diff --git a/kernelguard.py b/kernelguard.py
index f086847..50629f0 100644
--- a/kernelguard.py
+++ b/kernelguard.py
@@ -553,6 +553,69 @@ def _looks_stateful_name(name: str) -> bool:
     return any(token in lowered for token in ("last", "prev", "cache", "saved", "memo"))
 
 
+def _is_input_float_call(expr: ast.AST | None, params: set[str]) -> bool:
+    return (
+        isinstance(expr, ast.Call)
+        and isinstance(expr.func, ast.Attribute)
+        and expr.func.attr == "float"
+        and isinstance(expr.func.value, ast.Name)
+        and expr.func.value.id in params
+        and not expr.args
+        and not expr.keywords
+    )
+
+
+def _is_noop_context_call(expr: ast.AST | None) -> bool:
+    if not isinstance(expr, ast.Call):
+        return False
+    func = expr.func
+    if isinstance(func, ast.Name):
+        return func.id == "nullcontext"
+    return isinstance(func, ast.Attribute) and func.attr == "nullcontext"
+
+
+def _input_float_return_from_body(body: list[ast.stmt], params: set[str]) -> bool:
+    aliases: set[str] = set()
+    saw_return = False
+
+    for stmt in body:
+        if isinstance(stmt, (ast.Import, ast.ImportFrom, ast.Pass)):
+            continue
+        if (
+            isinstance(stmt, ast.Expr)
+            and isinstance(stmt.value, ast.Constant)
+            and isinstance(stmt.value.value, str)
+        ):
+            continue
+        if isinstance(stmt, ast.With) and all(
+            _is_noop_context_call(item.context_expr)
+            for item in stmt.items
+        ):
+            if _input_float_return_from_body(stmt.body, params):
+                saw_return = True
+                continue
+            return False
+        if (
+            isinstance(stmt, ast.Assign)
+            and len(stmt.targets) == 1
+            and isinstance(stmt.targets[0], ast.Name)
+            and _is_input_float_call(stmt.value, params)
+        ):
+            aliases.add(stmt.targets[0].id)
+            continue
+        if isinstance(stmt, ast.Return):
+            if _is_input_float_call(stmt.value, params):
+                saw_return = True
+                continue
+            if isinstance(stmt.value, ast.Name) and stmt.value.id in aliases:
+                saw_return = True
+                continue
+            return False
+        return False
+
+    return saw_return
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Detectors
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1163,6 +1226,33 @@ def detect_trivial_probe(code: str | SubmissionFacts) -> list[dict]:
     return matches
 
 
+def detect_input_passthrough_output(code: str | SubmissionFacts) -> list[dict]:
+    """Pattern: entrypoint returns the input tensor cast to float as fake output."""
+    facts = ensure_submission_facts(code)
+    tree = facts.ast_tree
+    if tree is None:
+        return []
+    entrypoint_name = entrypoint_label(facts.entrypoint_name)
+
+    for node in ast.walk(tree):
+        if not isinstance(node, (ast.FunctionDef, ast.AsyncFunctionDef)):
+            continue
+        if not is_entrypoint_name(node.name):
+            continue
+
+        params = {arg.arg for arg in node.args.args}
+        if not params:
+            continue
+        if _input_float_return_from_body(node.body, params):
+            return [{
+                "pattern": "INPUT_PASSTHROUGH_OUTPUT",
+                "severity": "critical",
+                "evidence": f"{entrypoint_name} returns an input tensor cast to float without compute",
+            }]
+
+    return []
+
+
 def detect_torch_compile_cache(code: str | SubmissionFacts) -> list[dict]:
     """Pattern 11: torch.compile for pipeline graph caching."""
     facts = ensure_submission_facts(code)
@@ -3511,6 +3601,10 @@ class RulePolicy:
         "TRIVIAL_PROBE", "low_signal", "telemetry", TELEMETRY_ONLY, (),
         (), "downgrade",
     ),
+    "INPUT_PASSTHROUGH_OUTPUT": RulePolicy(
+        "INPUT_PASSTHROUGH_OUTPUT", "fake_output", "hard", AUTO_FILTER, (),
+        (), "keep",
+    ),
     "TORCH_COMPILE_CACHE": RulePolicy(
         "TORCH_COMPILE_CACHE", "performance_heuristic", "telemetry", TELEMETRY_ONLY, (),
         (), "downgrade",
@@ -3767,6 +3861,7 @@ def support_only_patterns(matched_patterns: list[dict]) -> bool:
     detect_cuda_graph_replay,
     detect_silent_fallback,
     detect_trivial_probe,
+    detect_input_passthrough_output,
     detect_torch_compile_cache,
     detect_cuda_graph_python,
     detect_hardcoded_shapes,
@@ -3805,6 +3900,7 @@ def support_only_patterns(matched_patterns: list[dict]) -> bool:
     ("cuda_graph_replay", detect_cuda_graph_replay),
     ("silent_fallback", detect_silent_fallback),
     ("trivial_probe", detect_trivial_probe),
+    ("input_passthrough_output", detect_input_passthrough_output),
     ("torch_compile_cache", detect_torch_compile_cache),
     ("cuda_graph_python", detect_cuda_graph_python),
     ("hardcoded_shapes", detect_hardcoded_shapes),