diff --git a/.agents/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py b/.agents/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
index 435a21f69..bb4612469 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
+++ b/.agents/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ REFERENCE_DEFINITION_RE = re.compile(
     """
 )
 REFERENCE_USAGE_RE = re.compile(
-    r"(?<![\\])\[(?P<text>[^\]\n]+)\](?:\[(?P<label>[^\]\n]*)\])?"
+    r"(?<![\\])(?:\\\\)*\[(?P<text>[^\]\n]+)\](?:\[(?P<label>[^\]\n]*)\])?"
 )
 EXTERNAL_URI_RE = re.compile(
     r"^(?:[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9+.-]*://|(?:data|doi|geo|irc|magnet|mailto|news|sms|tel|urn):)",
diff --git a/manifests/context-packs/skill-triggers@1.json b/manifests/context-packs/skill-triggers@1.json
index 19201b4b0..bd5dd19ec 100644
--- a/manifests/context-packs/skill-triggers@1.json
+++ b/manifests/context-packs/skill-triggers@1.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"coverage":{"skills":302,"withTriggers":32},"generatedAt":"2026-09-24T23:51:22.784Z","id":"skill-triggers@1","model":{"effort":null,"id":"hand-seeded","source":"manual-curation-pending-regeneration"},"registryDigest":"949e47a1816d50ba7c378935b7497d0b8076cecd9102d46aa36f55785903a667","schemaVersion":1,"triggers":{"skill:api-connector-builder":["add api integration","new provider connector","match existing integration pattern"],"skill:api-design":["rest endpoint design","pagination api","status codes","api versioning","rate limiting api","resource naming","filtering api","api error responses","offset pagination","limit query parameter","pagination defaults"],"skill:backend-patterns":["express api","node backend architecture","nextjs api routes","server side patterns","data access layer","static file server","url path handling","file server"],"skill:browser-qa":["deployed feature test","visual regression screenshots","core web vitals check","axe accessibility audit","ship do not ship","staging verification"],"skill:canary-watch":["post deploy monitoring","smoke test url","production url check","console errors production","sse stream check","after deploy verification"],"skill:code-tour":["onboarding walkthrough","explain subsystem","architecture tour","pr walkthrough","rca tour"],"skill:coding-standards":["code review standards","naming conventions","readability review","immutability conventions","fix naming typo","export naming","consistent exports"],"skill:content-hash-cache-pattern":["cache file processing","content addressed cache","sha256 hash cache"],"skill:database-migrations":["zero downtime migration","schema change production","add column large table","backfill data","expand contract","concurrent index","migration rollback","prisma migration","django migration"],"skill:deployment-patterns":["ci cd setup","dockerize app","health checks","rollback strategy","production readiness","deploy pipeline","containerize application"],"skill:design-system":["design tokens","visual consistency audit","css custom properties","ui audit","design system bootstrap"],"skill:django-patterns":["django orm","drf api","django rest framework","django caching","django signals","django middleware"],"skill:django-security":["django authentication","csrf protection","sql injection prevention","xss prevention","django deployment security","role based access control","authorization middleware","permissions checks"],"skill:docker-patterns":["dockerfile review","docker compose setup","container security","multi service orchestration"],"skill:error-handling":["error types","retry logic","circuit breaker","user facing errors","exception handling patterns","typed errors","error boundaries","go error handling","custom error class","error codes","config validation"],"skill:evm-token-decimals":["token decimals","wei conversion","erc20 balance off","bridge token precision"],"skill:frontend-a11y":["aria attributes","screen reader support","focus management","semantic html","form labeling","keyboard navigation react","a11y lint errors"],"skill:git-workflow":["merge vs rebase","commit conventions","resolve merge conflict","branching strategy","clean up commits","pull request cleanup","git history tidy"],"skill:hexagonal-architecture":["ports and adapters","dependency injection boundaries","decouple domain from io"],"skill:kubernetes-patterns":["kubernetes manifests","kubectl debugging","pod probes","k8s rbac","autoscaling config","configmap secrets"],"skill:orch-fix-defect":["fix a bug","broken behavior","regression fix","reproduce bug","defect repair"],"skill:postgres-patterns":["slow postgres query","query optimization","index design","rls policies","supabase schema","postgres indexing","database performance","schema design postgres","postgres driver","node postgres","query planner"],"skill:python-patterns":["pythonic code","pep 8","type hints python","python code review","idiomatic python"],"skill:python-testing":["pytest fixtures","mocking python","parametrized tests","coverage python","tdd python"],"skill:redis-patterns":["cache aside pattern","distributed lock","redis rate limiting","cache invalidation"],"skill:regex-vs-llm-structured-text":["parse invoice","extract receipt data","text extraction pipeline","parse form fields","cheap document parser","extract table data","parse log lines","parse access logs","common log format","log line parsing"],"skill:rust-patterns":["rust ownership","borrow checker","rust error handling","traits rust","rust concurrency","idiomatic rust"],"skill:search-first":["find existing library","npm package research","before writing custom code","evaluate existing tools","add dependency research"],"skill:security-review":["security audit","authentication review","sanitize user input","secrets handling","payment security checklist","prevent injection attacks","secure api endpoints","authn authz review","vulnerability checklist","input validation security","parameterized queries","sql injection"],"skill:security-scan":["audit claude config","claudemd security","mcp server audit","agentshield scan","hook configuration audit","settings json security"],"skill:tdd-workflow":["write test first","failing test","red green refactor","test driven development","regression test first","write a regression test"],"skill:verification-loop":["pre pr checks","verification report","quality gates","build lint test coverage","before creating a pr"]},"triggersDigest":"25b97a9e06fc336c7cf95ab854ed1a41033a54bcd6e1fb1cf69dc906332462aa"}
+{"coverage":{"skills":302,"withTriggers":32},"generatedAt":"2026-09-24T23:51:22.784Z","id":"skill-triggers@1","model":{"effort":null,"id":"hand-seeded","source":"manual-curation-pending-regeneration"},"registryDigest":"ffac257ab8a4b8e7450ddf1f933e65335542fc444034c8242dd758346417d76e","schemaVersion":1,"triggers":{"skill:api-connector-builder":["add api integration","new provider connector","match existing integration pattern"],"skill:api-design":["rest endpoint design","pagination api","status codes","api versioning","rate limiting api","resource naming","filtering api","api error responses","offset pagination","limit query parameter","pagination defaults"],"skill:backend-patterns":["express api","node backend architecture","nextjs api routes","server side patterns","data access layer","static file server","url path handling","file server"],"skill:browser-qa":["deployed feature test","visual regression screenshots","core web vitals check","axe accessibility audit","ship do not ship","staging verification"],"skill:canary-watch":["post deploy monitoring","smoke test url","production url check","console errors production","sse stream check","after deploy verification"],"skill:code-tour":["onboarding walkthrough","explain subsystem","architecture tour","pr walkthrough","rca tour"],"skill:coding-standards":["code review standards","naming conventions","readability review","immutability conventions","fix naming typo","export naming","consistent exports"],"skill:content-hash-cache-pattern":["cache file processing","content addressed cache","sha256 hash cache"],"skill:database-migrations":["zero downtime migration","schema change production","add column large table","backfill data","expand contract","concurrent index","migration rollback","prisma migration","django migration"],"skill:deployment-patterns":["ci cd setup","dockerize app","health checks","rollback strategy","production readiness","deploy pipeline","containerize application"],"skill:design-system":["design tokens","visual consistency audit","css custom properties","ui audit","design system bootstrap"],"skill:django-patterns":["django orm","drf api","django rest framework","django caching","django signals","django middleware"],"skill:django-security":["django authentication","csrf protection","sql injection prevention","xss prevention","django deployment security","role based access control","authorization middleware","permissions checks"],"skill:docker-patterns":["dockerfile review","docker compose setup","container security","multi service orchestration"],"skill:error-handling":["error types","retry logic","circuit breaker","user facing errors","exception handling patterns","typed errors","error boundaries","go error handling","custom error class","error codes","config validation"],"skill:evm-token-decimals":["token decimals","wei conversion","erc20 balance off","bridge token precision"],"skill:frontend-a11y":["aria attributes","screen reader support","focus management","semantic html","form labeling","keyboard navigation react","a11y lint errors"],"skill:git-workflow":["merge vs rebase","commit conventions","resolve merge conflict","branching strategy","clean up commits","pull request cleanup","git history tidy"],"skill:hexagonal-architecture":["ports and adapters","dependency injection boundaries","decouple domain from io"],"skill:kubernetes-patterns":["kubernetes manifests","kubectl debugging","pod probes","k8s rbac","autoscaling config","configmap secrets"],"skill:orch-fix-defect":["fix a bug","broken behavior","regression fix","reproduce bug","defect repair"],"skill:postgres-patterns":["slow postgres query","query optimization","index design","rls policies","supabase schema","postgres indexing","database performance","schema design postgres","postgres driver","node postgres","query planner"],"skill:python-patterns":["pythonic code","pep 8","type hints python","python code review","idiomatic python"],"skill:python-testing":["pytest fixtures","mocking python","parametrized tests","coverage python","tdd python"],"skill:redis-patterns":["cache aside pattern","distributed lock","redis rate limiting","cache invalidation"],"skill:regex-vs-llm-structured-text":["parse invoice","extract receipt data","text extraction pipeline","parse form fields","cheap document parser","extract table data","parse log lines","parse access logs","common log format","log line parsing"],"skill:rust-patterns":["rust ownership","borrow checker","rust error handling","traits rust","rust concurrency","idiomatic rust"],"skill:search-first":["find existing library","npm package research","before writing custom code","evaluate existing tools","add dependency research"],"skill:security-review":["security audit","authentication review","sanitize user input","secrets handling","payment security checklist","prevent injection attacks","secure api endpoints","authn authz review","vulnerability checklist","input validation security","parameterized queries","sql injection"],"skill:security-scan":["audit claude config","claudemd security","mcp server audit","agentshield scan","hook configuration audit","settings json security"],"skill:tdd-workflow":["write test first","failing test","red green refactor","test driven development","regression test first","write a regression test"],"skill:verification-loop":["pre pr checks","verification report","quality gates","build lint test coverage","before creating a pr"]},"triggersDigest":"25b97a9e06fc336c7cf95ab854ed1a41033a54bcd6e1fb1cf69dc906332462aa"}
diff --git a/pi/core/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py b/pi/core/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
index 435a21f69..bb4612469 100644
--- a/pi/core/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
+++ b/pi/core/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ REFERENCE_DEFINITION_RE = re.compile(
     """
 )
 REFERENCE_USAGE_RE = re.compile(
-    r"(?<![\\])\[(?P<text>[^\]\n]+)\](?:\[(?P<label>[^\]\n]*)\])?"
+    r"(?<![\\])(?:\\\\)*\[(?P<text>[^\]\n]+)\](?:\[(?P<label>[^\]\n]*)\])?"
 )
 EXTERNAL_URI_RE = re.compile(
     r"^(?:[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9+.-]*://|(?:data|doi|geo|irc|magnet|mailto|news|sms|tel|urn):)",
diff --git a/scripts/dashboard-web.js b/scripts/dashboard-web.js
index 75b97823a..4f8b7363d 100644
--- a/scripts/dashboard-web.js
+++ b/scripts/dashboard-web.js
@@ -856,7 +856,10 @@ handleRoute();
     var panel = document.getElementById('panel-activity');
     if (!panel) return;
     fetch('/api/activity')
-      .then(function (r) { return r.json(); })
+      .then(function (r) {
+        if (!r.ok) throw new Error('Activity request failed');
+        return r.json();
+      })
       .then(function (data) {
         var entries = (data && data.entries) || [];
         var skillCount = entries.filter(function (e) { return e.tool_name === 'Skill'; }).length;
diff --git a/scripts/lib/install/plan.js b/scripts/lib/install/plan.js
index 26601b63d..ca3ba47b6 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/install/plan.js
+++ b/scripts/lib/install/plan.js
@@ -104,9 +104,10 @@ function buildCopyFileOperation({
   strategy,
   contentTransform,
 }) {
-  // Copilot's workflow reference transform is textual. Skill directories may
+  // Copilot's agent and workflow transforms are textual. Their directories may
   // also contain binary assets and executable helpers, which must keep bytes.
-  const applicableTransform = contentTransform === 'copilot-workflow-paths'
+  const applicableTransform = (contentTransform === 'copilot-workflow-paths'
+    || contentTransform === 'copilot-agent-frontmatter')
     && !/\.md$/i.test(sourceRelativePath) ? undefined : contentTransform;
   return {
     kind: 'copy-file',
diff --git a/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py b/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
index 435a21f69..bb4612469 100644
--- a/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
+++ b/skills/docs-governance/scripts/markdown_links.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ REFERENCE_DEFINITION_RE = re.compile(
     """
 )
 REFERENCE_USAGE_RE = re.compile(
-    r"(?<![\\])\[(?P<text>[^\]\n]+)\](?:\[(?P<label>[^\]\n]*)\])?"
+    r"(?<![\\])(?:\\\\)*\[(?P<text>[^\]\n]+)\](?:\[(?P<label>[^\]\n]*)\])?"
 )
 EXTERNAL_URI_RE = re.compile(
     r"^(?:[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9+.-]*://|(?:data|doi|geo|irc|magnet|mailto|news|sms|tel|urn):)",
diff --git a/tests/ci/run-all.test.js b/tests/ci/run-all.test.js
index 4ee89e400..32e016977 100644
--- a/tests/ci/run-all.test.js
+++ b/tests/ci/run-all.test.js
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 const assert = require('assert');
 const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
 const path = require('path');
 const vm = require('vm');
+const { spawnSync } = require('child_process');
 
 const source = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'run-all.js'), 'utf8');
 
@@ -15,6 +17,7 @@ function run(result, filename = 'sample.test.js', actions = true) {
   const fakeProcess = {
     env: actions ? { GITHUB_ACTIONS: 'true' } : {},
     exit(code) { status = code; throw exit; },
+    set exitCode(code) { status = code; },
   };
   const fakeFs = {
     readdirSync: () => [{
@@ -140,6 +143,40 @@ const tests = [
     assert.deepStrictEqual(result.annotations, []);
     assert.ok(result.logs.includes('Error: local failure'));
   }],
+  ...[0, 1].map(fixtureFailures => [`piped runner flushes the full tail and summary with exit ${fixtureFailures}`, () => {
+    const root = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-runner-pipe-'));
+    try {
+      const testsDir = path.join(root, 'tests');
+      fs.mkdirSync(testsDir);
+      const runner = path.join(testsDir, 'run-all.js');
+      fs.writeFileSync(runner, source);
+      // Keep fixture stdout below the runner's default 1 MiB spawnSync ceiling,
+      // but above a pipe buffer so the runner must drain pending async writes.
+      const payloadBytes = 256 * 1024;
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(testsDir, 'large.test.js'), [
+        `console.log('x'.repeat(${payloadBytes}));`,
+        "console.log('FIXTURE_FULL_TAIL');",
+        `console.log('Passed: 1, Failed: ${fixtureFailures}');`,
+        `process.exitCode = ${fixtureFailures};`,
+      ].join('\n'));
+      const env = { ...process.env, PATH: `${path.dirname(process.execPath)}${path.delimiter}${process.env.PATH || ''}` };
+      delete env.ECC_TEST_SKIP;
+      delete env.ECC_TEST_ALLOW_FAILURES;
+      const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [runner], {
+        encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe'], env,
+        maxBuffer: 512 * 1024, timeout: 15000,
+      });
+      assert.ifError(result.error);
+      assert.strictEqual(result.status, fixtureFailures, result.stderr);
+      assert.ok(result.stdout.includes('x'.repeat(payloadBytes)), 'full bounded fixture payload must reach the pipe');
+      assert.match(result.stdout, /FIXTURE_FULL_TAIL/);
+      assert.match(result.stdout, /Final Results/);
+      assert.ok(result.stdout.trimEnd().endsWith(`Passed: 1, Failed: ${fixtureFailures}`));
+      assert.match(result.stdout, new RegExp(`Files: ${fixtureFailures ? '0 passed, 1 failed' : '1 passed, 0 failed'}`));
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  }]),
 ];
 
 let failed = 0;
diff --git a/tests/lib/copilot-install-target.test.js b/tests/lib/copilot-install-target.test.js
index 37d08e90f..553d8eafd 100644
--- a/tests/lib/copilot-install-target.test.js
+++ b/tests/lib/copilot-install-target.test.js
@@ -289,5 +289,40 @@ test('Copilot rewrites Markdown commands while preserving binary skill assets an
   }
 });
 
+test('Copilot installs non-Markdown agent assets byte-for-byte while adapting Markdown agents', () => {
+  const fs = require('fs');
+  const os = require('os');
+  const { createManifestInstallPlan, applyInstallPlan } = require('../../scripts/lib/install-executor');
+  const temp = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-copilot-agent-assets-'));
+  try {
+    const sourceRoot = path.join(temp, 'source');
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(sourceRoot, 'manifests'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(sourceRoot, 'manifests', 'install-modules.json'), JSON.stringify({ version: 1, modules: [{
+      id: 'fixture', kind: 'agents', paths: ['agents'], targets: ['copilot'], dependencies: [],
+    }] }));
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(sourceRoot, 'manifests', 'install-profiles.json'), JSON.stringify({ version: 1, profiles: {} }));
+    const agentRoot = path.join(sourceRoot, 'agents');
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(agentRoot, 'assets'), { recursive: true });
+    const binary = Buffer.from([0, 255, 254, 128, 42]);
+    const helper = 'Run node scripts/setup-package-manager.js --detect\n';
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(agentRoot, 'assets', 'icon.png'), binary);
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(agentRoot, 'assets', 'helper.txt'), helper);
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(agentRoot, 'architect.MD'), CLAUDE_AGENT);
+    const plan = createManifestInstallPlan({ sourceRoot, target: 'copilot', moduleIds: ['fixture'], projectRoot: path.join(temp, 'project'), homeDir: path.join(temp, 'home'), env: {} });
+    applyInstallPlan(plan);
+    const installed = path.join(plan.targetRoot, 'agents');
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(fs.readFileSync(path.join(installed, 'assets', 'icon.png')), binary);
+    assert.strictEqual(fs.readFileSync(path.join(installed, 'assets', 'helper.txt'), 'utf8'), helper);
+    assert.strictEqual(fs.readFileSync(path.join(installed, 'architect.MD'), 'utf8'), adaptCopilotAgent(CLAUDE_AGENT, 'agents/architect.MD'));
+    for (const operation of plan.operations.filter(operation => operation.sourceRelativePath.includes('/assets/'))) {
+      assert.ok(!operation.contentTransform, operation.sourceRelativePath);
+    }
+    assert.strictEqual(fs.readFileSync(path.join(agentRoot, 'architect.MD'), 'utf8'), CLAUDE_AGENT);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(fs.readFileSync(path.join(agentRoot, 'assets', 'icon.png')), binary);
+  } finally {
+    fs.rmSync(temp, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
 console.log(`\nResults: Passed: ${passed}, Failed: ${failed}`);
 process.exit(failed === 0 ? 0 : 1);
diff --git a/tests/run-all.js b/tests/run-all.js
index 2af669152..d03efc67c 100644
--- a/tests/run-all.js
+++ b/tests/run-all.js
@@ -209,4 +209,4 @@ if (failedFiles.length > 0) {
 console.log('╚' + '═'.repeat(BOX_W) + '╝');
 console.log(`\nPassed: ${totalPassed}, Failed: ${totalFailed}`);
 
-process.exit(totalFailed > 0 ? 1 : 0);
+process.exitCode = totalFailed > 0 ? 1 : 0;
diff --git a/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js b/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js
index cc686eae6..8c67f3ed5 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js
+++ b/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js
@@ -58,6 +58,68 @@ test('renderHTML emits executable scripts without syntax errors', () => {
   for (const script of scripts) new vm.Script(script[1]);
 });
 
+asyncTest('served activity UI shows HTTP failures as errors and preserves healthy empty and populated feeds', async () => {
+  const dir = createTempDir('ecc-activity-response-');
+  const savedDataHome = process.env.ECC_AGENT_DATA_HOME;
+  const originalClose = fs.closeSync;
+  try {
+    process.env.ECC_AGENT_DATA_HOME = dir;
+    const log = path.join(dir, 'metrics', 'tool-usage.jsonl');
+    writeFile(dir, 'metrics/tool-usage.jsonl', '');
+    const reported = [];
+    await withDashboardServer(async port => {
+      const page = await requestDashboard(port);
+      assert.strictEqual(page.statusCode, 200);
+      const script = [...page.body.matchAll(/<script>([\s\S]*?)<\/script>/g)]
+        .find(match => match[1].includes('function renderActivity()'))[1];
+      async function renderFeed() {
+        let status;
+        let jsonReads = 0;
+        const html = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+          const timeout = setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('Activity UI did not render')), REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
+          const panel = { set innerHTML(value) { clearTimeout(timeout); resolve(value); } };
+          const context = vm.createContext({
+            document: { getElementById: () => panel, createElement: () => ({}), head: { appendChild() {} } },
+            window: { showTab() {} }, setInterval() {}, clearInterval() {},
+            fetch: async url => {
+              const response = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}${url}`);
+              status = response.status;
+              return { ok: response.ok, json() { jsonReads++; return response.json(); } };
+            },
+          });
+          new vm.Script(script).runInContext(context);
+          context.window.showTab('activity');
+        });
+        return { html, status, jsonReads };
+      }
+      // A descriptor-close failure escapes loadActivity's read catch and drives
+      // the real server's generic HTTP 500 response without leaking its detail.
+      fs.closeSync = fd => { originalClose(fd); throw new Error('private close detail'); };
+      const failed = await renderFeed();
+      fs.closeSync = originalClose;
+      assert.strictEqual(failed.status, 500);
+      assert.match(failed.html, /Could not load activity feed/);
+      assert.doesNotMatch(failed.html, /No recorded tool calls|private close detail/);
+      assert.strictEqual(failed.jsonReads, 0);
+      assert.strictEqual(reported.length, 1);
+      const empty = await renderFeed();
+      assert.strictEqual(empty.status, 200);
+      assert.match(empty.html, /No recorded tool calls yet/);
+      assert.strictEqual(empty.jsonReads, 1);
+      fs.writeFileSync(log, JSON.stringify({ session_id: 'response-fixture', tool_name: 'Read', input_summary: 'visible activity' }) + '\n');
+      const populated = await renderFeed();
+      assert.strictEqual(populated.status, 200);
+      assert.match(populated.html, /visible activity/);
+      assert.doesNotMatch(populated.html, /Could not load activity feed|No recorded tool calls/);
+    }, { reportError: (message, error) => reported.push({ message, error }) });
+  } finally {
+    fs.closeSync = originalClose;
+    if (savedDataHome === undefined) delete process.env.ECC_AGENT_DATA_HOME;
+    else process.env.ECC_AGENT_DATA_HOME = savedDataHome;
+    cleanup(dir);
+  }
+});
+
 test('activity loading bounds large logs and ignores malformed rows', () => {
   const { loadActivity } = require(SCRIPT);
   withTempDir('ecc-activity-', dir => {
diff --git a/tests/test_docs_governance_audit.py b/tests/test_docs_governance_audit.py
index 02a528573..04c39dd73 100644
--- a/tests/test_docs_governance_audit.py
+++ b/tests/test_docs_governance_audit.py
@@ -882,3 +882,24 @@ def test_artifact_scope_resolves_escaped_bracket_and_apostrophe_filenames(
     (project / "index.md").write_text(link + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
     result = run_audit(project, "artifacts")
     assert result.returncode == 0, result.stdout + result.stderr
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("backslashes", range(5))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("usage", ("[diagram]", "[diagram][]"))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("scope", ("artifacts", "full"))
+def test_audit_checks_reference_usage_after_even_backslash_runs(
+    project: Path, backslashes: int, usage: str, scope: str
+) -> None:
+    (project / "index.md").write_text(
+        "\\" * backslashes + usage + "\n\n[diagram]: missing.png\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    before = {path: path.read_bytes() for path in project.rglob("*") if path.is_file()}
+    result = run_audit(project, scope)
+    expected = 1 if backslashes % 2 == 0 else 0
+    assert result.returncode == expected, result.stdout + result.stderr
+    diagnostic = "Broken Markdown link: 'index.md' -> 'missing.png'"
+    assert (diagnostic in result.stdout) == (expected == 1), result.stdout
+    assert "Traceback" not in result.stderr
+    after = {path: path.read_bytes() for path in project.rglob("*") if path.is_file()}
+    assert after == before, "the actual audit CLI must not modify project files"