diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4dd9fd6..419d25b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ rome facts programs devnet         # Solana program ids for a network
 rome cookbook cpi-recipe           # the CPI account-rules + SDK encoders (grounded addresses)
 rome cookbook patterns lending     # which example repo + guide fits a goal
 rome call hadrian 0x… "balanceOf(address) returns (uint256)" 0x…   # read a contract (no key)
+rome doctor hadrian --address 0x…  # preflight: chain live? RPC reachable? program set? wallet funded?
 
 # actions — sign on-chain, need ROME_EVM_KEY (never a flag/log/MCP):
 rome deploy hadrian ./out/Store.json                # deploy a compiled artifact
diff --git a/src/core/capabilities.ts b/src/core/capabilities.ts
index 59e2838..fb3cf9d 100644
--- a/src/core/capabilities.ts
+++ b/src/core/capabilities.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { getChainFacts, getTokenFacts, getContractFacts, getGasFacts, getBalance
 import { getCpiRecipe, getPatterns } from "./cookbook.js";
 import { callContract, deployContract, sendContract } from "./actions.js";
 import { fundHandler, bridgeHandler } from "./bridge.js";
+import { doctor } from "./doctor.js";
 import { type Deps } from "./deps.js";
 
 export interface ArgSpec {
@@ -143,6 +144,15 @@ export const CAPABILITIES: Capability[] = [
     (a, deps) => sendContract(a.chain, a.address, a.signature, a.args, deps),
   ),
 
+  // ── doctor: read-only preflight (CLI + MCP) ──
+  verbCap(
+    "doctor",
+    "doctor",
+    "Preflight a chain: is it live, is the RPC reachable, is the program configured, is a wallet funded? e.g. rome doctor hadrian --address 0x…",
+    [chainArg, { name: "address", required: false, description: "optional 0x address to check is funded" }],
+    (a, deps) => doctor(a.chain, a.address, deps),
+  ),
+
   // ── fund / bridge: the "from home" on-ramp (CCTP USDC inbound). CLI-only actions. ──
   verbAction(
     "fund",
diff --git a/src/core/doctor.ts b/src/core/doctor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d783a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/doctor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import { getChainFacts } from "./facts.js";
+import { defaultDeps, type Deps } from "./deps.js";
+
+// `doctor` — a read-only preflight. Composes registry facts + a live RPC ping so a
+// builder (or agent) can confirm the environment is sane before deploying/sending.
+// No key: the optional funded check takes a plain address.
+
+export interface DoctorCheck {
+  name: string;
+  ok: boolean;
+  detail: string;
+}
+
+export interface DoctorResult {
+  chain: { id: number; name: string; network: string; status: string };
+  checks: DoctorCheck[];
+  ok: boolean;
+}
+
+export async function doctor(
+  chain: string | number,
+  address: string | undefined,
+  deps: Deps = defaultDeps,
+): Promise<DoctorResult> {
+  const c = getChainFacts(chain); // throws "Unknown chain …" on a bad chain
+  const status = (c as { status?: string }).status ?? "unknown";
+  const network = (c as { network?: string }).network ?? "";
+  const checks: DoctorCheck[] = [
+    { name: "chain-live", ok: status === "live", detail: `status=${status}` },
+    { name: "program-configured", ok: Boolean(c.romeEvmProgramId), detail: c.romeEvmProgramId || "(none)" },
+  ];
+
+  // rpc-reachable: a live gas-price ping proves the configured RPC actually answers.
+  const rpc = deps.makeRpc(c.rpcUrl);
+  try {
+    const gp = await rpc.getGasPrice();
+    checks.push({ name: "rpc-reachable", ok: true, detail: `${c.rpcUrl} (gasPrice ${gp.toString()} wei)` });
+  } catch (e) {
+    checks.push({ name: "rpc-reachable", ok: false, detail: `${c.rpcUrl} unreachable: ${(e as Error).message}` });
+  }
+
+  if (address) {
+    try {
+      const bal = await rpc.getBalance(address);
+      checks.push({ name: "wallet-funded", ok: bal > 0n, detail: `${bal.toString()} wei (${c.nativeCurrency.symbol})` });
+    } catch (e) {
+      checks.push({ name: "wallet-funded", ok: false, detail: `balance check failed: ${(e as Error).message}` });
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { chain: { id: c.chainId, name: c.name, network, status }, checks, ok: checks.every((x) => x.ok) };
+}
diff --git a/test/doctor.test.ts b/test/doctor.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9b2422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/doctor.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import { doctor } from "../src/core/doctor.js";
+import { CAPABILITIES } from "../src/core/capabilities.js";
+import { buildMcpTools } from "../src/mcp.js";
+import type { Deps, RpcClient } from "../src/core/deps.js";
+
+// `doctor` is a read-only preflight: chain live? RPC reachable? program configured?
+// wallet funded (optional address)? It composes registry facts + a live RPC ping, so
+// it's on BOTH the CLI and MCP. No key — the funded check takes a plain address.
+
+function depsWith(rpc: Partial<RpcClient>): Deps {
+  return {
+    makeRpc: () => ({
+      getGasPrice: rpc.getGasPrice ?? (async () => 10n),
+      getBalance: rpc.getBalance ?? (async () => 0n),
+    }),
+  };
+}
+const check = (r: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof doctor>>, name: string) => r.checks.find((c) => c.name === name);
+
+describe("doctor — preflight", () => {
+  it("all green on a live chain with a reachable RPC", async () => {
+    const r = await doctor("hadrian", undefined, depsWith({ getGasPrice: async () => 10_000n }));
+    expect(r.chain.id).toBe(200010);
+    expect(check(r, "chain-live")?.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(check(r, "rpc-reachable")?.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(check(r, "program-configured")?.ok).toBe(true);
+    // no address → no wallet-funded check
+    expect(check(r, "wallet-funded")).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("flags an unreachable RPC (ping throws) and fails overall", async () => {
+    const r = await doctor("hadrian", undefined, depsWith({ getGasPrice: async () => { throw new Error("ECONNREFUSED"); } }));
+    expect(check(r, "rpc-reachable")?.ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("adds a wallet-funded check when an address is given", async () => {
+    const funded = await doctor("hadrian", "0x1Fc309eeF3D24dc2585aFb2175fAd4592f2a7b75", depsWith({ getBalance: async () => 5n }));
+    expect(check(funded, "wallet-funded")?.ok).toBe(true);
+    const empty = await doctor("hadrian", "0x1Fc309eeF3D24dc2585aFb2175fAd4592f2a7b75", depsWith({ getBalance: async () => 0n }));
+    expect(check(empty, "wallet-funded")?.ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(empty.ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("errors clearly on an unknown chain", async () => {
+    await expect(doctor("nope-chain", undefined, depsWith({}))).rejects.toThrow(/unknown chain/i);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("doctor is a read capability, exposed on MCP", () => {
+  it("registered as a read verb and present on the MCP surface", () => {
+    const cap = CAPABILITIES.find((c) => c.id === "doctor.doctor");
+    expect(cap?.kind).toBe("read");
+    expect(cap?.requiresKey).toBe(false);
+    expect(cap?.verb).toBe(true);
+    expect(new Set(buildMcpTools().map((t) => t.name)).has("doctor")).toBe(true);
+  });
+});