diff --git a/docs/port/HANDOFF.md b/docs/port/HANDOFF.md
index 330f39d8..3fb2706f 100644
--- a/docs/port/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/docs/port/HANDOFF.md
@@ -133,13 +133,22 @@ is untested and is the reading that would matter for authoring a default.
 > * *"the sources disagree"* — **settled**. Initial focus on a fresh boot is
 >   **`NEW GAME`**, measured directly on two fresh boots, both the first menu entry.
 >   The reader that produced the conflicting `TUTORIAL` was two items out.
->   → *"the item NAMES below were wrong, and initial focus is NEW GAME"*
+>   → see the **2026-08-30 (later)** section on the corrected item names.
 > * *"never once run: whether focus persists"* — **it has been run**. The main menu
->   **persists**; `EXTRAS` **resets**. → *"EXTRAS resets, the main menu persists"*
+>   **persists**; `EXTRAS` **resets**. → see the **2026-08-30** section on the two
+>   screens differing.
 >
 > Kept, not deleted, because it is what you were told at the time and a reader
 > arriving by grep needs to know it was overtaken. Nothing below this line is
 > current guidance.
+>
+> ⚠️ **These pointers name their targets by date and subject rather than quoting
+> the headings.** Reproducing a heading verbatim here made that sentence appear
+> **twice** in this file, which silently disarmed a `contract-check` anchor of
+> `sylpheed-port`'s — it perturbs the *first* occurrence, and the check then read
+> the untouched duplicate and passed a wrong contract. The forward marker I added
+> to fix one navigation problem created a different one; **a duplicated sentence
+> is enough to disarm a check without either of us touching a checked value.**
 
 
 **New, and it is a warning rather than an answer.** `menu-navigation-semantics.md`