diff --git a/scripts/decoy_coverage_gate.py b/scripts/decoy_coverage_gate.py
index 503e1ba9..0ee8a021 100644
--- a/scripts/decoy_coverage_gate.py
+++ b/scripts/decoy_coverage_gate.py
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ EXEMPT = {
     ("felhom-controller", "docker-v"):
         "COVERED IN THE SWEEP, not yet in a suite: an unallowlisted `-v` host path in a new Go file "
         "was REJECTED (it uses os.walk). R-426 tracks moving it in.",
-    ("felhom-controller", "offbox-rename"):
-        "R-425 — the FILES list is fixed, so banned branding in a NEW offbox file is unscanned. The "
-        "decoy passes today.",
     ("felhom-controller", "reuse-refs"):
         "shared script; its decoy lives in felhom.eu/scripts/test_gate_decoys.py.",
     ("felhom-controller", "instructions"):
@@ -134,6 +131,7 @@ def main(argv):
     roots = argv[1:] or ["."]
     problems, inconclusive, lines = [], [], []
     total = covered = exempt = 0
+    stale = []
 
     for root in roots:
         root = os.path.abspath(root)
@@ -168,6 +166,12 @@ def main(argv):
             if label in covers:
                 covered += 1
                 lines.append("  COVERED   %-22s %-20s %s" % (name, label, covers[label][:60]))
+                # R-426 (2026-10-06): an exemption for a gate that HAS a decoy is a dead entry that keeps
+                # the debt list longer than the debt (controller/offbox-rename sat here after R-425 gave it
+                # decoys). Named, not convicted: the decoy lands in a sibling repo, and failing THIS repo's
+                # push for another repo's good news would couple the two for no safety gain.
+                if (name, label) in EXEMPT:
+                    stale.append((name, label))
             elif (name, label) in EXEMPT:
                 exempt += 1
                 lines.append("  exempt    %-22s %-20s %s" % (name, label, EXEMPT[(name, label)][:60]))
@@ -179,6 +183,11 @@ def main(argv):
     for l in sorted(lines):
         print(l)
 
+    if stale:
+        print()
+        for repo, label in stale:
+            print("  STALE EXEMPTION: %s / %s has a decoy now — delete its EXEMPT entry (R-426)" % (repo, label))
+
     if inconclusive:
         print()
         for i in inconclusive:
diff --git a/scripts/test_gate_decoys.py b/scripts/test_gate_decoys.py
index 8d1f3eea..27dccb05 100644
--- a/scripts/test_gate_decoys.py
+++ b/scripts/test_gate_decoys.py
@@ -414,6 +414,23 @@ elif "decoy-red-proof" not in _out:
 else:
     print("  ok  %-20s a new gate with no decoy is convicted BY NAME" % "decoy-coverage")
 
+# ...and its STALE-EXEMPTION notice (R-426, 2026-10-06): an EXEMPT entry for a gate that has a decoy must be
+# NAMED, or the debt list reads longer than the debt (controller/offbox-rename sat there after R-425).
+ran += 1
+_DCG = os.path.join(ROOT, "scripts", "decoy_coverage_gate.py")
+_dcg = io.open(_DCG, encoding="utf-8").read()
+try:
+    assert "EXEMPT = {\n" in _dcg, "the EXEMPT literal's shape changed — this check can no longer be built"
+    io.open(_DCG, "w", encoding="utf-8").write(_dcg.replace(
+        "EXEMPT = {\n", 'EXEMPT = {\n    ("felhom.eu", "site"): "decoy: a stale entry for a covered gate",\n', 1))
+    _rc, _out = gate("decoy_coverage_gate.py", (ROOT,))
+finally:
+    io.open(_DCG, "w", encoding="utf-8").write(_dcg)
+if "STALE EXEMPTION: felhom.eu / site" not in _out:
+    fails.append("decoy-coverage: an EXEMPT entry for a COVERED gate was not named as stale\n%s" % _out[-400:])
+else:
+    print("  ok  %-20s a stale exemption is NAMED" % "decoy-coverage")
+
 # ── guide-quote (R-596) ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 #
 # Its decoys build whole fake workspaces (a guide plus a sibling controller clone), which does not