diff --git a/src/bmm-skills/4-implementation/bmad-code-review/steps/step-04-present.md b/src/bmm-skills/4-implementation/bmad-code-review/steps/step-04-present.md
index fb8d84772..d5aec15aa 100644
--- a/src/bmm-skills/4-implementation/bmad-code-review/steps/step-04-present.md
+++ b/src/bmm-skills/4-implementation/bmad-code-review/steps/step-04-present.md
@@ -109,11 +109,19 @@ If `{sprint_status}` file does not exist, note that story status was updated in
 
 Re-open the story file after saving and verify the top-level `Status:` field equals `{new_status}`.
 
-Set `{reconciliation_result}` = `story file verified; sprint tracker verification skipped`.
+If the story file does not match `{new_status}`, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.
 
-If `{sprint_status}` exists and `{story_key}` was found, re-open `{sprint_status}` after saving and verify `development_status[{story_key}]` also equals `{new_status}`. If it matches, set `{reconciliation_result}` = `story markdown and sprint tracker agree on {new_status}`.
+If `{sprint_status}` file does not exist, set `{reconciliation_result}` = `story file verified; sprint tracker not applicable`.
 
-If the story file does not match `{new_status}`, or if `{sprint_status}` was verified and `development_status[{story_key}]` does not match `{new_status}`, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.
+If `{sprint_status}` exists but `{story_key}` was not found during sprint-status sync, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.
+
+If `{sprint_status}` exists and `{story_key}` was found, re-open `{sprint_status}` after saving and verify `development_status[{story_key}]` also equals `{new_status}`.
+
+If `development_status[{story_key}]` is missing, unreadable, or cannot be verified, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.
+
+If `development_status[{story_key}]` matches `{new_status}`, set `{reconciliation_result}` = `story markdown and sprint tracker agree on {new_status}`.
+
+If `development_status[{story_key}]` does not match `{new_status}`, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.
 
 #### Completion summary
 
diff --git a/test/test-closeout-reconciliation.js b/test/test-closeout-reconciliation.js
index ca322de19..3a1ca84a6 100644
--- a/test/test-closeout-reconciliation.js
+++ b/test/test-closeout-reconciliation.js
@@ -45,16 +45,32 @@ assert(
 
 assert(
   codeReview.includes(
-    'If the story file does not match `{new_status}`, or if `{sprint_status}` was verified and `development_status[{story_key}]` does not match `{new_status}`, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.',
+    'If the story file does not match `{new_status}`, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.',
   ),
-  'code-review halts when closeout reconciliation fails',
+  'code-review halts when story markdown reconciliation fails',
 );
 
 assert(codeReview.includes('development_status[{story_key}]'), 'code-review verifies the sprint tracker entry during reconciliation');
 
 assert(
-  codeReview.includes('Set `{reconciliation_result}` = `story file verified; sprint tracker verification skipped`.'),
-  'code-review records when sprint tracker verification is skipped',
+  codeReview.includes(
+    'If `development_status[{story_key}]` is missing, unreadable, or cannot be verified, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.',
+  ),
+  'code-review halts when the sprint tracker entry cannot be verified',
+);
+
+assert(
+  codeReview.includes(
+    'If `development_status[{story_key}]` does not match `{new_status}`, HALT with a closeout reconciliation failure instead of reporting completion.',
+  ),
+  'code-review halts when sprint tracker reconciliation fails',
+);
+
+assert(
+  codeReview.includes(
+    'If `{sprint_status}` file does not exist, set `{reconciliation_result}` = `story file verified; sprint tracker not applicable`.',
+  ),
+  'code-review treats skipped reconciliation as not applicable only when no sprint tracker exists',
 );
 
 assert(