diff --git a/tests/test_evidence.py b/tests/test_evidence.py
index 871e65b0..827c91ad 100644
--- a/tests/test_evidence.py
+++ b/tests/test_evidence.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import hashlib
 import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
+import re
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
 import unittest
@@ -525,6 +526,31 @@ class EvidenceTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("local continuation validated", result.stdout)
         self.assertEqual(self.git("rev-parse", "HEAD", cwd=wt), task_head)
 
+    def test_local_precheck_captures_without_remote_tracking_ref(self):
+        wt = self.local_task()
+        head_before = self.git("rev-parse", "HEAD", cwd=wt)
+        # Remove the remote-tracking ref BEFORE capturing, so the precheck fixture
+        # itself must tolerate the missing refs/remotes/origin/main. The existing
+        # --local-context rejects this and the capture fails; recording that
+        # expected red result here.
+        self.git("update-ref", "-d", "refs/remotes/origin/main")
+        # The R0 commit recorded on the task card must remain reachable locally
+        # even after the remote-tracking ref is removed.
+        self.git("cat-file", "-e", self.head)
+        result = self.run_evidence("make precheck", cwd=wt, RECEIPT=self.receipt)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr + result.stdout)
+        self.assertTrue(self.receipt.exists(), "capture must write a receipt")
+        data = json.loads(self.receipt.read_text())
+        self.assertEqual(data["exit_code"], 0, data["output"])
+        self.assertIn("[verdict] LOCAL_READY", data["output"])
+        states = re.findall(r"^\[task-state\] registered=(.+) initial_base=([0-9a-f]+)$",
+                            data["output"], re.M)
+        self.assertEqual(len(states), 1, data["output"])
+        registered, initial_base = states[0]
+        self.assertEqual(Path(registered).resolve(), wt.resolve())
+        self.assertEqual(initial_base, self.head)
+        self.assertEqual(self.git("rev-parse", "HEAD", cwd=wt), head_before)
+
     def test_local_ready_never_authorizes_start_delivery_or_promoted_source(self):
         wt = self.local_task()
         self.capture("make precheck", cwd=wt)