommandHandlers:
                 data = response.get("data", {})
                 return data.get("workers", [])
 
-        except Exception:
-            pass
+        except Exception as e:
+            # Log error for debugging
+            if hasattr(self.arbiter, 'log') and self.arbiter.log:
+                self.arbiter.log.debug("Failed to query dirty workers: %s", e)
 
         return []
 
diff --git a/gunicorn/dirty/protocol.py b/gunicorn/dirty/protocol.py
index b6e996af..8091b23f 100644
--- a/gunicorn/dirty/protocol.py
+++ b/gunicorn/dirty/protocol.py
@@ -277,6 +277,21 @@ class BinaryProtocol:
         header = BinaryProtocol.encode_header(MSG_TYPE_END, request_id, 0)
         return header
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def encode_status(request_id: int) -> bytes:
+        """
+        Encode a status query message.
+
+        Args:
+            request_id: Request identifier
+
+        Returns:
+            bytes: Complete message (header + empty payload)
+        """
+        # Status query has empty payload
+        header = BinaryProtocol.encode_header(MSG_TYPE_STATUS, request_id, 0)
+        return header
+
     @staticmethod
     def encode_stash(request_id: int, op: int, table: str,
                      key=None, value=None, pattern=None) -> bytes:
@@ -586,6 +601,8 @@ class BinaryProtocol:
                 message.get("value"),
                 message.get("pattern")
             )
+        elif msg_type == MSG_TYPE_STATUS:
+            return BinaryProtocol.encode_status(request_id)
         else:
             raise DirtyProtocolError(f"Unhandled message type: {msg_type}")