diff --git a/internal/server/project_doc_handlers.go b/internal/server/project_doc_handlers.go
index f38c6625..056ca907 100644
--- a/internal/server/project_doc_handlers.go
+++ b/internal/server/project_doc_handlers.go
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (s *Server) loadControlledDocumentContent(ctx context.Context, docID string
 	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, docquery.ErrLedgerMissing) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if view != nil && view.Markdown != "" {
+	if view != nil && (view.Markdown != "" || view.IsTemplateOnly) {
 		return view.ToDocumentContent(), nil
 	}
 	return s.gov.ReadDocumentContent(ctx, docID, s.repoRoot())