diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1f9076c65a..2626472422 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -43,8 +43,18 @@ jobs:
         run: npm run typecheck
 
       - name: Test with coverage
+        id: coverage
         run: npm run test:coverage
 
+      - name: Coverage gate guidance
+        if: ${{ failure() && steps.coverage.conclusion == 'failure' }}
+        run: |
+          echo "::error title=Coverage gate::Tests or the 97% coverage gate failed."
+          echo "The repo enforces 97% global coverage for lines, statements, functions, and branches."
+          echo "Review the per-file coverage table printed above to find undercovered files and branch arms."
+          echo "Run 'npm run test:coverage' locally and add tests for the missing branches, fallback paths, and sanitizer rules."
+          echo "See CONTRIBUTING.md (Testing & coverage): aim for 98%+ branch coverage locally so small CI variance does not fail near the threshold."
+
       - name: Worker runtime tests
         run: npm run test:workers
 
diff --git a/test/unit/pending-pr-scenarios.test.ts b/test/unit/pending-pr-scenarios.test.ts
index 0b74ad1ac9..e05dc63035 100644
--- a/test/unit/pending-pr-scenarios.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/pending-pr-scenarios.test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,33 @@ describe("pending PR scenario detection", () => {
     expect(detection?.classified.find((entry) => entry.number === 12)?.classification).toBe("blocked");
   });
 
+  it("treats timed-out checks as failing work that blocks merge readiness", () => {
+    const classified = classifyOpenPullRequest({
+      pr: pr({ number: 77 }),
+      roleContext: outsideContributorRole,
+      reviews: [approvedReview(77)],
+      checks: [{ id: "c77", repoFullName: "entrius/allways-ui", pullNumber: 77, name: "ci", status: "completed", conclusion: "timed_out", payload: {} }],
+    });
+    expect(classified.classification).toBe("blocked");
+    expect(classified.reasons.join(" ")).toMatch(/failing or cancelled check/i);
+  });
+
+  it("counts stale approved PRs as pending closes and projects the post-cleanup open count", () => {
+    const staleDate = new Date(Date.now() - 30 * 86_400_000).toISOString();
+    const detection = detectPendingPrScenario({
+      login: "miner-a",
+      repoFullName: "entrius/allways-ui",
+      pullRequests: [pr({ number: 21, updatedAt: staleDate, createdAt: staleDate })],
+      roleContext: outsideContributorRole,
+      openPrCount: 2,
+      reviewsByPullNumber: new Map([[21, [approvedReview(21)]]]),
+      checksByPullNumber: new Map([[21, []]]),
+    });
+    expect(detection?.pendingMergedPrCount).toBe(0);
+    expect(detection?.pendingClosedPrCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(detection?.expectedOpenPrCountAfterMerge).toBe(1);
+  });
+
   it("does not treat draft, stale, or maintainer-lane PRs as likely-to-land", () => {
     const staleDate = new Date(Date.now() - 20 * 86_400_000).toISOString();
     const classified = [
diff --git a/test/unit/settings-preview.test.ts b/test/unit/settings-preview.test.ts
index c61332be3d..7dd1d3f1a7 100644
--- a/test/unit/settings-preview.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/settings-preview.test.ts
@@ -263,4 +263,30 @@ describe("buildRepoSettingsPreview", () => {
     expect(preview.previewComment).not.toBeNull();
     expect(preview.previewComment ?? "").not.toMatch(/wallet|hotkey|trust score|raw trust|scoreability|payout|reward|farming|\/100|reviewability\s*\d/i);
   });
+
+  it("reports a generic needs-attention summary when health is degraded but no permission or event is missing", () => {
+    const preview = buildRepoSettingsPreview({
+      ...base,
+      settings: settings(),
+      installation: { ...healthyInstall, status: "needs_attention", missingPermissions: [], missingEvents: [] },
+      sample: { authorLogin: "miner", minerStatus: "confirmed" },
+    });
+    expect(preview.installPreview.status).toBe("needs_attention");
+    expect(preview.installPreview.permissions.summary).toMatch(/needs attention; review remediation/i);
+    expect(preview.installPreview.permissions.missing).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("requires no issues/checks write scope and lists a no-output sample when every public action is disabled", () => {
+    const preview = buildRepoSettingsPreview({
+      ...base,
+      settings: settings({ publicSurface: "label_only", autoLabelEnabled: false, commentMode: "off", checkRunMode: "off" }),
+      installation: healthyInstall,
+      sample: { authorLogin: "miner", minerStatus: "confirmed" },
+    });
+    expect(preview.decision).toMatchObject({ skipped: false, willComment: false, willLabel: false, willCheckRun: false, actions: ["none"] });
+    // requiredInstallPermissions keeps only read scopes when no public write action is enabled.
+    expect(preview.installPreview.permissions.required).toEqual(["metadata: read", "pull_requests: read"]);
+    expect(preview.installPreview.publicOutputs).toEqual(["No public comment, label, or check run for this sample."]);
+    expect(preview.installPreview.checklist.find((item) => item.id === "public-outputs")?.summary).toMatch(/no public output action is enabled/i);
+  });
 });