diff --git a/docs/agents/MERGE-STATE.md b/docs/agents/MERGE-STATE.md
index 13be005c..1a8ff8f6 100644
--- a/docs/agents/MERGE-STATE.md
+++ b/docs/agents/MERGE-STATE.md
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ dry-run merge is clean. Re-derive with:
 A=<decoder branch>; B=<port branch>
 
 git rev-list --count origin/main..$A        # rises with every commit; not the claim
-git merge-base --is-ancestor origin/main $A # PASS = exit 0 (fast-forward)
+git merge-base --is-ancestor origin/main $A; echo $?
+                                            # PASS = 0 (fast-forward)
+                                            # ⚠️ prints NOTHING on success without
+                                            #    the echo -- an empty line does not
+                                            #    distinguish pass from fail
 comm -12 <(git diff --name-only $(git merge-base $A $B)..$A | sort) \
          <(git diff --name-only $(git merge-base $A $B)..$B | sort) | wc -l
                                             # PASS = 0 (disjoint change sets)