diff --git a/lib/qa-evidence.ts b/lib/qa-evidence.ts
index 0b04ab54d..d47d004e1 100644
--- a/lib/qa-evidence.ts
+++ b/lib/qa-evidence.ts
@@ -193,7 +193,8 @@ function checkpoint(root: string, checkpointId: string, source: string | Record<
   const captured = readQaCapture(root, intent.capture);
   const value = { observationCommand: intent.observationCommand, observed: captured.observed, hypothesis: intent.hypothesis, nextCommand: intent.nextCommand };
   const sha256 = publish(root, `exploration-${checkpointId}.json`, value);
-  return { action: 'checkpoint', id: checkpointId, status: 'complete', sha256, capture: intent.capture, captureSha256: captured.sha256, intentSha256: hash(bytes), exitCode: 0 };
+  return { action: 'checkpoint', id: checkpointId, status: 'complete', sha256, capture: intent.capture, captureSha256: captured.sha256, intentSha256: hash(bytes),
+    link: `[checkpoint ${checkpointId}](exploration-${checkpointId}.json)`, exitCode: 0 };
 }
 
 function materialize(root: string, source: string) {
diff --git a/qa/templates/functional-report-template.md b/qa/templates/functional-report-template.md
index 1838fc585..96a3189c2 100644
--- a/qa/templates/functional-report-template.md
+++ b/qa/templates/functional-report-template.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ evidence and regression baselines. Do not combine their scores or outcomes.
 ## Discoveries and permanent tests
 
 Link each `exploration-NNN.json` checkpoint, saved before its next probe, in this report.
+Each checkpoint receipt prints its `link`; `.qa-evidence/NNN` capture folders are not checkpoints.
 Use one Markdown entry per checkpoint, for example:
 
 - [checkpoint 001](exploration-001.json) — how this observation shaped the next probe.
diff --git a/test/qa-evidence.test.ts b/test/qa-evidence.test.ts
index b54e0e8fe..9ec3f7ea9 100644
--- a/test/qa-evidence.test.ts
+++ b/test/qa-evidence.test.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ test('native capture executes once, preserves exact JSON and stderr, and materia
   f.json('intent.json', { capture: '001', observationCommand: 'first native command', hypothesis: 'The successful boundary suggests testing the rejected input next.', nextCommand: 'second native command' });
   const checkpoint = f.run('checkpoint', f.root, '001', 'intent.json');
   expect(checkpoint.status, checkpoint.stderr).toBe(0);
-  expect(receipt(checkpoint.stdout)).toMatchObject({ action: 'checkpoint', status: 'complete', id: '001' });
+  expect(receipt(checkpoint.stdout)).toMatchObject({ action: 'checkpoint', status: 'complete', id: '001', link: '[checkpoint 001](exploration-001.json)' });
   expect(JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(f.root, 'exploration-001.json'), 'utf8'))).toEqual({
     observationCommand: 'first native command', observed, hypothesis: 'The successful boundary suggests testing the rejected input next.', nextCommand: 'second native command',
   });