diff --git a/test/ceo-finding-fixture.test.ts b/test/ceo-finding-fixture.test.ts
index d96a2e4b5..cc6fc8832 100644
--- a/test/ceo-finding-fixture.test.ts
+++ b/test/ceo-finding-fixture.test.ts
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@ describe('CEO finding fixture establishes scope before launch', () => {
       expect(committed).toBe(input);
       expect(committed).toContain(target);
       expect(committed).toContain('Proceed directly to the requested CEO review; skip the optional /office-hours prerequisite.');
+      // Supplied prerequisite: the split actor always chose HOLD SCOPE; an explicit
+      // choice skips 0E's mode question so the attempt starts at the candidates.
+      expect(committed).toContain('Use HOLD SCOPE mode for this review.');
       expect(committed.match(/^## E[1-5]\)/gm)).toHaveLength(5);
       expect(fs.readFileSync(path.join(root, 'CLAUDE.md'), 'utf8')).not.toContain('Payment processing');
     } finally { fs.rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true }); }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/forcing-finding-seeds.ts b/test/fixtures/forcing-finding-seeds.ts
index ab0f9ac80..6a18bd0fe 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/forcing-finding-seeds.ts
+++ b/test/fixtures/forcing-finding-seeds.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ export const FORCING_BATCHING_ENG = [
 export const FORCING_SPLIT_OVERFLOW_CEO = [
   'Please review this plan and help me decide scope. Write your plan-mode plan to /tmp/gstack-test-plan-ceo-split-overflow.md (use Edit/Write to that exact path).',
   'Proceed directly to the requested CEO review; skip the optional /office-hours prerequisite.',
+  'Use HOLD SCOPE mode for this review.',
   '',
   '# Plan: Pick which chat-platform integrations to ship this quarter',
   '',
diff --git a/test/skill-e2e-plan-ceo-split-overflow.test.ts b/test/skill-e2e-plan-ceo-split-overflow.test.ts
index 22ae6247c..d7f81222f 100644
--- a/test/skill-e2e-plan-ceo-split-overflow.test.ts
+++ b/test/skill-e2e-plan-ceo-split-overflow.test.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,11 @@
  *     which is exactly the shape that hits Conductor's 4-option cap and
  *     triggers the new split-vs-drop guidance.
  *
- * Tier: periodic (~25 min, ~$0.30-$5.00/run depending on agent path).
- * Sequential by default.
+ * The fixture supplies the HOLD SCOPE mode the actor always chose, so 0E skips
+ * its mode question. Run 36385945043 acknowledged all five candidates 8m55s
+ * after launch (mode question included); collection stops there.
+ *
+ * Tier: periodic (25 min budget; ~8-9 min expected). Sequential by default.
  */
 
 import { test } from 'bun:test';