diff --git a/internal/globals/ci_gate_probe_test.go b/internal/globals/ci_gate_probe_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c10529d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/globals/ci_gate_probe_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package globals
+
+import "testing"
+
+// Scratch-branch probe: a deliberately failing test used to verify that CI
+// actually executes the test stage. Never merged.
+func TestCIGateRunsTests(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Fatal("deliberate failure: the CI gate must report this commit red")
+}