diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index bfcc4a2e2..529337dab 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -27,9 +27,13 @@ changed. -->
 - **Verified live by:**
 - **Did NOT test:**
 
-## Liveness proof (required)
+## Liveness proof (required for external contributors)
 
-<!-- Attach a screenshot of your own machine with the text `GSTACK PR` typed LIVE
+<!-- Repository owner @garrytan is explicitly exempt. Agents must verify the
+authenticated GitHub login with `gh api user --jq .login`; Git author metadata
+alone is not sufficient.
+
+All other contributors: attach a screenshot of your own machine with the text `GSTACK PR` typed LIVE
 into a real surface — terminal prompt, a shell command, your browser
 address/search bar, an editor buffer. It must be TYPED INTO A LIVE UI, not drawn,
 overlaid, or edited onto the image. A painted-on `GSTACK PR` is an automatic
@@ -37,7 +41,7 @@ close. This confirms a human opened this PR. -->
 
 ## Checklist
 
-- [ ] Liveness screenshot attached: `GSTACK PR` typed live into a real surface (not edited onto the image)
+- [ ] Liveness screenshot attached (`GSTACK PR` typed live into a real surface) or PR author is @garrytan (owner exemption)
 - [ ] This is not a generated-file-only diff (I edited the source/template and regenerated)
 - [ ] No ETHOS.md edits, and no changes to voice / founder perspective / YC references
 - [ ] New public command / external service / host adapter has an accepted issue linked (or N/A)
diff --git a/test/ship-pr-liveness-policy.test.ts b/test/ship-pr-liveness-policy.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f9233481
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/ship-pr-liveness-policy.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as path from 'path';
+
+const template = fs.readFileSync(
+  path.join(import.meta.dir, '..', '.github', 'PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md'),
+  'utf8',
+);
+
+describe('gstack PR liveness policy', () => {
+  test('remembers the authenticated repository-owner exemption', () => {
+    expect(template).toContain('Repository owner @garrytan is explicitly exempt');
+    expect(template).toContain('gh api user --jq .login');
+    expect(template).toMatch(/Git author metadata\s+alone is not sufficient/);
+    expect(template).toContain('PR author is @garrytan (owner exemption)');
+  });
+
+  test('retains live GSTACK PR proof for every other contributor', () => {
+    expect(template).toContain('required for external contributors');
+    expect(template).toContain('All other contributors');
+    expect(template).toContain('`GSTACK PR` typed LIVE');
+    expect(template).toContain('not drawn,\noverlaid, or edited onto the image');
+  });
+});