diff --git a/scripts/ci/strix_required_workflow_smoke.sh b/scripts/ci/strix_required_workflow_smoke.sh
index e2f1fda40a..0b5a4a54d4 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/strix_required_workflow_smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/strix_required_workflow_smoke.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ full_gate_test="$repo_root/scripts/ci/test_strix_quick_gate.sh"
 sidecar_script="$repo_root/scripts/ci/contextual_orchestrator_review_sidecar.sh"
 token_loader_script="$repo_root/scripts/ci/load_contextual_orchestrator_token.sh"
 decision_record="$repo_root/docs/adr/0003-contextual-orchestrator-vendored-free-zdr.md"
-agent_policy="$repo_root/AGENTS.md"
 
 failures=0
 
@@ -185,7 +184,6 @@ active_strix_models="$(sed -n -E 's/^[[:space:]]*STRIX_MODEL:[[:space:]]*([^#[:s
 assert_file_not_contains "$workflow_file" "STRIX_MODEL: contextual-orchestrator/orchestrator/auto" "Strix must not retain the paid-inclusive auto default route"
 assert_file_contains "$decision_record" "2026-08-30 amendment: Strix uses \`orchestrator/free\`" "The binding ADR amendment records the owner's explicit free-only override"
 assert_file_contains "$decision_record" "Zero Data Retention (ZDR)-compliant routes remain mandatory for private targets" "The binding ADR preserves private-target privacy"
-assert_file_contains "$agent_policy" "Strix uses the zero-cost \`orchestrator/free\`" "Repository guidance agrees with the binding Strix route"
 assert_file_contains "$workflow_file" "provider_mode=contextual_orchestrator" "Strix workflow selects the contextual-orchestrator provider mode"
 assert_file_contains "$workflow_file" "STRIX_FALLBACK_MODELS: \"\"" "Strix delegates provider discovery and failover to the gateway"
 assert_file_not_contains "$workflow_file" "Resolve live NVIDIA NIM Strix models" "Strix does not resolve a direct provider outside the gateway"
diff --git a/tests/test_strix_required_smoke_availability.py b/tests/test_strix_required_smoke_availability.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fe204e3a0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_strix_required_smoke_availability.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+"""Regression tests for bounded Strix required-smoke availability."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+SMOKE = ROOT / "scripts/ci/strix_required_workflow_smoke.sh"
+WORKFLOW = ROOT / ".github/workflows/strix.yml"
+SIDECAR = ROOT / "scripts/ci/contextual_orchestrator_review_sidecar.sh"
+TOKEN_LOADER = ROOT / "scripts/ci/load_contextual_orchestrator_token.sh"
+GATE = ROOT / "scripts/ci/strix_quick_gate.sh"
+GATE_TEST = ROOT / "scripts/ci/test_strix_quick_gate.sh"
+DECISION_RECORD = ROOT / "docs/adr/0003-contextual-orchestrator-vendored-free-zdr.md"
+AGENT_POLICY = ROOT / "AGENTS.md"
+
+
+class StrixRequiredSmokeAvailabilityTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Keep consumer scans independent from non-executable guidance wording."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _copy_smoke_fixture(root: Path) -> None:
+        """Copy real smoke dependencies plus the separately checked guidance."""
+        for source in (
+            SMOKE,
+            WORKFLOW,
+            SIDECAR,
+            TOKEN_LOADER,
+            GATE,
+            GATE_TEST,
+            DECISION_RECORD,
+            AGENT_POLICY,
+        ):
+            destination = root / source.relative_to(ROOT)
+            destination.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            shutil.copy2(source, destination)
+
+    def test_agent_guidance_prose_cannot_block_consumer_scans(self) -> None:
+        """Changing AGENTS prose must not stop an otherwise valid Strix scan."""
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            root = Path(temp_dir)
+            self._copy_smoke_fixture(root)
+            (root / "AGENTS.md").write_text(
+                "# Agent guidance\n\nThis prose is not an executable Strix contract.\n",
+                encoding="utf-8",
+            )
+
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                ["bash", str(root / SMOKE.relative_to(ROOT))],
+                cwd=root,
+                text=True,
+                capture_output=True,
+                check=False,
+                timeout=10,
+            )
+
+        output = result.stdout + result.stderr
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, output)
+        self.assertIn("Strix required workflow smoke test passed.", output)
+
+    def test_repository_guidance_still_documents_the_free_route(self) -> None:
+        """Central quality tests, not consumer runtime, keep guidance aligned."""
+        paragraphs = (
+            " ".join(paragraph.split())
+            for paragraph in AGENT_POLICY.read_text(encoding="utf-8").split("\n\n")
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any(
+                "Strix" in paragraph
+                and "zero-cost" in paragraph
+                and "`orchestrator/free`" in paragraph
+                for paragraph in paragraphs
+            ),
+            "AGENTS.md must document Strix on the zero-cost orchestrator/free route",
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()