diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0c7b467..e1dd4db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -249,3 +249,9 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
       - name: Validate specs and changes (strict)
         run: npx -y @fission-ai/openspec@1.13.1 validate --all --strict --no-interactive
+
+      # Archived changes must carry no unticked task. The other four repos wired this
+      # after clearing real debt (ADR-0023 §7); this repo has no archived change yet, so
+      # the step passes vacuously today and guards the FIRST one instead of the 18th.
+      - name: Validate archived changes (no unticked tasks)
+        run: npx -y @fission-ai/openspec@1.13.1 validate --archived --no-interactive