diff --git a/dist/commands/backfill.d.ts b/dist/commands/backfill.d.ts
index ff2a6ff5..7d920380 100644
--- a/dist/commands/backfill.d.ts
+++ b/dist/commands/backfill.d.ts
@@ -36,10 +36,5 @@ export interface BackfillOutcome {
     exitCode: number;
 }
 export declare const toBackfillOptions: (options: BackfillCommandOptions) => BackfillOptions;
-/**
- * Runs the command and reports what it would print. A failure comes back as an
- * outcome rather than an exception: the one thing a user of a cold-start command
- * should never see is a stack trace telling them nothing they can act on.
- */
 export declare const runBackfill: (options: BackfillCommandOptions) => BackfillOutcome;
 export declare const register: (program: Command) => void;
diff --git a/dist/commands/backfill.js b/dist/commands/backfill.js
index 05e3f4d8..3bddf3a4 100644
--- a/dist/commands/backfill.js
+++ b/dist/commands/backfill.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  * records, stopped at --limit" and "12 records, that was all of them" are
  * different facts and the user acts differently on each.
  */
+import { notesAvailability } from '../core/notes.js';
 import { DEFAULT_BATCH_SIZE, DEFAULT_LIMIT, backfill, buildEnvelope, } from '../core/backfill.js';
 const PREFIX = 'commitlore:';
 /** What each stop reason means to somebody deciding whether to run it again. */
@@ -120,32 +121,66 @@ const jsonPayload = (result) => `${JSON.stringify({
         prompt: entry.prompt,
     })),
 }, null, 2)}\n`;
-const present = (result, json) => {
+const present = (result, json, incomplete = null) => {
+    const caveat = incomplete === null
+        ? ''
+        : `${PREFIX} the notes mirror is ${incomplete}, so "no record" below means "none this clone can see" — ` +
+            `counts of note trailers and of targets are both drawn from an index that could not read it. ` +
+            `fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch\n`;
     const detail = [
         ...result.report.discarded.map(discardLine),
         ...result.report.skipped.map(skipLine),
     ].join('');
     if (json)
-        return { stdout: jsonPayload(result), stderr: detail, exitCode: 0 };
+        return { stdout: jsonPayload(result), stderr: caveat + detail, exitCode: 0 };
     /* In prompt mode stdout is the payload a session consumes, so the summary
        goes to stderr and stays out of whatever the user pipes it into. */
     if (result.report.mode === 'prompt-only') {
         return {
             stdout: promptPayload(result),
-            stderr: `${detail}${summary(result.report)}`,
+            stderr: `${caveat}${detail}${summary(result.report)}`,
             exitCode: 0,
         };
     }
-    return { stdout: summary(result.report), stderr: detail, exitCode: 0 };
+    return { stdout: summary(result.report), stderr: caveat + detail, exitCode: 0 };
 };
 /**
  * Runs the command and reports what it would print. A failure comes back as an
  * outcome rather than an exception: the one thing a user of a cold-start command
  * should never see is a stack trace telling them nothing they can act on.
  */
+/**
+ * #403, and PRD Phase 0: fail closed when the notes mirror was not read.
+ *
+ * `backfill` selects its targets from the index — "commits with no record". A
+ * commit whose record lives only in an unfetched note has, from here, no record,
+ * so it is eligible for reconstruction. Writing then produces a second record
+ * for one decision: either a `Record-Id` collision, or worse, no collision and
+ * two records the lifecycle fold cannot reconcile.
+ *
+ * The read-only modes still run — they are how a user diagnoses this — but they
+ * say the selection was drawn from an index that could not see the mirror. Only
+ * the writing mode refuses, because only it can create the duplicate.
+ */
+const NOT_COMPLETE = new Set(['unfetched', 'diverged', 'shallow']);
+const incompleteMirror = (options) => {
+    const state = notesAvailability(options.cwd === undefined ? {} : { cwd: options.cwd });
+    return NOT_COMPLETE.has(state) ? state : null;
+};
 export const runBackfill = (options) => {
+    const incomplete = incompleteMirror(options);
+    const writes = options.draft !== undefined && options.dryRun !== true;
+    if (incomplete !== null && writes) {
+        return {
+            stdout: '',
+            stderr: `${PREFIX} the notes mirror is ${incomplete}, so a record that already exists upstream reads here ` +
+                `as a commit with none. Reconstructing now can write a second record for one decision.\n` +
+                `${PREFIX} fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch, then rerun\n`,
+            exitCode: 2,
+        };
+    }
     try {
-        return present(backfill(toBackfillOptions(options)), options.json === true);
+        return present(backfill(toBackfillOptions(options)), options.json === true, incomplete);
     }
     catch (error) {
         const detail = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
diff --git a/dist/commands/backfill.js.map b/dist/commands/backfill.js.map
index 907ade0b..25cc4806 100644
--- a/dist/commands/backfill.js.map
+++ b/dist/commands/backfill.js.map
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"version":3,"file":"backfill.js","sourceRoot":"","sources":["../../src/commands/backfill.ts"],"names":[],"mappings":"AAAA;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;GAkBG;AAIH,OAAO,EACL,kBAAkB,EAClB,aAAa,EACb,QAAQ,EACR,aAAa,GAOd,MAAM,qBAAqB,CAAC;AAoB7B,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,aAAa,CAAC;AAE7B,gFAAgF;AAChF,MAAM,gBAAgB,GAAyC;IAC7D,SAAS,EAAE,qCAAqC;IAChD,KAAK,EAAE,2DAA2D;IAClE,eAAe,EAAE,qEAAqE;IACtF,SAAS,EACP,mFAAmF;CACtF,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,CAAC,CAAS,EAAE,QAAgB,EAAE,MAAM,GAAG,GAAG,QAAQ,GAAG,EAAU,EAAE,CAC7E,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,CAAC;AAExC,MAAM,kBAAkB,GAAG,CAAC,GAAuB,EAAE,IAAY,EAAsB,EAAE;IACvF,IAAI,GAAG,KAAK,SAAS;QAAE,OAAO,SAAS,CAAC;IACxC,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC;IAC3B,IAAI,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,MAAM,GAAG,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;QAC5C,MAAM,IAAI,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,IAAI,mCAAmC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACnE,CAAC;IACD,OAAO,MAAM,CAAC;AAChB,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,iBAAiB,GAAG,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAmB,EAAE;IACpF,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,kBAAkB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC;IAC3D,MAAM,YAAY,GAAG,kBAAkB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,YAAY,EAAE,iBAAiB,CAAC,CAAC;IACjF,OAAO;QACL,GAAG,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC;QAC1D,GAAG,CAAC,KAAK,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC;QACzC,GAAG,CAAC,YAAY,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,YAAY,EAAE,CAAC;QACvD,GAAG,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC;QAChE,GAAG,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,SAAS,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,SAAS,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,CAAC;QAC5E,OAAO,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,OAAO,KAAK,IAAI;QACjC,UAAU,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,UAAU,KAAK,IAAI;QACvC,MAAM,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,IAAI;KAChC,CAAC;AACJ,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,CAAC,GAAW,EAAU,EAAE,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;AAE3D,MAAM,WAAW,GAAG,CAAC,KAAsB,EAAU,EAAE,CACrD,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,QAAQ,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,eAAe,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,MAAM,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,CAAC;AAEpF,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,CAAC,KAAmB,EAAU,EAAE,CAC/C,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,QAAQ,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,aAAa,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,MAAM,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,CAAC;AAElF,MAAM,eAAe,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAY,EAAE;IAC3D,MAAM,GAAG,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,YAAY,CAAC;IAChC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,SAAS;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;IAC9B,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,SAAS;QAAE,OAAO,CAAC,8BAA8B,GAAG,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,aAAa,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACzF,OAAO,CAAC,oBAAoB,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,mBAAmB,CAAC,CAAC;AAC/E,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,SAAS,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAY,EAAE;IACrD,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC;IAC3B,IAAI,KAAK,KAAK,IAAI;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;IAC9B,IAAI,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO;QAAE,OAAO,CAAC,yBAAyB,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,SAAS,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC;IACnF,OAAO;QACL,YAAY,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,eAAe,EAAE,gBAAgB,CAAC,IAAI;YAC5D,GAAG,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,mBAAmB,EAAE,cAAc,CAAC,SAAS,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,cAAc,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,EAAE;KACtG,CAAC;AACJ,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF;;;GAGG;AACH,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAU,EAAE;IACjD,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,cAAc,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC;IAC1D,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG;QACZ,GAAG,MAAM,cAAc,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,WAAW,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG;QACxE,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,aAAa,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,WAAW;YAC5D,GAAG,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,mBAAmB;QACxD,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,iBAAiB;YAC5D,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,YAAY,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,2CAA2C,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;KACpF,CAAC;IAEF,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,aAAa,EAAE,CAAC;QAClC,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CACR,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,SAAS,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,OAAO,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,IAAI;YACjG,IAAI,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,eAAe,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,YAAY,CACzD,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;QAC5B,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CACR,cAAc,KAAK,IAAI,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;YACxD,QAAQ,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,OAAO,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,EAAE;YACnD,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,iCAAiC,CAAC,EAClE,gBAAgB,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,sBAAsB,CAC/E,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,GAAG,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;QAC9B,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACrE,CAAC;IAED,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,eAAe,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,SAAS,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;IAC7D,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,cAAc,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,MAAM,gBAAgB,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACrF,OAAO,GAAG,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC;AACjC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF;;;GAGG;AACH,MAAM,aAAa,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAU,EAAE;IACvD,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,CAAC;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;IAC3C,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,aAAa,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,YAAY,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC;IAC5F,OAAO,GAAG,QAAQ,KAAK,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;AAClF,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,WAAW,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAU,EAAE,CACrD,GAAG,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,CACf;IACE,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM;IACrB,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;QACtC,GAAG,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG;QACd,OAAO,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO;QACtB,eAAe,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,eAAe;QACtC,MAAM,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM;KACrB,CAAC,CAAC;CACJ,EACD,IAAI,EACJ,CAAC,CACF,IAAI,CAAC;AAER,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAE,IAAa,EAAmB,EAAE;IACzE,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG;QACb,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,WAAW,CAAC;QAC3C,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC;KACvC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IAEX,IAAI,IAAI;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,WAAW,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;IAE9E;0EACsE;IACtE,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,aAAa,EAAE,CAAC;QACzC,OAAO;YACL,MAAM,EAAE,aAAa,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC;YAC7B,MAAM,EAAE,GAAG,MAAM,GAAG,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE;YAC5C,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC;SACZ,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;AACzE,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF;;;;GAIG;AACH,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,WAAW,GAAG,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAmB,EAAE;IAC9E,IAAI,CAAC;QACH,OAAO,OAAO,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,iBAAiB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC;IAC9E,CAAC;IAAC,OAAO,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC;QACf,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,KAAK,YAAY,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC;QACtE,uEAAuE;QACvE,0EAA0E;QAC1E,qEAAqE;QACrE,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,EAAE,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,MAAM,IAAI,EAAE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;IACtE,CAAC;AACH,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,CAAC,OAAgB,EAAQ,EAAE;IACjD,OAAO;SACJ,OAAO,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC;SACnB,WAAW,CAAC,qFAAqF,CAAC;SAClG,MAAM,CAAC,aAAa,EAAE,uDAAuD,aAAa,GAAG,CAAC;SAC9F,MAAM,CAAC,YAAY,EAAE,uDAAuD,CAAC;SAC7E,MAAM,CAAC,qBAAqB,EAAE,uDAAuD,CAAC;SACtF,MAAM,CAAC,eAAe,EAAE,4DAA4D,CAAC;SACrF,MAAM,CAAC,gBAAgB,EAAE,8DAA8D,CAAC;SACxF,MAAM,CAAC,WAAW,EAAE,mCAAmC,CAAC;SACxD,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,yBAAyB,CAAC;SAC3C,WAAW,CACV,OAAO,EACP,sGAAsG;QACpG,4EAA4E,CAC/E;SACA,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAE,EAAE;QAC1C,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,WAAW,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,OAAO,EAAE,SAAS,EAAE,kBAAkB,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;QAC3E,IAAI,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,EAAE;YAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC;QAChE,IAAI,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,EAAE;YAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC;QAChE,OAAO,CAAC,QAAQ,GAAG,OAAO,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC;IACtC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AACP,CAAC,CAAC"}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"version":3,"file":"backfill.js","sourceRoot":"","sources":["../../src/commands/backfill.ts"],"names":[],"mappings":"AAAA;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;GAkBG;AAIH,OAAO,EAAE,iBAAiB,EAAE,MAAM,kBAAkB,CAAC;AAErD,OAAO,EACL,kBAAkB,EAClB,aAAa,EACb,QAAQ,EACR,aAAa,GAOd,MAAM,qBAAqB,CAAC;AAoB7B,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,aAAa,CAAC;AAE7B,gFAAgF;AAChF,MAAM,gBAAgB,GAAyC;IAC7D,SAAS,EAAE,qCAAqC;IAChD,KAAK,EAAE,2DAA2D;IAClE,eAAe,EAAE,qEAAqE;IACtF,SAAS,EACP,mFAAmF;CACtF,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,CAAC,CAAS,EAAE,QAAgB,EAAE,MAAM,GAAG,GAAG,QAAQ,GAAG,EAAU,EAAE,CAC7E,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,CAAC;AAExC,MAAM,kBAAkB,GAAG,CAAC,GAAuB,EAAE,IAAY,EAAsB,EAAE;IACvF,IAAI,GAAG,KAAK,SAAS;QAAE,OAAO,SAAS,CAAC;IACxC,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC;IAC3B,IAAI,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,MAAM,GAAG,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;QAC5C,MAAM,IAAI,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,IAAI,mCAAmC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACnE,CAAC;IACD,OAAO,MAAM,CAAC;AAChB,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,iBAAiB,GAAG,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAmB,EAAE;IACpF,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,kBAAkB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC;IAC3D,MAAM,YAAY,GAAG,kBAAkB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,YAAY,EAAE,iBAAiB,CAAC,CAAC;IACjF,OAAO;QACL,GAAG,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC;QAC1D,GAAG,CAAC,KAAK,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC;QACzC,GAAG,CAAC,YAAY,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,YAAY,EAAE,CAAC;QACvD,GAAG,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC;QAChE,GAAG,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,SAAS,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,SAAS,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,CAAC;QAC5E,OAAO,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,OAAO,KAAK,IAAI;QACjC,UAAU,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,UAAU,KAAK,IAAI;QACvC,MAAM,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,IAAI;KAChC,CAAC;AACJ,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,CAAC,GAAW,EAAU,EAAE,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;AAE3D,MAAM,WAAW,GAAG,CAAC,KAAsB,EAAU,EAAE,CACrD,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,QAAQ,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,eAAe,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,MAAM,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,CAAC;AAEpF,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,CAAC,KAAmB,EAAU,EAAE,CAC/C,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,QAAQ,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,aAAa,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,MAAM,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,CAAC;AAElF,MAAM,eAAe,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAY,EAAE;IAC3D,MAAM,GAAG,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,YAAY,CAAC;IAChC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,SAAS;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;IAC9B,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,SAAS;QAAE,OAAO,CAAC,8BAA8B,GAAG,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,aAAa,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACzF,OAAO,CAAC,oBAAoB,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,mBAAmB,CAAC,CAAC;AAC/E,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,SAAS,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAY,EAAE;IACrD,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC;IAC3B,IAAI,KAAK,KAAK,IAAI;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;IAC9B,IAAI,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO;QAAE,OAAO,CAAC,yBAAyB,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,IAAI,SAAS,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC;IACnF,OAAO;QACL,YAAY,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,eAAe,EAAE,gBAAgB,CAAC,IAAI;YAC5D,GAAG,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,mBAAmB,EAAE,cAAc,CAAC,SAAS,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,cAAc,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,EAAE;KACtG,CAAC;AACJ,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF;;;GAGG;AACH,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAU,EAAE;IACjD,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,cAAc,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC;IAC1D,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG;QACZ,GAAG,MAAM,cAAc,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,WAAW,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG;QACxE,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,aAAa,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,WAAW;YAC5D,GAAG,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,mBAAmB;QACxD,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,iBAAiB;YAC5D,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,YAAY,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,2CAA2C,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;KACpF,CAAC;IAEF,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,aAAa,EAAE,CAAC;QAClC,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CACR,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,SAAS,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,OAAO,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,IAAI;YACjG,IAAI,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,eAAe,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,YAAY,CACzD,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;QAC5B,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CACR,cAAc,KAAK,IAAI,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;YACxD,QAAQ,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,OAAO,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,EAAE;YACnD,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,iCAAiC,CAAC,EAClE,gBAAgB,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,sBAAsB,CAC/E,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,GAAG,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;QAC9B,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,cAAc,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACrE,CAAC;IAED,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,eAAe,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,SAAS,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;IAC7D,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,cAAc,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,MAAM,gBAAgB,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACrF,OAAO,GAAG,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC;AACjC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF;;;GAGG;AACH,MAAM,aAAa,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAU,EAAE;IACvD,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,CAAC;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC;IAC3C,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,aAAa,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,YAAY,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC;IAC5F,OAAO,GAAG,QAAQ,KAAK,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;AAClF,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,WAAW,GAAG,CAAC,MAAsB,EAAU,EAAE,CACrD,GAAG,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,CACf;IACE,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM;IACrB,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;QACtC,GAAG,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,GAAG;QACd,OAAO,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO;QACtB,eAAe,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,eAAe;QACtC,MAAM,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,MAAM;KACrB,CAAC,CAAC;CACJ,EACD,IAAI,EACJ,CAAC,CACF,IAAI,CAAC;AAER,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,CACd,MAAsB,EACtB,IAAa,EACb,aAA4B,IAAI,EACf,EAAE;IACnB,MAAM,MAAM,GACV,UAAU,KAAK,IAAI;QACjB,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE;QACJ,CAAC,CAAC,GAAG,MAAM,wBAAwB,UAAU,2DAA2D;YACtG,8FAA8F;YAC9F,gDAAgD,CAAC;IACvD,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG;QACb,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,WAAW,CAAC;QAC3C,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC;KACvC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IAEX,IAAI,IAAI;QAAE,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,WAAW,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;IAEvF;0EACsE;IACtE,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,aAAa,EAAE,CAAC;QACzC,OAAO;YACL,MAAM,EAAE,aAAa,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC;YAC7B,MAAM,EAAE,GAAG,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,GAAG,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE;YACrD,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC;SACZ,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,EAAE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;AAClF,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF;;;;GAIG;AACH;;;;;;;;;;;;GAYG;AACH,MAAM,YAAY,GAAG,IAAI,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC,WAAW,EAAE,UAAU,EAAE,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEnE,MAAM,gBAAgB,GAAG,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAiB,EAAE;IAC1E,MAAM,KAAK,GAAG,iBAAiB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,KAAK,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;IACvF,OAAO,YAAY,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC;AAChD,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,WAAW,GAAG,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAmB,EAAE;IAC9E,MAAM,UAAU,GAAG,gBAAgB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC;IAC7C,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,OAAO,CAAC,KAAK,KAAK,SAAS,IAAI,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,IAAI,CAAC;IACtE,IAAI,UAAU,KAAK,IAAI,IAAI,MAAM,EAAE,CAAC;QAClC,OAAO;YACL,MAAM,EAAE,EAAE;YACV,MAAM,EACJ,GAAG,MAAM,wBAAwB,UAAU,wDAAwD;gBACnG,yFAAyF;gBACzF,GAAG,MAAM,6DAA6D;YACxE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC;SACZ,CAAC;IACJ,CAAC;IACD,IAAI,CAAC;QACH,OAAO,OAAO,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,iBAAiB,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,EAAE,OAAO,CAAC,IAAI,KAAK,IAAI,EAAE,UAAU,CAAC,CAAC;IAC1F,CAAC;IAAC,OAAO,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC;QACf,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,KAAK,YAAY,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,CAAC;QACtE,uEAAuE;QACvE,0EAA0E;QAC1E,qEAAqE;QACrE,OAAO,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,EAAE,EAAE,MAAM,EAAE,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,MAAM,IAAI,EAAE,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,CAAC;IACtE,CAAC;AACH,CAAC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,CAAC,MAAM,QAAQ,GAAG,CAAC,OAAgB,EAAQ,EAAE;IACjD,OAAO;SACJ,OAAO,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC;SACnB,WAAW,CAAC,qFAAqF,CAAC;SAClG,MAAM,CAAC,aAAa,EAAE,uDAAuD,aAAa,GAAG,CAAC;SAC9F,MAAM,CAAC,YAAY,EAAE,uDAAuD,CAAC;SAC7E,MAAM,CAAC,qBAAqB,EAAE,uDAAuD,CAAC;SACtF,MAAM,CAAC,eAAe,EAAE,4DAA4D,CAAC;SACrF,MAAM,CAAC,gBAAgB,EAAE,8DAA8D,CAAC;SACxF,MAAM,CAAC,WAAW,EAAE,mCAAmC,CAAC;SACxD,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,yBAAyB,CAAC;SAC3C,WAAW,CACV,OAAO,EACP,sGAAsG;QACpG,4EAA4E,CAC/E;SACA,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC,OAA+B,EAAE,EAAE;QAC1C,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,WAAW,CAAC,EAAE,GAAG,OAAO,EAAE,SAAS,EAAE,kBAAkB,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;QAC3E,IAAI,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,EAAE;YAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC;QAChE,IAAI,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,KAAK,EAAE;YAAE,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,CAAC;QAChE,OAAO,CAAC,QAAQ,GAAG,OAAO,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC;IACtC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AACP,CAAC,CAAC"}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dist/commitlore.mjs b/dist/commitlore.mjs
index 295c73b4..062d28f6 100755
--- a/dist/commitlore.mjs
+++ b/dist/commitlore.mjs
@@ -11090,10 +11090,6 @@ function useColor() {
 // node_modules/commander/index.js
 var program = new Command();
 
-// src/core/backfill.ts
-import { spawnSync as spawnSync2 } from "node:child_process";
-import { readFileSync as readFileSync2 } from "node:fs";
-
 // src/core/git.ts
 import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
@@ -11145,38 +11141,6 @@ var hasShallowHistory = (cwd) => {
   return shallow.code === 0 && existsSync(resolve(cwd, shallow.stdout.trim()));
 };
 
-// src/core/schema.ts
-var import__ = __toESM(require__(), 1);
-
-// src/core/paths.ts
-import { existsSync as existsSync2, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
-import { dirname, join, parse } from "node:path";
-import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
-var findPackageRoot = (startDir) => {
-  const { root } = parse(startDir);
-  let dir = startDir;
-  for (; ; ) {
-    if (existsSync2(join(dir, "package.json"))) return dir;
-    if (dir === root) {
-      throw new Error(
-        `could not find package.json above ${startDir} \u2014 this installation is incomplete`
-      );
-    }
-    dir = dirname(dir);
-  }
-};
-var PACKAGE_ROOT = findPackageRoot(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)));
-var installedPath = (...segments) => join(PACKAGE_ROOT, ...segments);
-var readInstalledFile = (...segments) => readFileSync(installedPath(...segments), "utf8");
-var cachedVersion = null;
-var packageVersion = () => {
-  if (cachedVersion !== null) return cachedVersion;
-  const raw = readInstalledFile("package.json");
-  const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
-  cachedVersion = typeof parsed.version === "string" ? parsed.version : "0.0.0-unknown";
-  return cachedVersion;
-};
-
 // src/core/types.ts
 var KNOWN_KEYS = [
   "Limit",
@@ -11349,6 +11313,138 @@ var labelRecordBlocks = (message) => {
   });
 };
 
+// src/core/notes.ts
+var NOTES_REF = "refs/notes/commitlore";
+var NOTES_REFSPEC = "+refs/notes/*:refs/notes/*";
+var REF_ARG = `--ref=${NOTES_REF}`;
+var NO_NOTE_EXIT = 1;
+var SYNTHETIC_SUBJECT = "commitlore notes mirror";
+var gitOptions = (opts, stdin) => ({
+  ...opts.cwd === void 0 ? {} : { cwd: opts.cwd },
+  ...stdin === void 0 ? {} : { stdin }
+});
+var resolveObject = (sha, opts) => execGitOrThrow(
+  ["rev-parse", "--verify", "--end-of-options", `${sha}^{object}`],
+  gitOptions(opts)
+).trim();
+var writeBody = (sha, body, opts) => {
+  if (body === "") {
+    throw new Error(
+      `refusing to write an empty record to ${NOTES_REF} for ${sha}: an empty note body deletes the note`
+    );
+  }
+  const object3 = resolveObject(sha, opts);
+  const args = ["notes", REF_ARG, "add"];
+  if (opts.force === true) args.push("--force");
+  args.push("--file", "-", "--end-of-options", object3);
+  const result = execGit(args, gitOptions(opts, body));
+  if (result.code !== 0) {
+    throw Object.assign(
+      new Error(
+        `failed to write the record for ${object3} to ${NOTES_REF} (exit ${result.code}): ${result.stderr.trim()}`
+      ),
+      { code: result.code, stderr: result.stderr }
+    );
+  }
+};
+var writeRecord = (sha, trailers, opts = {}) => writeBody(sha, serializeTrailers(trailers), opts);
+var writeRecordBlocks = (sha, blocks, opts = {}) => writeBody(sha, blocks.map(serializeTrailers).join("\n"), opts);
+var showNote = (sha, opts) => {
+  const object3 = resolveObject(sha, opts);
+  const result = execGit(
+    ["notes", REF_ARG, "show", "--end-of-options", object3],
+    gitOptions(opts)
+  );
+  if (result.code === NO_NOTE_EXIT) return null;
+  if (result.code !== 0) {
+    throw Object.assign(
+      new Error(
+        `failed to read the record for ${object3} from ${NOTES_REF} (exit ${result.code}): ${result.stderr.trim()}`
+      ),
+      { code: result.code, stderr: result.stderr }
+    );
+  }
+  return result.stdout;
+};
+var readRecord = (sha, opts = {}) => {
+  const note = showNote(sha, opts);
+  return note === null ? [] : parseCommitMessage(`${SYNTHETIC_SUBJECT}
+
+${note}`);
+};
+var readRecordBlocks = (sha, opts = {}) => {
+  const note = showNote(sha, opts);
+  return note === null ? [] : parseRecordBlocks(`${SYNTHETIC_SUBJECT}
+
+${note}`);
+};
+var listRecordShas = (opts = {}) => {
+  const stdout = execGitOrThrow(["notes", REF_ARG, "list"], gitOptions(opts));
+  return stdout.split("\n").filter((line) => line.length > 0).map((line) => {
+    const [, object3 = ""] = line.split(" ");
+    return object3;
+  }).filter((object3) => object3.length > 0);
+};
+var listRemotes = (opts) => {
+  const result = execGit(["remote"], gitOptions(opts));
+  if (result.code !== 0) return [];
+  return result.stdout.split("\n").filter((line) => line.length > 0);
+};
+var fetchRefspecs = (remote, opts) => {
+  const result = execGit(["config", "--get-all", `remote.${remote}.fetch`], gitOptions(opts));
+  if (result.code !== 0) return [];
+  return result.stdout.split("\n").filter((line) => line.length > 0);
+};
+var coversNotes = (refspec) => {
+  const [, destination = ""] = refspec.replace(/^\+/, "").split(":");
+  if (destination === NOTES_REF) return true;
+  return destination.endsWith("/*") && NOTES_REF.startsWith(destination.slice(0, -1));
+};
+var notesAvailability = (opts = {}) => {
+  const ref = execGit(["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", NOTES_REF], gitOptions(opts));
+  if (ref.code === 0) return "present";
+  const remotes = listRemotes(opts);
+  if (remotes.length === 0) return "absent";
+  const uncovered = remotes.filter((remote) => !fetchRefspecs(remote, opts).some(coversNotes));
+  return uncovered.length > 0 ? "unfetched" : "absent";
+};
+
+// src/core/backfill.ts
+import { spawnSync as spawnSync2 } from "node:child_process";
+import { readFileSync as readFileSync2 } from "node:fs";
+
+// src/core/schema.ts
+var import__ = __toESM(require__(), 1);
+
+// src/core/paths.ts
+import { existsSync as existsSync2, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { dirname, join, parse } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+var findPackageRoot = (startDir) => {
+  const { root } = parse(startDir);
+  let dir = startDir;
+  for (; ; ) {
+    if (existsSync2(join(dir, "package.json"))) return dir;
+    if (dir === root) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `could not find package.json above ${startDir} \u2014 this installation is incomplete`
+      );
+    }
+    dir = dirname(dir);
+  }
+};
+var PACKAGE_ROOT = findPackageRoot(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)));
+var installedPath = (...segments) => join(PACKAGE_ROOT, ...segments);
+var readInstalledFile = (...segments) => readFileSync(installedPath(...segments), "utf8");
+var cachedVersion = null;
+var packageVersion = () => {
+  if (cachedVersion !== null) return cachedVersion;
+  const raw = readInstalledFile("package.json");
+  const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+  cachedVersion = typeof parsed.version === "string" ? parsed.version : "0.0.0-unknown";
+  return cachedVersion;
+};
+
 // src/core/schema.ts
 var import_ajv_formats = __toESM(require_dist(), 1);
 var addFormats = import_ajv_formats.default.default;
@@ -12110,7 +12206,7 @@ var loadDatabaseCtor = () => {
   }
 };
 var SCHEMA_VERSION = 2;
-var NOTES_REF = "refs/notes/commitlore";
+var NOTES_REF2 = "refs/notes/commitlore";
 var LOG_BATCH = 1024;
 var LOG_MAX_BUFFER = 256 * 1024 * 1024;
 var GIT_NO_SUCH_REF2 = 1;
@@ -12322,7 +12418,7 @@ var readCommitRecords = (cwd, shas, excluded) => {
   return records;
 };
 var readNoteRecords = (cwd, reachable, excluded) => {
-  const listed = execGitOrThrow(["notes", `--ref=${NOTES_REF}`, "list"], { cwd });
+  const listed = execGitOrThrow(["notes", `--ref=${NOTES_REF2}`, "list"], { cwd });
   const annotated = listed.split("\n").filter((line) => line !== "").map((line) => line.split(" ")[1] ?? "").filter((sha) => sha !== "" && reachable.has(sha));
   if (annotated.length === 0) return [];
   const typed = execGitOrThrow(["cat-file", "--batch-check"], {
@@ -12335,7 +12431,7 @@ var readNoteRecords = (cwd, reachable, excluded) => {
   const records = [];
   for (const batch of chunked(commits, LOG_BATCH)) {
     const result = gitLogByShas(cwd, batch, "%x01%H%x00%ct%x00%cI%x00%N%x00", [
-      `--notes=${NOTES_REF}`
+      `--notes=${NOTES_REF2}`
     ]);
     if (result.code !== 0) {
       throw Object.assign(new Error(`git log --notes failed: ${result.stderr.trim()}`), {
@@ -12594,7 +12690,7 @@ var deleteNoteRows = (handle) => {
   });
 };
 var indexNotes = (handle, opts = {}, excluded) => {
-  const refSha = revParseRef(handle.cwd, NOTES_REF);
+  const refSha = revParseRef(handle.cwd, NOTES_REF2);
   const indexed = readMeta(handle.db, "notes_ref_sha");
   if (!(opts.force ?? false) && refSha === indexed) return 0;
   const records = refSha === null ? [] : readNoteRecords(handle.cwd, new Set(reachableFromHead(handle.cwd)), excluded);
@@ -12633,7 +12729,7 @@ var rebuildIndex = (handle, opts = {}) => {
   const shas = head === null ? [] : revList(handle.cwd, "HEAD");
   const excluded = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
   const records = readCommitRecords(handle.cwd, shas, excluded);
-  const notesRef = revParseRef(handle.cwd, NOTES_REF);
+  const notesRef = revParseRef(handle.cwd, NOTES_REF2);
   const noteRecords = notesRef === null ? [] : readNoteRecords(handle.cwd, new Set(shas), excluded);
   const stats = {
     ...emptyStats(handle, started),
@@ -12868,102 +12964,6 @@ var indexInfo = (handle) => ({
   paths: handle.db.prepare("SELECT count(*) AS n FROM commit_paths").get()?.n ?? 0
 });
 
-// src/core/notes.ts
-var NOTES_REF2 = "refs/notes/commitlore";
-var NOTES_REFSPEC = "+refs/notes/*:refs/notes/*";
-var REF_ARG = `--ref=${NOTES_REF2}`;
-var NO_NOTE_EXIT = 1;
-var SYNTHETIC_SUBJECT = "commitlore notes mirror";
-var gitOptions = (opts, stdin) => ({
-  ...opts.cwd === void 0 ? {} : { cwd: opts.cwd },
-  ...stdin === void 0 ? {} : { stdin }
-});
-var resolveObject = (sha, opts) => execGitOrThrow(
-  ["rev-parse", "--verify", "--end-of-options", `${sha}^{object}`],
-  gitOptions(opts)
-).trim();
-var writeBody = (sha, body, opts) => {
-  if (body === "") {
-    throw new Error(
-      `refusing to write an empty record to ${NOTES_REF2} for ${sha}: an empty note body deletes the note`
-    );
-  }
-  const object3 = resolveObject(sha, opts);
-  const args = ["notes", REF_ARG, "add"];
-  if (opts.force === true) args.push("--force");
-  args.push("--file", "-", "--end-of-options", object3);
-  const result = execGit(args, gitOptions(opts, body));
-  if (result.code !== 0) {
-    throw Object.assign(
-      new Error(
-        `failed to write the record for ${object3} to ${NOTES_REF2} (exit ${result.code}): ${result.stderr.trim()}`
-      ),
-      { code: result.code, stderr: result.stderr }
-    );
-  }
-};
-var writeRecord = (sha, trailers, opts = {}) => writeBody(sha, serializeTrailers(trailers), opts);
-var writeRecordBlocks = (sha, blocks, opts = {}) => writeBody(sha, blocks.map(serializeTrailers).join("\n"), opts);
-var showNote = (sha, opts) => {
-  const object3 = resolveObject(sha, opts);
-  const result = execGit(
-    ["notes", REF_ARG, "show", "--end-of-options", object3],
-    gitOptions(opts)
-  );
-  if (result.code === NO_NOTE_EXIT) return null;
-  if (result.code !== 0) {
-    throw Object.assign(
-      new Error(
-        `failed to read the record for ${object3} from ${NOTES_REF2} (exit ${result.code}): ${result.stderr.trim()}`
-      ),
-      { code: result.code, stderr: result.stderr }
-    );
-  }
-  return result.stdout;
-};
-var readRecord = (sha, opts = {}) => {
-  const note = showNote(sha, opts);
-  return note === null ? [] : parseCommitMessage(`${SYNTHETIC_SUBJECT}
-
-${note}`);
-};
-var readRecordBlocks = (sha, opts = {}) => {
-  const note = showNote(sha, opts);
-  return note === null ? [] : parseRecordBlocks(`${SYNTHETIC_SUBJECT}
-
-${note}`);
-};
-var listRecordShas = (opts = {}) => {
-  const stdout = execGitOrThrow(["notes", REF_ARG, "list"], gitOptions(opts));
-  return stdout.split("\n").filter((line) => line.length > 0).map((line) => {
-    const [, object3 = ""] = line.split(" ");
-    return object3;
-  }).filter((object3) => object3.length > 0);
-};
-var listRemotes = (opts) => {
-  const result = execGit(["remote"], gitOptions(opts));
-  if (result.code !== 0) return [];
-  return result.stdout.split("\n").filter((line) => line.length > 0);
-};
-var fetchRefspecs = (remote, opts) => {
-  const result = execGit(["config", "--get-all", `remote.${remote}.fetch`], gitOptions(opts));
-  if (result.code !== 0) return [];
-  return result.stdout.split("\n").filter((line) => line.length > 0);
-};
-var coversNotes = (refspec) => {
-  const [, destination = ""] = refspec.replace(/^\+/, "").split(":");
-  if (destination === NOTES_REF2) return true;
-  return destination.endsWith("/*") && NOTES_REF2.startsWith(destination.slice(0, -1));
-};
-var notesAvailability = (opts = {}) => {
-  const ref = execGit(["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", NOTES_REF2], gitOptions(opts));
-  if (ref.code === 0) return "present";
-  const remotes = listRemotes(opts);
-  if (remotes.length === 0) return "absent";
-  const uncovered = remotes.filter((remote) => !fetchRefspecs(remote, opts).some(coversNotes));
-  return uncovered.length > 0 ? "unfetched" : "absent";
-};
-
 // src/core/backfill.ts
 var DEFAULT_LIMIT = 50;
 var DEFAULT_BATCH_SIZE = 10;
@@ -13527,24 +13527,42 @@ var jsonPayload = (result) => `${JSON.stringify(
   2
 )}
 `;
-var present = (result, json) => {
+var present = (result, json, incomplete = null) => {
+  const caveat = incomplete === null ? "" : `${PREFIX} the notes mirror is ${incomplete}, so "no record" below means "none this clone can see" \u2014 counts of note trailers and of targets are both drawn from an index that could not read it. fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch
+`;
   const detail = [
     ...result.report.discarded.map(discardLine),
     ...result.report.skipped.map(skipLine)
   ].join("");
-  if (json) return { stdout: jsonPayload(result), stderr: detail, exitCode: 0 };
+  if (json) return { stdout: jsonPayload(result), stderr: caveat + detail, exitCode: 0 };
   if (result.report.mode === "prompt-only") {
     return {
       stdout: promptPayload(result),
-      stderr: `${detail}${summary(result.report)}`,
+      stderr: `${caveat}${detail}${summary(result.report)}`,
       exitCode: 0
     };
   }
-  return { stdout: summary(result.report), stderr: detail, exitCode: 0 };
+  return { stdout: summary(result.report), stderr: caveat + detail, exitCode: 0 };
+};
+var NOT_COMPLETE = /* @__PURE__ */ new Set(["unfetched", "diverged", "shallow"]);
+var incompleteMirror = (options) => {
+  const state = notesAvailability(options.cwd === void 0 ? {} : { cwd: options.cwd });
+  return NOT_COMPLETE.has(state) ? state : null;
 };
 var runBackfill = (options) => {
+  const incomplete = incompleteMirror(options);
+  const writes = options.draft !== void 0 && options.dryRun !== true;
+  if (incomplete !== null && writes) {
+    return {
+      stdout: "",
+      stderr: `${PREFIX} the notes mirror is ${incomplete}, so a record that already exists upstream reads here as a commit with none. Reconstructing now can write a second record for one decision.
+${PREFIX} fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch, then rerun
+`,
+      exitCode: 2
+    };
+  }
   try {
-    return present(backfill(toBackfillOptions(options)), options.json === true);
+    return present(backfill(toBackfillOptions(options)), options.json === true, incomplete);
   } catch (error2) {
     const detail = error2 instanceof Error ? error2.message : String(error2);
     return { stdout: "", stderr: `${PREFIX} ${detail}
@@ -14633,7 +14651,7 @@ var runQuery = (opts = {}) => {
     const notes = notesAvailability({ cwd });
     if (notes === "unfetched") {
       diagnostics.push(
-        `the notes mirror has not been fetched here, so this answer may be missing records that exist upstream (git fetch does not fetch ${NOTES_REF2} by default). fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch`
+        `the notes mirror has not been fetched here, so this answer may be missing records that exist upstream (git fetch does not fetch ${NOTES_REF} by default). fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch`
       );
     }
     return {
@@ -16833,7 +16851,7 @@ var captureHookStub = () => stubText(UNRESOLVED_CAPTURE);
 
 // src/commands/doctor.ts
 var PROBE_MESSAGE = "commitlore doctor probe\n\nLimit: probe\nBlast: local\n";
-var EXACT_NOTES_REFSPEC = `+${NOTES_REF2}:${NOTES_REF2}`;
+var EXACT_NOTES_REFSPEC = `+${NOTES_REF}:${NOTES_REF}`;
 var EXACT_NOTES_REFSPEC_PATTERN = `^\\${EXACT_NOTES_REFSPEC}$`;
 var gitOptions3 = (opts) => opts.cwd === void 0 ? {} : { cwd: opts.cwd };
 var check = (id, title, status, detail, fix = null, fixed = false, needsAttention = status === "warn" || status === "fail") => ({ id, title, status, needsAttention, detail, fix, fixed });
@@ -16875,7 +16893,7 @@ var checkRefspec = (opts) => {
       "notes-refspec",
       title,
       "warn",
-      `${missing.join(", ")} does not fetch ${NOTES_REF2}, so records pushed by others stay invisible here`,
+      `${missing.join(", ")} does not fetch ${NOTES_REF}, so records pushed by others stay invisible here`,
       missing.map((remote) => `git config --add remote.${remote}.fetch '${NOTES_REFSPEC}'`).join("\n")
     );
   }
@@ -16894,7 +16912,7 @@ var checkRefspec = (opts) => {
     "notes-refspec",
     title,
     "ok",
-    fixed ? `${NOTES_REF2} is now covered for ${remotes.join(", ")} \u2014 nothing has been fetched through it yet` : `git fetch succeeds for ${remotes.join(", ")} and covers ${NOTES_REF2}`,
+    fixed ? `${NOTES_REF} is now covered for ${remotes.join(", ")} \u2014 nothing has been fetched through it yet` : `git fetch succeeds for ${remotes.join(", ")} and covers ${NOTES_REF}`,
     fixed ? `git fetch ${remotes[0] ?? "origin"}` : null,
     fixed
   );
@@ -16903,8 +16921,8 @@ var checkPush = (opts) => {
   const title = "notes push";
   const remotes = listRemotes(opts);
   const remote = remotes[0] ?? "origin";
-  const command = `git push ${remote} ${NOTES_REF2}`;
-  const local = execGit(["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", NOTES_REF2], gitOptions3(opts));
+  const command = `git push ${remote} ${NOTES_REF}`;
+  const local = execGit(["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", NOTES_REF], gitOptions3(opts));
   if (local.code !== 0) {
     return check(
       "notes-push",
@@ -16913,7 +16931,7 @@ var checkPush = (opts) => {
       `no local mirror yet \u2014 nothing to push (${command}, once there is)`
     );
   }
-  const advertised = execGit(["ls-remote", remote, NOTES_REF2], gitOptions3(opts));
+  const advertised = execGit(["ls-remote", remote, NOTES_REF], gitOptions3(opts));
   if (advertised.code !== 0) {
     return check(
       "notes-push",
@@ -16924,13 +16942,13 @@ var checkPush = (opts) => {
     );
   }
   if (advertised.stdout.split(/\s/)[0] === local.stdout.trim()) {
-    return check("notes-push", title, "ok", `${remote} has the current ${NOTES_REF2}`);
+    return check("notes-push", title, "ok", `${remote} has the current ${NOTES_REF}`);
   }
   return check(
     "notes-push",
     title,
     "warn",
-    `this clone has local records in ${NOTES_REF2}; no command pushes them for you`,
+    `this clone has local records in ${NOTES_REF}; no command pushes them for you`,
     command
   );
 };
@@ -18649,7 +18667,7 @@ var plural = (count2, unit) => `${count2} ${unit}${count2 === 1 ? "" : "s"}`;
 var reportUnfetchedNotes = (subject) => {
   if (notesAvailability() !== "unfetched") return;
   process.stderr.write(
-    `commitlore: the notes mirror has not been fetched here, so ${subject} covers the commit messages alone and may be missing records that exist upstream (git fetch does not fetch ${NOTES_REF2} by default). fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch, then rerun
+    `commitlore: the notes mirror has not been fetched here, so ${subject} covers the commit messages alone and may be missing records that exist upstream (git fetch does not fetch ${NOTES_REF} by default). fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch, then rerun
 `
   );
 };
diff --git a/src/commands/backfill.ts b/src/commands/backfill.ts
index 95c9f024..dfda0bc6 100644
--- a/src/commands/backfill.ts
+++ b/src/commands/backfill.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 
 import type { Command } from 'commander';
 
+import { notesAvailability } from '../core/notes.js';
+
 import {
   DEFAULT_BATCH_SIZE,
   DEFAULT_LIMIT,
@@ -176,24 +178,34 @@ const jsonPayload = (result: BackfillResult): string =>
     2,
   )}\n`;
 
-const present = (result: BackfillResult, json: boolean): BackfillOutcome => {
+const present = (
+  result: BackfillResult,
+  json: boolean,
+  incomplete: string | null = null,
+): BackfillOutcome => {
+  const caveat =
+    incomplete === null
+      ? ''
+      : `${PREFIX} the notes mirror is ${incomplete}, so "no record" below means "none this clone can see" — ` +
+        `counts of note trailers and of targets are both drawn from an index that could not read it. ` +
+        `fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch\n`;
   const detail = [
     ...result.report.discarded.map(discardLine),
     ...result.report.skipped.map(skipLine),
   ].join('');
 
-  if (json) return { stdout: jsonPayload(result), stderr: detail, exitCode: 0 };
+  if (json) return { stdout: jsonPayload(result), stderr: caveat + detail, exitCode: 0 };
 
   /* In prompt mode stdout is the payload a session consumes, so the summary
      goes to stderr and stays out of whatever the user pipes it into. */
   if (result.report.mode === 'prompt-only') {
     return {
       stdout: promptPayload(result),
-      stderr: `${detail}${summary(result.report)}`,
+      stderr: `${caveat}${detail}${summary(result.report)}`,
       exitCode: 0,
     };
   }
-  return { stdout: summary(result.report), stderr: detail, exitCode: 0 };
+  return { stdout: summary(result.report), stderr: caveat + detail, exitCode: 0 };
 };
 
 /**
@@ -201,9 +213,41 @@ const present = (result: BackfillResult, json: boolean): BackfillOutcome => {
  * outcome rather than an exception: the one thing a user of a cold-start command
  * should never see is a stack trace telling them nothing they can act on.
  */
+/**
+ * #403, and PRD Phase 0: fail closed when the notes mirror was not read.
+ *
+ * `backfill` selects its targets from the index — "commits with no record". A
+ * commit whose record lives only in an unfetched note has, from here, no record,
+ * so it is eligible for reconstruction. Writing then produces a second record
+ * for one decision: either a `Record-Id` collision, or worse, no collision and
+ * two records the lifecycle fold cannot reconcile.
+ *
+ * The read-only modes still run — they are how a user diagnoses this — but they
+ * say the selection was drawn from an index that could not see the mirror. Only
+ * the writing mode refuses, because only it can create the duplicate.
+ */
+const NOT_COMPLETE = new Set(['unfetched', 'diverged', 'shallow']);
+
+const incompleteMirror = (options: BackfillCommandOptions): string | null => {
+  const state = notesAvailability(options.cwd === undefined ? {} : { cwd: options.cwd });
+  return NOT_COMPLETE.has(state) ? state : null;
+};
+
 export const runBackfill = (options: BackfillCommandOptions): BackfillOutcome => {
+  const incomplete = incompleteMirror(options);
+  const writes = options.draft !== undefined && options.dryRun !== true;
+  if (incomplete !== null && writes) {
+    return {
+      stdout: '',
+      stderr:
+        `${PREFIX} the notes mirror is ${incomplete}, so a record that already exists upstream reads here ` +
+        `as a commit with none. Reconstructing now can write a second record for one decision.\n` +
+        `${PREFIX} fix: commitlore doctor --fix, then git fetch, then rerun\n`,
+      exitCode: 2,
+    };
+  }
   try {
-    return present(backfill(toBackfillOptions(options)), options.json === true);
+    return present(backfill(toBackfillOptions(options)), options.json === true, incomplete);
   } catch (error) {
     const detail = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
     // A usage error, never a finding (SPEC §10): a bad flag, an unreadable
diff --git a/test/backfill.test.ts b/test/backfill.test.ts
index a4a22a43..1e239547 100644
--- a/test/backfill.test.ts
+++ b/test/backfill.test.ts
@@ -782,3 +782,56 @@ describe('backfill leaves history alone', () => {
     );
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * #403, and the PRD's Phase 0 acceptance: fail closed when the notes mirror was
+ * not read.
+ *
+ * `backfill` picks its targets from the index — "commits with no record". A
+ * commit whose record lives only in an unfetched note reads here as having
+ * none, so it is eligible for reconstruction, and writing then produces a second
+ * record for one decision. The read-only modes still run, because they are how a
+ * user diagnoses this; only the writing mode refuses, because only it can create
+ * the duplicate.
+ */
+describe('#403 backfill fails closed on a mirror it could not read', () => {
+  const unfetchedClone = (): string => {
+    const origin = initRepo('b403-origin');
+    commit(origin, 'a.txt', 'a\n', 'seed');
+    git(origin, [
+      'notes',
+      '--ref=commitlore',
+      'add',
+      '-m',
+      'Limit: only in the note\nRecord-Id: r-note403\nCertainty: firm',
+      'HEAD',
+    ]);
+    const clone = tempDir('b403-clone');
+    git(clone, ['clone', '--quiet', `file://${origin}`, '.']);
+    return clone;
+  };
+
+  it('refuses to write, naming the duplicate it would create', () => {
+    const cwd = unfetchedClone();
+    const draft = join(cwd, 'draft.json');
+    writeFileSync(draft, JSON.stringify({ commits: [] }));
+    const outcome = runBackfill({ cwd, draft });
+    expect(outcome.exitCode).toBe(2);
+    expect(outcome.stderr).toContain('a second record for one decision');
+    expect(outcome.stderr).toContain('git fetch');
+  });
+
+  it('still runs the read-only modes — they are how this is diagnosed', () => {
+    const cwd = unfetchedClone();
+    const outcome = runBackfill({ cwd });
+    expect(outcome.exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(outcome.stderr).toContain('none this clone can see');
+  });
+
+  it('a dry run is not a write, so it is not refused', () => {
+    const cwd = unfetchedClone();
+    const draft = join(cwd, 'draft.json');
+    writeFileSync(draft, JSON.stringify({ commits: [] }));
+    expect(runBackfill({ cwd, draft, dryRun: true }).exitCode).toBe(0);
+  });
+});