diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 8a362bb..9be0cf8 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ All shippable work commits **directly to `main`**; `main` is always equal to wha
 
 - Code quality: verify generated code for bugs/edge cases; add debug logging; **ask rather than guess** when you'd otherwise invent input/output.
 
+### Live validation
+
+Live validation of a user-facing feature must exercise the real UI/user flow end-to-end (e.g. connect → enroll → deploy), not shortcut via direct API/agent/CLI calls — a shortcut can give false confidence and leave the system inconsistent (see the F9 storage episode). Low-level mechanism tests where the direct call IS the mechanism are exempt.
+
 ## Workflow & artifacts
 
 - Implement **`TASK.md` / `TASK-*.md`** specs (when placed as `TASK.md` or told to implement one), then push + CHANGELOG + REPORT.md.