diff --git a/packages/mosaic/framework/guides/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md b/packages/mosaic/framework/guides/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md
index f5d462ad..f2763b75 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/framework/guides/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md
+++ b/packages/mosaic/framework/guides/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ approve path carries the trap.) `pr-review.sh` sends the correct token for the d
 Whatever you use, re-read `GET /pulls/{n}/reviews` and assert the state before reporting a verdict
 placed.
 
-The guard exits nonzero for any provider-asserted non-green, missing, or malformed CI state. If credentials or the provider are unavailable, it emits `CANNOT_ASSERT` and writes a JSONL audit record. Push degrades to exit 0 so recovery work is not bricked; merge holds with retryable exit 75 until the provider recovers, then self-clears without manual reset. Neither outcome is evidence that CI was clear. `pr-merge.sh` automatically inspects the exact PR head repository and full commit SHA rather than its `main` base; this also handles fork PRs without branch-name ambiguity. Pass `--expect-head <approved-full-sha>` to bind a commit-specific review or merge-gate verdict; Gitea uses atomic `head_commit_id` and GitHub uses `--match-head-commit`.
+The guard exits nonzero for any provider-asserted non-green, missing, or malformed CI state. If credentials or the provider are unavailable, it emits `CANNOT_ASSERT` and writes a JSONL audit record. Push degrades to exit 0 so recovery work is not bricked; merge holds with retryable exit 75 until the provider recovers, then self-clears without manual reset. Neither outcome is evidence that CI was clear. For a repository with no CI configured at all, `pr-merge.sh --no-ci-expected` is the sanctioned merge path: it forwards to `ci-queue-wait.sh --no-ci-expected`, which reclassifies a zero-context merge head as queue-clear only when the acting token holds repository admin and `MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY` names the asserting identity (a caller without one is refused with exit 78 before the admin lookup), and records the assertion (or its refusal) in the same JSONL audit log. `pr-merge.sh` automatically inspects the exact PR head repository and full commit SHA rather than its `main` base; this also handles fork PRs without branch-name ambiguity. Pass `--expect-head <approved-full-sha>` to bind a commit-specific review or merge-gate verdict; Gitea uses atomic `head_commit_id` and GitHub uses `--match-head-commit`.
 
 ### Code Review (Codex)
 
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/ci-queue-wait.sh b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/ci-queue-wait.sh
index baeb8afb..99556511 100755
--- a/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/ci-queue-wait.sh
+++ b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/ci-queue-wait.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # ci-queue-wait.sh - Wait until project CI queue is clear (no running/queued pipeline on branch head)
-# Usage: ci-queue-wait.sh [-B branch] [-t timeout_sec] [-i interval_sec] [--purpose push|merge] [--require-status]
+# Usage: ci-queue-wait.sh [-B branch] [-t timeout_sec] [-i interval_sec] [--purpose push|merge] [--require-status] [--no-ci-expected]
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -14,10 +14,11 @@ TIMEOUT_SEC=900
 INTERVAL_SEC=15
 PURPOSE="merge"
 REQUIRE_STATUS=0
+NO_CI_EXPECTED=0
 
 usage() {
     cat <<EOF
-Usage: $(basename "$0") [-B branch] [-R owner/repo] [--sha full-40] [-t timeout_sec] [-i interval_sec] [--purpose push|merge] [--require-status]
+Usage: $(basename "$0") [-B branch] [-R owner/repo] [--sha full-40] [-t timeout_sec] [-i interval_sec] [--purpose push|merge] [--require-status] [--no-ci-expected]
 
 Options:
   -B, --branch BRANCH      Branch head to inspect (default: current branch)
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ Options:
   -i, --interval SECONDS   Poll interval in seconds (default: 15)
       --purpose VALUE      Log context: push|merge (default: merge)
       --require-status     Fail if no CI status contexts are present
+      --no-ci-expected     Assert this repository has no CI configured: a merge guard on a zero-context head becomes queue-clear (requires the acting token to hold repository admin); refused with exit 78 when MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY is unset or empty
   -h, --help               Show this help
 
 Examples:
@@ -175,6 +177,50 @@ PY
     return 0
 }
 
+# Durable audit record for an explicit no-CI assertion event (granted or
+# refused). Same JSONL sink and field shape as record_cannot_assert so one
+# reader covers all three outcomes; the outcome value distinguishes them.
+# rc 70 on an unwritable sink: a merge pass that cannot be audited must not
+# be reachable, mirroring record_cannot_assert's refusal of a degraded pass.
+record_assertion_event() {
+    local outcome="$1" reason="$2" asserted_by="$3"
+    local audit_log="${MOSAIC_CI_QUEUE_AUDIT_LOG:-${XDG_STATE_HOME:-${HOME:-}/.local/state}/mosaic/audit/ci-queue-wait.jsonl}"
+
+    if [[ -z "$audit_log" ]] || ! mkdir -p "$(dirname "$audit_log")"; then
+        echo "Error: could not write ${outcome} audit record (audit directory unavailable at ${audit_log})." >&2
+        return 70
+    fi
+
+    if ! python3 - "$audit_log" "$outcome" "$reason" "$asserted_by" "${PLATFORM:-unknown}" "$PURPOSE" "${BRANCH:-unknown}" "${OWNER:-unknown}/${REPO:-unknown}" <<'PY'
+import datetime
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+
+path, outcome, reason, asserted_by, platform, purpose, branch, repo = sys.argv[1:]
+record = {
+    "timestamp": datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+    "outcome": outcome,
+    "reason": reason,
+    "platform": platform,
+    "purpose": purpose,
+    "branch": branch,
+    "repo": repo,
+    "asserted_by": asserted_by,
+}
+fd = os.open(path, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT | os.O_APPEND, 0o600)
+try:
+    os.write(fd, (json.dumps(record, separators=(",", ":")) + "\n").encode())
+finally:
+    os.close(fd)
+PY
+    then
+        echo "Error: could not write ${outcome} audit record at ${audit_log}; refusing to proceed unaudited." >&2
+        return 70
+    fi
+    return 0
+}
+
 github_get_branch_head_sha() {
     local owner="$1"
     local repo="$2"
@@ -182,6 +228,24 @@ github_get_branch_head_sha() {
     gh api "repos/${owner}/${repo}/branches/${branch}" --jq '.commit.sha'
 }
 
+# Repository-admin state for the acting credential, GitHub flavor. The
+# repository object's permissions.admin is the field; read through the same
+# gh CLI the guard already authenticates with. rc 0 = admin, 1 = not admin
+# (or field absent), 2 = indeterminate (transport/API failure).
+github_repo_admin_state() {
+    local owner="$1"
+    local repo="$2"
+    local perm
+    if ! perm=$(gh api "repos/${owner}/${repo}" --jq '.permissions.admin' 2>/dev/null); then
+        return 2
+    fi
+    case "$perm" in
+        true)  return 0 ;;
+        false|null|"") return 1 ;;
+        *)     return 2 ;;
+    esac
+}
+
 github_get_commit_status_json() {
     local owner="$1"
     local repo="$2"
@@ -306,6 +370,41 @@ gitea_get_commit_status_json() {
     curl -fsSL -H "User-Agent: curl/8" -H "Authorization: token ${token}" "$url"
 }
 
+# Repository-admin state for the acting credential, Gitea flavor. The guard's
+# existing fetches (branch head, combined status) carry no permissions object
+# (measured: neither response includes one), so the elevation check reads the
+# repository object's permissions.admin, the one documented carrier of that
+# field. rc 0 = admin, 1 = not admin (or field absent), 2 = indeterminate
+# (non-200 or unparseable).
+gitea_repo_admin_state() {
+    local host="$1"
+    local repo="$2"
+    local token="$3"
+    local url="https://${host}/api/v1/repos/${repo}"
+    local resp code body
+    resp=$(curl -sS -H "User-Agent: curl/8" -H "Authorization: token ${token}" -w $'\n%{http_code}' "$url") || return 2
+    code="${resp##*$'\n'}"
+    body="${resp%$'\n'*}"
+    if [[ "$code" != "200" ]]; then
+        return 2
+    fi
+    printf '%s' "$body" | python3 -c '
+import json
+import sys
+
+try:
+    payload = json.load(sys.stdin)
+except Exception:
+    raise SystemExit(2)
+if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+    raise SystemExit(2)
+permissions = payload.get("permissions")
+if not isinstance(permissions, dict) or permissions.get("admin") is not True:
+    raise SystemExit(1)
+raise SystemExit(0)
+'
+}
+
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
     case "$1" in
         -B|--branch)
@@ -336,6 +435,10 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
             REQUIRE_STATUS=1
             shift
             ;;
+        --no-ci-expected)
+            NO_CI_EXPECTED=1
+            shift
+            ;;
         -h|--help)
             usage
             exit 0
@@ -365,6 +468,10 @@ if [[ "$PURPOSE" != "push" && "$PURPOSE" != "merge" ]]; then
     echo "Error: --purpose must be push or merge." >&2
     exit 1
 fi
+if [[ "$NO_CI_EXPECTED" -eq 1 && "$REQUIRE_STATUS" -eq 1 ]]; then
+    echo "Error: --no-ci-expected and --require-status contradict each other: one asserts the repository has no CI, the other demands status contexts. Pass at most one." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
 
 OWNER="unknown"
 REPO="unknown"
@@ -484,6 +591,48 @@ while true; do
                 echo "[ci-queue-wait] queue-clear state=no-status purpose=push branch=${BRANCH}; no queued or running CI."
                 exit 0
             fi
+            if [[ "$NO_CI_EXPECTED" -eq 1 ]]; then
+                # Explicit, elevated, audit-visible assertion that this
+                # repository has no CI to wait on. The zero-context case is
+                # the ONLY state the flag reclassifies: a pending or failed
+                # context still holds or fails exactly as without it, and a
+                # non-admin token is refused rather than trusted.
+                # The assertion must name an asserting identity: "unknown"
+                # attributes nothing, so a caller with MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY
+                # unset or empty is refused (exit 78) BEFORE the permission
+                # lookup -- an unattributable caller never triggers that
+                # network call.
+                if [[ -z "${MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY:-}" ]]; then
+                    record_assertion_event "ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE" "actor-unattributable" "unknown" \
+                        || echo "Warning: could not write the ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE audit record; the refusal itself stands." >&2
+                    echo "Error: ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE state=no-status purpose=merge asserted-by=unknown reason=no-ci-expected branch=${BRANCH}; --no-ci-expected requires MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY to name the asserting identity and it is unset or empty (exit 78)." >&2
+                    exit 78
+                fi
+                ASSERTED_BY="${MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY}"
+                ADMIN_STATE=2
+                if [[ "$PLATFORM" == "github" ]]; then
+                    if github_repo_admin_state "$OWNER" "$REPO"; then ADMIN_STATE=0; else ADMIN_STATE=$?; fi
+                else
+                    if gitea_repo_admin_state "$HOST" "$OWNER/$REPO" "$TOKEN"; then ADMIN_STATE=0; else ADMIN_STATE=$?; fi
+                fi
+                case "$ADMIN_STATE" in
+                    0)
+                        record_assertion_event "NO_CI_ASSERTED" "no-ci-expected" "$ASSERTED_BY" || exit $?
+                        echo "[ci-queue-wait] queue-clear state=no-status purpose=merge asserted-by=${ASSERTED_BY} reason=no-ci-expected branch=${BRANCH}"
+                        exit 0
+                        ;;
+                    1)
+                        record_assertion_event "ASSERTION_REFUSED" "actor-not-repo-admin" "$ASSERTED_BY" \
+                            || echo "Warning: could not write the ASSERTION_REFUSED audit record; the refusal itself stands." >&2
+                        echo "Error: ASSERTION_REFUSED state=no-status purpose=merge asserted-by=${ASSERTED_BY} reason=no-ci-expected branch=${BRANCH}; --no-ci-expected requires repository admin and the acting token is not an admin of ${OWNER}/${REPO} (exit 77)." >&2
+                        exit 77
+                        ;;
+                    *)
+                        record_cannot_assert "repo-permissions-unavailable"
+                        exit $?
+                        ;;
+                esac
+            fi
             echo "Error: ASSERTED_NOT_READY state=no-status purpose=${PURPOSE} branch=${BRANCH}." >&2
             exit 3
             ;;
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/pr-merge.sh b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/pr-merge.sh
index 1c861cca..33be9ee6 100755
--- a/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/pr-merge.sh
+++ b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/pr-merge.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # pr-merge.sh - Merge pull requests on Gitea or GitHub
-# Usage: pr-merge.sh -n PR_NUMBER [-m squash] [-d] [--expect-head SHA] [--co-author-trailers --escalate-to PRINCIPAL]
+# Usage: pr-merge.sh -n PR_NUMBER [-m squash] [-d] [--expect-head SHA] [--no-ci-expected] [--co-author-trailers --escalate-to PRINCIPAL]
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ DRY_RUN=false
 EXPECT_HEAD=""
 CO_AUTHOR_TRAILERS=false
 ESCALATE_TO=""
+NO_CI_EXPECTED=false
 
 usage() {
     cat <<EOF
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ Options:
     -d, --delete-branch     Delete the head branch after merge
         --dry-run           Run metadata/login preflight without merging
         --expect-head SHA   Refuse unless the PR head matches this full commit SHA
+        --no-ci-expected    Assert the target repository has no CI: forward --no-ci-expected to the queue guard (requires repository admin)
         --co-author-trailers Build verified trailers from linked PR commit authors
         --escalate-to NAME  Named principal for an unresolved-author BLOCK
     -h, --help              Show this help message
@@ -70,6 +72,10 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
             EXPECT_HEAD="$2"
             shift 2
             ;;
+        --no-ci-expected)
+            NO_CI_EXPECTED=true
+            shift
+            ;;
         --co-author-trailers)
             CO_AUTHOR_TRAILERS=true
             shift
@@ -154,13 +160,18 @@ if [[ "$DRY_RUN" != true ]]; then
     if [[ -z "$BASE_REPO" ]]; then
         BASE_REPO="$(get_repo_owner)/$(get_repo_name)"
     fi
-    "$SCRIPT_DIR/ci-queue-wait.sh" \
-        --purpose merge \
-        -B "$HEAD_BRANCH" \
-        -R "$BASE_REPO" \
-        --sha "$HEAD_SHA" \
-        -t "${MOSAIC_CI_QUEUE_TIMEOUT_SEC:-900}" \
+    guard_args=(
+        --purpose merge
+        -B "$HEAD_BRANCH"
+        -R "$BASE_REPO"
+        --sha "$HEAD_SHA"
+        -t "${MOSAIC_CI_QUEUE_TIMEOUT_SEC:-900}"
         -i "${MOSAIC_CI_QUEUE_POLL_SEC:-15}"
+    )
+    if [[ "$NO_CI_EXPECTED" == true ]]; then
+        guard_args+=(--no-ci-expected)
+    fi
+    "$SCRIPT_DIR/ci-queue-wait.sh" "${guard_args[@]}"
 fi
 
 PLATFORM=$(detect_platform)
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-no-ci-expected.sh b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-no-ci-expected.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..e1fc70df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-no-ci-expected.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Regression harness for ci-queue-wait.sh's --no-ci-expected assertion:
+# the sanctioned merge path for a repository with no CI configured at all.
+#
+# Zero status contexts ("no-status") stays fail-closed for --purpose merge
+# by default, because at merge time no-status can also mean "CI has not
+# reported yet". --no-ci-expected reclassifies ONLY that zero-context case
+# as queue-clear, and only for a caller whose acting token holds repository
+# admin. This harness pins:
+#   (a) merge + no-status + flag + admin     -> exit 0, audit line + JSONL.
+#   (b) merge + no-status, no flag           -> exit 3, existing text (unchanged).
+#   (c) merge + no-status + flag + non-admin -> exit 77 ASSERTION_REFUSED
+#       (distinct text, exit code NOT 3) + JSONL refusal record.
+#   (c2) flag + admin payload without the admin field -> fail closed as (c).
+#   (d) flag + --require-status              -> usage error, before any network.
+#   (e) flag + a real pending context        -> still holds (timeout 124),
+#       and the admin endpoint is never consulted.
+#   (f) push + no-status, with and without the flag -> push queue-clear
+#       unchanged; no admin consultation on push.
+#   (g) flag + admin lookup unreachable      -> CANNOT_ASSERT hold (75),
+#       not a silent pass and not a refusal.
+#   (h) flag + admin stub + NO MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY -> refusal BEFORE
+#       queue-clear and BEFORE the admin lookup: exit 78, no queue-clear
+#       line, an ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE JSONL record, no repos/ call.
+
+set -u
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+WORK_DIR="${MOSAIC_TEST_WORK_DIR:-$PWD/.mosaic-test-work/ci-queue-wait-no-ci-expected}"
+REPO_DIR="$WORK_DIR/repo"
+STUB_DIR="$WORK_DIR/stubs"
+URL_LOG="$WORK_DIR/urls.log"
+
+rm -rf "$WORK_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$REPO_DIR" "$STUB_DIR"
+
+git -C "$REPO_DIR" init -q
+git -C "$REPO_DIR" remote add origin https://git.example.test/acme/widgets.git
+
+# Same stub conventions as test-ci-queue-wait-no-status.sh; adds the
+# repository-object endpoint (admin state) selected by MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE.
+cat > "$STUB_DIR/curl" <<'SH'
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+has_w=0
+url=""
+for arg in "$@"; do
+    case "$arg" in
+        -w) has_w=1 ;;
+        http://*|https://*) url="$arg" ;;
+    esac
+done
+printf '%s\n' "$url" >> "${MOSAIC_STUB_URL_LOG:?}"
+
+case "$url" in
+    */branches/*)
+        body='{"commit":{"id":"deadbeefcafef00d0123456789abcdef01234567"}}'
+        if [[ "$has_w" == 1 ]]; then
+            printf '%s\n200' "$body"
+        else
+            printf '%s' "$body"
+        fi
+        exit 0
+        ;;
+    */status)
+        mode="${MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE:?MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE not set}"
+        case "$mode" in
+            no-status)   body='{"state":"","statuses":[]}' ;;
+            real-pending) body='{"state":"pending","statuses":[{"context":"ci/woodpecker","status":"running","target_url":""}]}' ;;
+            *) echo "curl stub: unknown status mode=$mode" >&2; exit 2 ;;
+        esac
+        printf '%s' "$body"
+        exit 0
+        ;;
+    */repos/*)
+        mode="${MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE:?MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE not set}"
+        case "$mode" in
+            admin)          body='{"permissions":{"admin":true,"push":true,"pull":true}}' ;;
+            non-admin)      body='{"permissions":{"admin":false,"push":true,"pull":true}}' ;;
+            no-admin-field) body='{"permissions":{}}' ;;
+            unreachable)    exit 7 ;;
+            *) echo "curl stub: unknown admin mode=$mode" >&2; exit 2 ;;
+        esac
+        if [[ "$has_w" == 1 ]]; then
+            printf '%s\n200' "$body"
+        else
+            printf '%s' "$body"
+        fi
+        exit 0
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo "curl stub: unrecognized URL: $url" >&2
+        exit 2
+        ;;
+esac
+SH
+chmod +x "$STUB_DIR/curl"
+
+failures=0
+
+run_guard() {
+    local name="$1"; shift
+    (
+        cd "$REPO_DIR" || exit
+        export PATH="$STUB_DIR:$PATH"
+        export MOSAIC_CREDENTIALS_FILE="$WORK_DIR/no-credentials.json"
+        export MOSAIC_CI_QUEUE_AUDIT_LOG="$WORK_DIR/audit-$name.jsonl"
+        export MOSAIC_STUB_URL_LOG="$URL_LOG"
+        export GITEA_TOKEN="stub-token"
+        export GITEA_URL="https://git.example.test"
+        export MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY="test-identity"
+        "$SCRIPT_DIR/ci-queue-wait.sh" -B main -t 3 -i 1 "$@"
+    )
+}
+
+# The suite exports test-identity globally, so the unattributable-caller
+# case must strip it from the child environment at invocation with env -u,
+# not rely on the export order.
+run_guard_no_identity() {
+    local name="$1"; shift
+    (
+        cd "$REPO_DIR" || exit
+        export PATH="$STUB_DIR:$PATH"
+        export MOSAIC_CREDENTIALS_FILE="$WORK_DIR/no-credentials.json"
+        export MOSAIC_CI_QUEUE_AUDIT_LOG="$WORK_DIR/audit-$name.jsonl"
+        export MOSAIC_STUB_URL_LOG="$URL_LOG"
+        export GITEA_TOKEN="stub-token"
+        export GITEA_URL="https://git.example.test"
+        export MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY="test-identity"
+        env -u MOSAIC_GIT_IDENTITY \
+            "$SCRIPT_DIR/ci-queue-wait.sh" -B main -t 3 -i 1 "$@"
+    )
+}
+
+expect_rc() {
+    local name="$1" want="$2" got="$3"
+    if [[ "$want" == "not3" ]]; then
+        if [[ "$got" -eq 0 || "$got" -eq 3 ]]; then
+            echo "FAIL $name: expected a refusal rc (nonzero, not 3), got $got" >&2
+            failures=$((failures + 1))
+            return 1
+        fi
+    elif [[ "$got" -ne "$want" ]]; then
+        echo "FAIL $name: expected rc=$want, got rc=$got" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+        return 1
+    fi
+    return 0
+}
+
+expect_text() {
+    local name="$1" want="$2" output="$3" polarity="${4:-present}"
+    if [[ "$polarity" == "present" && "$output" != *"$want"* ]]; then
+        echo "FAIL $name: output missing '$want'" >&2
+        printf '%s\n' "$output" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    elif [[ "$polarity" == "absent" && "$output" == *"$want"* ]]; then
+        echo "FAIL $name: output unexpectedly contains '$want'" >&2
+        printf '%s\n' "$output" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    fi
+}
+
+repo_root_fetched() {
+    grep -q 'repos/acme/widgets$' "$URL_LOG"
+}
+
+# (a) merge + no-status + flag + admin -> exit 0, assertion line, JSONL record.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_a=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=admin run_guard a --purpose merge --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_a=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc a 0 "$rc_a"; then
+    expect_text a "queue-clear state=no-status purpose=merge asserted-by=test-identity reason=no-ci-expected branch=main" "$out_a"
+    expect_text a "ASSERTED_NOT_READY" "$out_a" absent
+    if ! grep -q '"outcome":"NO_CI_ASSERTED"' "$WORK_DIR/audit-a.jsonl" 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "FAIL a: expected a NO_CI_ASSERTED JSONL audit record" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    elif ! grep -q '"asserted_by":"test-identity"' "$WORK_DIR/audit-a.jsonl"; then
+        echo "FAIL a: audit record does not name the asserting identity" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    fi
+fi
+
+# (b) merge + no-status, no flag -> exit 3, existing error text unchanged.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_b=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status run_guard b --purpose merge 2>&1)
+rc_b=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc b 3 "$rc_b"; then
+    expect_text b "Error: ASSERTED_NOT_READY state=no-status purpose=merge branch=main." "$out_b"
+    expect_text b "asserted-by" "$out_b" absent
+fi
+if repo_root_fetched; then
+    echo "FAIL b: admin endpoint consulted without the flag" >&2
+    failures=$((failures + 1))
+fi
+
+# (c) merge + no-status + flag + non-admin -> distinct refusal, rc NOT 3.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_c=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=non-admin run_guard c --purpose merge --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_c=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc c not3 "$rc_c"; then
+    if [[ "$rc_c" -ne 77 ]]; then
+        echo "FAIL c: expected the documented refusal rc=77, got $rc_c" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    fi
+    expect_text c "ASSERTION_REFUSED state=no-status purpose=merge asserted-by=test-identity reason=no-ci-expected branch=main" "$out_c"
+    expect_text c "ASSERTED_NOT_READY" "$out_c" absent
+    if ! grep -q '"outcome":"ASSERTION_REFUSED"' "$WORK_DIR/audit-c.jsonl" 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "FAIL c: expected an ASSERTION_REFUSED JSONL audit record" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    fi
+fi
+
+# (c2) admin payload with no admin field -> fail closed as non-admin.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_c2=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=no-admin-field run_guard c2 --purpose merge --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_c2=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc c2 77 "$rc_c2"; then
+    expect_text c2 "ASSERTION_REFUSED" "$out_c2"
+fi
+
+# (d) flag + --require-status -> usage error before any network I/O.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_d=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=admin run_guard d --purpose merge --no-ci-expected --require-status 2>&1)
+rc_d=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc d 1 "$rc_d"; then
+    expect_text d "--no-ci-expected and --require-status contradict" "$out_d"
+fi
+if [[ -s "$URL_LOG" ]]; then
+    echo "FAIL d: usage error must precede every network call" >&2
+    failures=$((failures + 1))
+fi
+
+# (e) flag + a real pending context -> still holds; admin endpoint never asked.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_e=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=real-pending MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=admin run_guard e --purpose merge --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_e=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc e 124 "$rc_e"; then
+    expect_text e "ASSERTED_NOT_READY" "$out_e"
+    expect_text e "ci/woodpecker=running" "$out_e"
+fi
+if repo_root_fetched; then
+    echo "FAIL e: a pending context must not trigger the admin assertion" >&2
+    failures=$((failures + 1))
+fi
+
+# (f) push + no-status stays queue-clear, with and without the flag.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_f=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=non-admin run_guard f --purpose push 2>&1)
+rc_f=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc f 0 "$rc_f"; then
+    expect_text f "queue-clear state=no-status purpose=push branch=main; no queued or running CI." "$out_f"
+fi
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_f2=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=non-admin run_guard f2 --purpose push --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_f2=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc f2 0 "$rc_f2"; then
+    expect_text f2 "queue-clear state=no-status purpose=push branch=main; no queued or running CI." "$out_f2"
+    expect_text f2 "asserted-by" "$out_f2" absent
+fi
+if repo_root_fetched; then
+    echo "FAIL f: push must not consult the admin endpoint" >&2
+    failures=$((failures + 1))
+fi
+
+# (g) flag + admin lookup unreachable -> CANNOT_ASSERT hold (75), not a pass.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_g=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=unreachable run_guard g --purpose merge --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_g=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc g 75 "$rc_g"; then
+    expect_text g "CANNOT_ASSERT reason=repo-permissions-unavailable" "$out_g"
+fi
+if ! grep -q '"outcome":"CANNOT_ASSERT"' "$WORK_DIR/audit-g.jsonl" 2>/dev/null; then
+    echo "FAIL g: expected a CANNOT_ASSERT JSONL audit record" >&2
+    failures=$((failures + 1))
+fi
+
+# (h) flag + admin stub + no asserting identity -> refusal before queue-clear
+# and before the admin lookup: rc 78, no queue-clear line, an
+# ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE JSONL record, and zero repos/ network calls.
+: > "$URL_LOG"
+set +e
+out_h=$(MOSAIC_STUB_STATUS_MODE=no-status MOSAIC_STUB_ADMIN_MODE=admin run_guard_no_identity h --purpose merge --no-ci-expected 2>&1)
+rc_h=$?
+set -u
+if expect_rc h 78 "$rc_h"; then
+    expect_text h "ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE state=no-status purpose=merge asserted-by=unknown reason=no-ci-expected branch=main" "$out_h"
+    expect_text h "queue-clear" "$out_h" absent
+    if ! grep -q '"outcome":"ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE"' "$WORK_DIR/audit-h.jsonl" 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "FAIL h: expected an ASSERTION_UNATTRIBUTABLE JSONL audit record" >&2
+        failures=$((failures + 1))
+    fi
+fi
+if repo_root_fetched; then
+    echo "FAIL h: an unattributable caller must not trigger the permission lookup" >&2
+    failures=$((failures + 1))
+fi
+
+if [[ "$failures" -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "ci-queue-wait no-ci-expected regression failed ($failures assertions)" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "ci-queue-wait no-ci-expected regression passed (all outcome classes)"
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-no-ci-expected.sh b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-no-ci-expected.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..7d44f392
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mosaic/framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-no-ci-expected.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# pr-merge must forward --no-ci-expected to the queue guard, and only then.
+# The flag is the sanctioned merge path for a repository with no CI configured
+# (see test-ci-queue-wait-no-ci-expected.sh for the guard-side semantics);
+# this harness pins only the pass-through: present when requested, absent when
+# not, with the rest of the guard invocation unchanged.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+WORK_DIR="${MOSAIC_TEST_WORK_DIR:-$PWD/.mosaic-test-work/pr-merge-no-ci-expected}"
+FIXTURE_DIR="$WORK_DIR/tools/git"
+CALL_LOG="$WORK_DIR/queue-call.log"
+
+rm -rf "$WORK_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$FIXTURE_DIR"
+cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/pr-merge.sh" "$FIXTURE_DIR/pr-merge.sh"
+cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/detect-platform.sh" "$FIXTURE_DIR/detect-platform.sh"
+
+cat > "$FIXTURE_DIR/pr-metadata.sh" <<'SH'
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+printf '%s\n' '{"baseRefName":"main","baseRepository":"mosaicstack/stack","headRefName":"fix/no-ci-fixture","headRefOid":"0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567","headRepository":"mosaicstack/stack"}'
+SH
+
+cat > "$FIXTURE_DIR/ci-queue-wait.sh" <<'SH'
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+printf '%s\n' "$*" > "${MOSAIC_QUEUE_CALL_LOG:?}"
+exit 42
+SH
+chmod +x "$FIXTURE_DIR"/*.sh
+
+run_merge() {
+    (
+        cd "$WORK_DIR"
+        export MOSAIC_QUEUE_CALL_LOG="$CALL_LOG"
+        "$FIXTURE_DIR/pr-merge.sh" -n 123 "$@"
+    ) >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+fail=0
+
+# With the flag: it must reach the guard invocation.
+: > "$CALL_LOG"
+set +e
+run_merge --no-ci-expected
+rc_with=$?
+set -e
+if [[ "$rc_with" -ne 42 ]]; then
+    echo "FAIL(with): expected queue stub rc=42 to propagate, got $rc_with" >&2
+    fail=1
+elif ! grep -q -- '--no-ci-expected' "$CALL_LOG"; then
+    echo "FAIL(with): --no-ci-expected did not reach the queue guard" >&2
+    cat "$CALL_LOG" >&2
+    fail=1
+fi
+# The rest of the guard invocation is unchanged by the flag.
+for required in '--purpose merge' '-B fix/no-ci-fixture' '-R mosaicstack/stack' \
+    '--sha 0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567'; do
+    if ! grep -qF -- "$required" "$CALL_LOG"; then
+        echo "FAIL(with): guard invocation lost '$required'" >&2
+        cat "$CALL_LOG" >&2
+        fail=1
+    fi
+done
+
+# Without the flag: it must NOT appear in the guard invocation.
+: > "$CALL_LOG"
+set +e
+run_merge
+rc_without=$?
+set -e
+if [[ "$rc_without" -ne 42 ]]; then
+    echo "FAIL(without): expected queue stub rc=42 to propagate, got $rc_without" >&2
+    fail=1
+elif grep -q -- '--no-ci-expected' "$CALL_LOG"; then
+    echo "FAIL(without): --no-ci-expected reached the guard without being requested" >&2
+    cat "$CALL_LOG" >&2
+    fail=1
+fi
+
+if [[ "$fail" -eq 0 ]]; then
+    echo "pr-merge no-ci-expected pass-through regression passed"
+fi
+exit "$fail"
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/package.json b/packages/mosaic/package.json
index 647a5999..2c8e873d 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/package.json
+++ b/packages/mosaic/package.json
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     "lint": "eslint src",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
     "test": "vitest run --passWithNoTests && pnpm run test:framework-shell",
-    "test:framework-shell": "bash framework/tools/quality/scripts/check-test-enumeration.sh && bash framework/tools/quality/scripts/test-check-test-enumeration.sh && python3 framework/tools/quality/scripts/test-framework-drift-check.py && bash framework/tools/quality/scripts/test-framework-drift-doctor.sh && bash framework/systemd/user/test-fleet-units.sh && python3 src/lease-broker/daemon_deadline_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/normative_fragments_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/promotion_binding_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/promotion_trigger_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/receipt_challenge_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/context_recovery_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/recovery_runtime_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/recovery_b1_adversarial_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/receipt_observer_client_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/invariant_r_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/framework_skill_portability_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/revoke_noop_unittest.py && python3 src/mutator-gate/runtime_tools_unittest.py && python3 src/mutator-gate/runtime_launch_guard_unittest.py && python3 src/mutator-gate/version_coupling_unittest.py && python3 framework/tools/lease-broker/check-runtime-launches.py --root ../.. && bash framework/tools/codex/test-pr-diff-context.sh && bash framework/tools/qa/test-deps-preflight.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-edit.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-review-gitea-comment.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-review-repo-host-override.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-no-status.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-branch-absent.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-tristate.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-github-checks.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-queue-branch.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-fork-ci-status.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-head-pin.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-message-field.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-git-credential-mosaic.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-gitea-token-identity.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-explain-diagnostic-status-neutral.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-detect-platform-outside-repo.sh && bash framework/tools/woodpecker/test-terminal-green-contract.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-install-ordering-guard.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-mosaic-init-rce.sh && bash framework/tools/tmux/agent-send.test.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-store-ack.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-store-enqueue-race.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-digest-hmac.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-digest-quarantine.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-detector.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-fn-oracle.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-reconcile.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-beacon.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-preimage.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-install.sh && bash framework/tools/glpi/test-list-http-status.sh && bash framework/tools/orchestrator/test-board-roll.sh && bash framework/tools/woodpecker/test-ci-wait-exit-matrix.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-fleet-transport-check.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-brain-home-check.sh && bash framework/tools/fleet/test-agent-session-broker-preflight.sh"
+    "test:framework-shell": "bash framework/tools/quality/scripts/check-test-enumeration.sh && bash framework/tools/quality/scripts/test-check-test-enumeration.sh && python3 framework/tools/quality/scripts/test-framework-drift-check.py && bash framework/tools/quality/scripts/test-framework-drift-doctor.sh && bash framework/systemd/user/test-fleet-units.sh && python3 src/lease-broker/daemon_deadline_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/normative_fragments_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/promotion_binding_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/promotion_trigger_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/receipt_challenge_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/context_recovery_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/recovery_runtime_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/recovery_b1_adversarial_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/receipt_observer_client_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/invariant_r_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/framework_skill_portability_unittest.py && python3 src/lease-broker/revoke_noop_unittest.py && python3 src/mutator-gate/runtime_tools_unittest.py && python3 src/mutator-gate/runtime_launch_guard_unittest.py && python3 src/mutator-gate/version_coupling_unittest.py && python3 framework/tools/lease-broker/check-runtime-launches.py --root ../.. && bash framework/tools/codex/test-pr-diff-context.sh && bash framework/tools/qa/test-deps-preflight.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-edit.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-review-gitea-comment.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-review-repo-host-override.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-no-status.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-branch-absent.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-tristate.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-github-checks.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-ci-queue-wait-no-ci-expected.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-queue-branch.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-no-ci-expected.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-fork-ci-status.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-head-pin.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-pr-merge-message-field.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-git-credential-mosaic.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-gitea-token-identity.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-explain-diagnostic-status-neutral.sh && bash framework/tools/git/test-detect-platform-outside-repo.sh && bash framework/tools/woodpecker/test-terminal-green-contract.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-install-ordering-guard.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-mosaic-init-rce.sh && bash framework/tools/tmux/agent-send.test.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-store-ack.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-store-enqueue-race.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-digest-hmac.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-digest-quarantine.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-detector.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-fn-oracle.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-reconcile.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-beacon.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-preimage.sh && bash framework/tools/wake/test-wake-install.sh && bash framework/tools/glpi/test-list-http-status.sh && bash framework/tools/orchestrator/test-board-roll.sh && bash framework/tools/woodpecker/test-ci-wait-exit-matrix.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-fleet-transport-check.sh && bash framework/tools/_scripts/test-brain-home-check.sh && bash framework/tools/fleet/test-agent-session-broker-preflight.sh"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@mosaicstack/brain": "workspace:*",