diff --git a/.claude/hooks/README.md b/.claude/hooks/README.md
index 3abc817a5..b9084f3a8 100644
--- a/.claude/hooks/README.md
+++ b/.claude/hooks/README.md
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ Wraps `tools/orchestrator-checks/verify-branch.ts` (PR #1585) into the Claude Co
 
 If `ZETA_EXPECTED_BRANCH` is unset, the hook is a no-op (exits 0, allow). The default-off behavior means wiring this hook does not change any commit flow unless an agent (or maintainer) explicitly sets the env var for a task.
 
-#### Opt-in configuration
+#### Configuration
 
-Add this block to the top-level object in `.claude/settings.json`:
+The hook is wired in `.claude/settings.json` under `hooks.PreToolUse` with `"matcher": "Bash"`:
 
 ```json
 {
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ Add this block to the top-level object in `.claude/settings.json`:
         "hooks": [
           {
             "type": "command",
-            "if": "Bash(git commit*)",
             "command": "bun \"$CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR\"/.claude/hooks/verify-branch-pretooluse.ts"
           }
         ]
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ Add this block to the top-level object in `.claude/settings.json`:
 }
 ```
 
-The `if` clause restricts the hook to `git commit` subcommands so other Bash invocations (build, test, file ops, etc.) are unaffected.
+The `matcher` fires on all Bash tool calls, but the script itself reads stdin JSON and filters to `git commit` commands only. When `ZETA_EXPECTED_BRANCH` is unset, the script exits 0 before reading stdin -- zero overhead.
 
 #### How to use after wiring
 
diff --git a/.claude/hooks/verify-branch-pretooluse.ts b/.claude/hooks/verify-branch-pretooluse.ts
index e05b35204..dccbd77e9 100644
--- a/.claude/hooks/verify-branch-pretooluse.ts
+++ b/.claude/hooks/verify-branch-pretooluse.ts
@@ -2,25 +2,26 @@
 // verify-branch-pretooluse.ts -- Claude Code PreToolUse hook wrapper
 // for tools/orchestrator-checks/verify-branch.ts.
 //
-// Per Claude Code hooks reference (https://code.claude.com/docs/en/hooks):
-// the hook script reads JSON from stdin (containing tool_input + session
-// metadata) and either exits 0 (allow), exits 2 (block with stderr as
-// reason), or writes a hookSpecificOutput JSON to stdout with explicit
-// permissionDecision.
+// Reads stdin JSON per the Claude Code hooks contract
+// (https://code.claude.com/docs/en/hooks-guide). Filters to
+// `git commit` commands only — other Bash invocations exit 0
+// immediately with zero overhead.
 //
-// This wrapper invokes verify-branch.ts, captures its exit code + stderr,
-// and translates to the PreToolUse JSON contract.
+// When ZETA_EXPECTED_BRANCH is unset, the hook is a no-op
+// (exits 0 before reading stdin or spawning any child process).
 //
-// Wired via .claude/settings.json -- see .claude/hooks/README.md for the
-// opt-in configuration. The wrapper exists on disk regardless; opt-in is
-// via settings.json edit, not via existence of this file.
+// Wired via .claude/settings.json PreToolUse matcher:"Bash".
+// See .claude/hooks/README.md for configuration.
 //
-// Per B-0191 (PR #1571 design + PR #1585 implementation). Composes with
-// memory/feedback_dst_justifies_ts_quality_over_bash_and_harness_hooks_suffice_no_git_hooks_aaron_2026_05_03.md
-// (TS-over-bash harness-hooks-suffice).
+// Per B-0191 (PR #1571 design + PR #1585 implementation).
 
 import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
 
+interface HookInput {
+  readonly tool_name?: string;
+  readonly tool_input?: { readonly command?: string };
+}
+
 interface HookOutput {
   readonly hookSpecificOutput: {
     readonly hookEventName: "PreToolUse";
@@ -41,10 +42,29 @@ function emitDeny(reason: string): never {
   process.exit(0);
 }
 
+function isGitCommitCommand(command: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = command.trimStart();
+  return trimmed.startsWith("git commit") || trimmed.startsWith("git -C") && trimmed.includes("commit");
+}
+
 function main(): number {
-  // Run verify-branch.ts. We don't need to parse the stdin JSON because
-  // verify-branch.ts reads ZETA_EXPECTED_BRANCH from env + queries git
-  // directly -- the tool_input.command isn't needed for the check.
+  if (!process.env.ZETA_EXPECTED_BRANCH) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  let input: HookInput = {};
+  try {
+    const stdin = require("fs").readFileSync(0, "utf8");
+    input = JSON.parse(stdin) as HookInput;
+  } catch {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  const command = input.tool_input?.command ?? "";
+  if (!isGitCommitCommand(command)) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   const projectDir = process.env.CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR ?? process.cwd();
   const result = spawnSync(
     "bun",
@@ -56,17 +76,14 @@ function main(): number {
   );
 
   if (result.status === 0) {
-    // Allowed -- forward any stderr (worktree-warning) and exit 0.
     if (result.stderr) {
       process.stderr.write(result.stderr);
     }
     return 0;
   }
 
-  // Blocked -- translate to deny JSON with the script's stderr as reason.
   const reason = (result.stderr || "verify-branch check failed").trim();
   emitDeny(reason);
-  // unreachable
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/.claude/settings.json b/.claude/settings.json
index e1b345cb1..a433a5d25 100644
--- a/.claude/settings.json
+++ b/.claude/settings.json
@@ -1,4 +1,17 @@
 {
+  "hooks": {
+    "PreToolUse": [
+      {
+        "matcher": "Bash",
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "bun \"$CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR\"/.claude/hooks/verify-branch-pretooluse.ts"
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  },
   "permissions": {
     "allow": [
       "Bash(bun *)",
@@ -65,5 +78,13 @@
     "huggingface-skills@claude-plugins-official": true,
     "postman@claude-plugins-official": true,
     "security-guidance@claude-plugins-official": true
+  },
+  "hooks": {
+    "PreToolUse": [
+      {
+        "matcher": "Bash",
+        "command": "bun --bun tools/orchestrator-checks/verify-branch.ts"
+      }
+    ]
   }
 }