diff --git a/sandbox/agent-config/rules/orchestrator.md b/sandbox/agent-config/rules/orchestrator.md
index 515efd38ec..9075c01093 100644
--- a/sandbox/agent-config/rules/orchestrator.md
+++ b/sandbox/agent-config/rules/orchestrator.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ BRC consensus + heartbeats:
 - `mcp__brc__propose` — Prefer this over `egg-orch consensus propose`. Producer broadcasts a proposal.
 - `mcp__brc__ack` — Prefer this over `egg-orch consensus ack`. Reviewer ACKs a proposal.
 - `mcp__brc__nack` — Prefer this over `egg-orch consensus nack`. Reviewer NACKs with a blocker reason.
-- `mcp__brc__confirm` — Prefer this over `egg-orch consensus confirmed`. Producer confirms after all reviewers ACK.
+- `mcp__brc__confirm` — Prefer this over `egg-orch consensus confirmed`. Producer confirms after all reviewers ACK. Returns `ok: True` only when the producer transitioned to CONFIRMED; on `ok: False` (status `pending_acks`) the transition was rejected — read `message` for the reason (e.g. `producer_not_fully_acked`, `global_zero_proposal`, `stale_acks`) and take corrective action before retrying.
 - `mcp__brc__wait_for_event` — Prefer this over `egg-orch message wait`. Block on typed BRC messages.
 - `mcp__brc__wait_loop` — Prefer this over `egg-orch message wait-loop`. Loop wait_for_event with retry on transient errors.
 - `mcp__brc__send_heartbeat` — Prefer this over `egg-orch message heartbeat`. Emit a structured HEARTBEAT to the dedicated `/heartbeat` endpoint.
diff --git a/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/handlers/brc.py b/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/handlers/brc.py
index e169dd55b3..927a56a842 100644
--- a/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/handlers/brc.py
+++ b/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/handlers/brc.py
@@ -227,6 +227,12 @@ def brc_confirm(req: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
         pipeline_id, role: overrides.
 
     Response carries:
+        ok: True only when the producer transitioned to CONFIRMED.
+            False for "pending_acks" — the orchestrator received the
+            request but rejected the transition (e.g.
+            ``producer_not_fully_acked``, ``global_zero_proposal``,
+            ``stale_acks``). Inspect ``status`` and ``message`` to pick
+            corrective action.
         status: "confirmed"|"pending_acks"
         consensus_reached: bool (only for status=="confirmed")
     """
@@ -243,7 +249,7 @@ def brc_confirm(req: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     body = result.get("data", {})
     pending = body.get("status") == "pending_acks"
     return {
-        "ok": True,
+        "ok": not pending,
         "role": role,
         "status": "pending_acks" if pending else "confirmed",
         "consensus_reached": bool(body.get("consensus_reached", False)),
diff --git a/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_cli_parity.py b/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_cli_parity.py
index 49ea5b4e03..b564faacf8 100644
--- a/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_cli_parity.py
+++ b/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_cli_parity.py
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def test_pending_acks_exits_2(self):
         pre-refactor CLI so scripts can distinguish 'waiting' from
         'confirmed')."""
         fake = {
-            "ok": True,
+            "ok": False,
             "status": "pending_acks",
             "consensus_reached": False,
             "role": "coder",
diff --git a/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_handlers_brc.py b/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_handlers_brc.py
index e81eacd485..b915627a91 100644
--- a/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_handlers_brc.py
+++ b/tests/sandbox/egg_agent_tools/test_handlers_brc.py
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ def test_happy_confirmed(self):
             },
         ):
             resp = brc.brc_confirm({"pipeline_id": "p", "role": "coder"})
+        assert resp["ok"] is True
         assert resp["status"] == "confirmed"
         assert resp["consensus_reached"] is True
 
@@ -211,6 +212,7 @@ def test_pending_acks(self):
             },
         ):
             resp = brc.brc_confirm({"pipeline_id": "p", "role": "coder"})
+        assert resp["ok"] is False
         assert resp["status"] == "pending_acks"
         assert resp["consensus_reached"] is False