diff --git a/.changeset/missing-verdict-fail-closed.md b/.changeset/missing-verdict-fail-closed.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07f3145
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/missing-verdict-fail-closed.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@gemstack/framework': patch
+---
+
+Fail closed when a checklist reply omits the required `{ blockers }` verdict. A verdict-less reply was scored as empty-blockers (production-grade) and stopped the loop; it now surfaces a blocker so the loop re-prompts instead of declaring the app done off an unverifiable reply.
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/steps.test.ts b/packages/framework/src/steps.test.ts
index bce629d..38f20c7 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/steps.test.ts
+++ b/packages/framework/src/steps.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   driverImprove,
   extendPrompt,
   isWorkspaceEmpty,
+  MISSING_VERDICT_BLOCKER,
   parseArchitectPlan,
 } from './steps.js'
 
@@ -107,10 +108,10 @@ test('driverChecklist parses the { blockers } verdict', async () => {
   assert.deepEqual(verdict.blockers, ['no auth'])
 })
 
-test('driverChecklist treats a verdict-less reply as passing', async () => {
+test('driverChecklist fails closed on a verdict-less reply (not passing)', async () => {
   const session = await new FakeDriver({ turns: [{ text: 'looks fine to me' }] }).start({ cwd: '/ws' })
   const verdict = await driverChecklist(session)({ pass: 1, plan: PLAN, intent: 'x', blockers: [] })
-  assert.deepEqual(verdict.blockers, [])
+  assert.deepEqual(verdict.blockers, [MISSING_VERDICT_BLOCKER])
 })
 
 test('deployWith runs the target against the decided plan and uses its name', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/steps.ts b/packages/framework/src/steps.ts
index 97a90fe..a6666c3 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/steps.ts
+++ b/packages/framework/src/steps.ts
@@ -267,12 +267,17 @@ export function driverChecklist(
       ...(opts.system ? { system: opts.system } : {}),
       ...(ctx.signal ? { signal: ctx.signal } : {}),
     })
-    // A missing verdict is treated as "reported nothing concrete": passing, so a
-    // terse agent does not wedge the loop. parseVerdict returns undefined then.
-    return parseVerdict(turn.text) ?? { blockers: [] }
+    // Fail closed: a reply with no parseable { blockers } verdict is not a pass.
+    // Surface it as a blocker so the loop re-prompts (and, at maxPasses, stops with
+    // it) rather than declaring the app production-grade off an unverifiable reply.
+    return parseVerdict(turn.text) ?? { blockers: [MISSING_VERDICT_BLOCKER] }
   }
 }
 
+/** The blocker surfaced when a checklist reply omits the required `{ blockers }` verdict. */
+export const MISSING_VERDICT_BLOCKER =
+  'End your reply with the required fenced ```json { "blockers": [...] } verdict; it was missing.'
+
 /** The improve step: a fresh invocation that fixes the current blockers. */
 export function driverImprove(
   session: DriverSession,