diff --git a/scripts/verify-mission-delivery.sh b/scripts/verify-mission-delivery.sh
index 928ca4c..a0a8f23 100755
--- a/scripts/verify-mission-delivery.sh
+++ b/scripts/verify-mission-delivery.sh
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ assert_verifier_read_only() { # <mission> <label>
 # the first mission on a repo has nothing to recall and must not fail for it:
 # the earlier-verdict count is what decides which branch is the truth.
 assert_project_memory() { # <mission> <label>
-  local counts earlier carried
+  local counts earlier carried brain
   counts=$(ssh "$HOST" "docker exec clawmates_postgres_1 psql -U postgres -d clawmates -tAc \
     \"select (select count(*) from mission_phase_evaluations e
                  join missions m on m.id = e.mission_id
@@ -943,9 +943,21 @@ assert_project_memory() { # <mission> <label>
                 and detail->>'text' like '%What past missions on this repository learned%')::text;\"" \
     | head -1 | tr -d '\r')
   earlier=${counts%% *}; carried=${counts##* }
+  # Memory lives in the per-repo `.brain`, NOT in mission_phase_evaluations,
+  # and the two do not share a lifetime: wiping missions cascades the verdict
+  # rows and leaves the brain file untouched. Measured — after a full prod
+  # wipe the scratch repo had 0 earlier verdicts and an 18 KB brain still
+  # holding them, so "carried memory with no DB verdict" is correct
+  # behaviour, not a defect. Ask the brain whether it has anything.
+  local brain
+  brain=$(ssh "$HOST" "docker exec clawmates_server_1 sh -c 'ls /data/brains/repo_*.h5 2>/dev/null | wc -l'" | tr -d '[:space:]')
   case "$earlier:$carried" in
     0:0)  pass "$2-memory: first judged mission on this repo — nothing to recall, nothing carried" ;;
-    0:*)  fail "$2-memory: the brief carried project memory but no earlier verdict exists for this repo" ;;
+    0:*)
+      case "${brain:-0}" in
+        0) fail "$2-memory: the brief carried memory with no earlier verdict AND no repo brain — where did it come from?" ;;
+        *) pass "$2-memory: the brief carried memory from the repo brain, which outlives the verdict rows ($brain brain file(s))" ;;
+      esac ;;
     *:0)  fail "$2-memory: $earlier earlier verdict(s) on this repo and the brief carried NONE — recall is not reaching the prompt" ;;
     *)    pass "$2-memory: $earlier earlier verdict(s) on this repo; the brief carried the recalled section" ;;
   esac