diff --git a/lenses/skillspector.sh b/lenses/skillspector.sh
index 3e23c6a..67f5abf 100755
--- a/lenses/skillspector.sh
+++ b/lenses/skillspector.sh
@@ -85,8 +85,17 @@ for skill in "${skills[@]}"; do
     echo "scan produced no valid JSON for: $skill" >>"$work/errors.log"
     errors=$((errors+1)); continue
   fi
-  # Normalize v2.0.0 `issues[]` into honey's finding shape (schema verified
-  # against SkillSpector v2.0.0 --format json output).
+  # Schema guard: honey normalizes the `issues[]` array. If a future SkillSpector
+  # renames/drops it, `(.issues // [])` would silently yield ZERO findings — a
+  # false "clean". Treat valid-JSON-without-`issues` as a schema-drift ERROR so
+  # it surfaces as scan_error (visible), never a silent all-clear.
+  if ! jq -e 'has("issues")' "$raw" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "SCHEMA DRIFT: SkillSpector output for $skill has no top-level .issues (output format changed? re-verify the lens normalizer)" >>"$work/errors.log"
+    errors=$((errors+1)); continue
+  fi
+  # Normalize `issues[]` into honey's finding shape. Schema verified against
+  # SkillSpector v2.0.0 and v2.3.11 --format json output (issues[] is the tool's
+  # documented "core contract": id/pattern/severity/category/location).
   norm="$(jq --arg skill "$skill" '
     (.issues // []) | map({
       severity: ((.severity // "unknown") | ascii_downcase),
diff --git a/win/lenses/skillspector.ps1 b/win/lenses/skillspector.ps1
index 1f19372..0e2c093 100644
--- a/win/lenses/skillspector.ps1
+++ b/win/lenses/skillspector.ps1
@@ -76,8 +76,16 @@ foreach ($skill in $skills) {
     $data = $null
     try { $data = Get-Content -LiteralPath $raw -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json } catch { $data = $null }
     if ($null -eq $data) { Add-Content -LiteralPath $errLog -Value "no valid JSON for: $skill"; $errors++; continue }
+    # Schema guard: honey normalizes the `issues[]` array. If a future SkillSpector
+    # renames/drops it, iterating a missing property yields ZERO findings — a false
+    # "clean". Treat valid-JSON-without-`issues` as schema-drift ERROR (surfaces as
+    # scan_error), never a silent all-clear.
+    if ($data.PSObject.Properties.Name -notcontains 'issues') {
+        Add-Content -LiteralPath $errLog -Value "SCHEMA DRIFT: SkillSpector output for $skill has no top-level .issues (output format changed? re-verify the lens normalizer)"
+        $errors++; continue
+    }
 
-    foreach ($issue in @(if ($data.PSObject.Properties.Name -contains 'issues') { $data.issues } else { @() })) {
+    foreach ($issue in @($data.issues)) {
         $id      = if ($issue.PSObject.Properties.Name -contains 'id' -and $issue.id) { $issue.id } else { '' }
         $pattern = if ($issue.PSObject.Properties.Name -contains 'pattern' -and $issue.pattern) { $issue.pattern } else { '' }
         $title   = (($id + ' ' + $pattern).Trim())