diff --git a/tests/test_loop_turn_controller_contract.py b/tests/test_loop_turn_controller_contract.py
index 7a2ad3b367..fe60fee488 100644
--- a/tests/test_loop_turn_controller_contract.py
+++ b/tests/test_loop_turn_controller_contract.py
@@ -325,3 +325,100 @@ def test_conjunction_does_not_depend_on_json_object_key_order(monkeypatch):
     for row, outcomes in _ROWS:
         for route, expected in zip(_ROUTES, outcomes, strict=True):
             test_independent_full_decision_cells(row, route, expected)
+
+
+# The controller evaluates `rules` in order and stops at the first match, so a
+# rule that refines another must stay in front of it. Key order inside one rule
+# is immaterial (see the conjunction test above); this sequence is not.
+_RULE_SEQUENCE = (
+    "check_envelope",
+    "check_decision_actor",
+    "check_receipt_binding",
+    "capability",
+    "check_initial_terminal",
+    "initial_terminal",
+    "check_initial_todo",
+    "initial_route",
+    "check_completion_terminal",
+    "completion_terminal",
+    "check_completion_todo",
+    "completion_successor",
+    "completion_active_goal",
+    "check_receipt_todo",
+    "decision_user",
+    "check_progress_budget",
+    "progress_exhausted",
+    "progress_route",
+    "receipt_replan_required",
+    "receipt_repair_required",
+    "receipt_user_action_required",
+    "receipt_wait",
+    "receipt_iteration_failed",
+    "host_replan",
+    "host_repair",
+    "check_host_retry",
+    "host_retry",
+    "host_exhausted",
+    "failed_receipt",
+)
+
+
+def test_contract_rule_sequence_is_pinned():
+    """A reordered contract is a different program; regeneration must not hide it."""
+
+    rules = controller._LOOP_CONTROLLER_CONTRACT["rules"]
+    assert tuple(rule["id"] for rule in rules) == _RULE_SEQUENCE
+
+
+def _decisions_for(contract, monkeypatch):
+    """Every cell's operator-visible decision: the disposition and its reason.
+
+    Two rules can share a disposition and still explain it differently, so the
+    reason is part of the observable decision, not commentary.
+    """
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "_LOOP_CONTROLLER_CONTRACT", contract)
+    observed = {}
+    for row, outcomes in _ROWS:
+        for route in _ROUTES:
+            arguments = _cell(row, route)
+            try:
+                payload = controller.decide_loop_disposition(**arguments)
+            except ValueError:
+                observed[(row, route)] = ("reject", "reject")
+            else:
+                observed[(row, route)] = (
+                    payload["disposition"],
+                    str(payload["reason"]),
+                )
+    return observed
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "specific, general",
+    [
+        ("progress_exhausted", "progress_route"),
+        ("host_replan", "failed_receipt"),
+        ("host_repair", "failed_receipt"),
+        ("host_retry", "failed_receipt"),
+        ("host_exhausted", "failed_receipt"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_a_refining_rule_must_precede_the_rule_it_refines(monkeypatch, specific, general):
+    """Moving the specific rule behind the general one must change a real decision.
+
+    This is what `_RULE_SEQUENCE` protects: each pinned precedence is load
+    bearing, so the pin is not a restatement of the shipped file.
+    """
+
+    contract = deepcopy(controller._LOOP_CONTROLLER_CONTRACT)
+    ids = [rule["id"] for rule in contract["rules"]]
+    assert ids.index(specific) < ids.index(general)
+    moved = next(rule for rule in contract["rules"] if rule["id"] == specific)
+    rules = [rule for rule in contract["rules"] if rule["id"] != specific]
+    rules.insert([rule["id"] for rule in rules].index(general) + 1, moved)
+    contract["rules"] = rules
+
+    shipped = _decisions_for(deepcopy(controller._LOOP_CONTROLLER_CONTRACT), monkeypatch)
+    observed = _decisions_for(contract, monkeypatch)
+    assert observed != shipped