diff --git a/.github/workflows/_lint.yml b/.github/workflows/_lint.yml
index b1d31b81..642f2b40 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_lint.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
 
+      # Tests must pass or fail — no SKIPs except genuinely platform-specific
+      # ones (SKIP_PLATFORM / #ifdef). Fails the lint phase on any plain SKIP().
+      - name: No-skips policy (tests pass or fail)
+        run: bash scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh
+
       - name: Install build deps
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y zlib1g-dev cmake
 
diff --git a/scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh b/scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..14e204c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# check-no-test-skips.sh — Enforce the no-skips test policy in the lint phase.
+#
+# Every test must PASS or FAIL. The ONLY tolerable skip is a genuinely
+# platform-specific test that cannot run on the current OS (e.g. a Windows-only
+# test on macOS); those must use the SKIP_PLATFORM() macro (or #ifdef
+# compile-gating). A plain SKIP() — or any direct tf_skip_count manipulation —
+# in a test source means a setup/environment/resource failure is being hidden
+# instead of surfaced as a failure. That fails this check.
+#
+# Rationale: a test that cannot establish its preconditions has FAILED, not been
+# "skipped". Convert such SKIP() to FAIL("reason").
+#
+# Usage: bash scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh   (exit 0 = clean, 1 = violations)
+set -uo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+violations=0
+
+# 1. Plain SKIP( in test sources.
+#    - SKIP_PLATFORM( never matches "SKIP(" (the char after SKIP is '_').
+#    - The SKIP()/FAIL()/SKIP_PLATFORM() macro DEFINITIONS live in
+#      tests/test_framework.h (a .h), which the tests/*.c glob does not scan.
+while IFS= read -r hit; do
+    echo "[no-skips] FORBIDDEN SKIP(): $hit"
+    violations=$((violations + 1))
+done < <(grep -rnE '(^|[^A-Za-z0-9_])SKIP\(' "$ROOT"/tests/*.c 2>/dev/null || true)
+
+# 2. Direct tf_skip_count increment in a test source (only the framework's
+#    SKIP_PLATFORM macro, defined in the .h, may touch it).
+while IFS= read -r hit; do
+    echo "[no-skips] FORBIDDEN tf_skip_count manipulation: $hit"
+    violations=$((violations + 1))
+done < <(grep -rnE 'tf_skip_count[[:space:]]*(\+\+|\+=|--)' "$ROOT"/tests/*.c 2>/dev/null || true)
+
+if [ "$violations" -gt 0 ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "[no-skips] FAIL: $violations violation(s). Tests must pass or fail."
+    echo "  setup / environment / resource failures  ->  FAIL(\"reason\")"
+    echo "  genuinely platform-specific tests         ->  SKIP_PLATFORM(\"reason\") or #ifdef"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "[no-skips] OK — no forbidden skips in tests/*.c (SKIP_PLATFORM allowed for platform-only tests)"
+exit 0
diff --git a/scripts/lint.sh b/scripts/lint.sh
index 6027d2b2..62c912b2 100755
--- a/scripts/lint.sh
+++ b/scripts/lint.sh
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ done
 
 print_env "lint.sh"
 
+# No-skips policy: every test must pass or fail. The only tolerable skip is a
+# genuinely platform-specific test (SKIP_PLATFORM / #ifdef). Runs in both modes.
+echo "=== no-skips policy (tests pass or fail) ==="
+bash "$ROOT/scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh"
+
 if $CI_ONLY; then
     echo "=== CI mode: cppcheck + clang-format ==="
     $ARCH_PREFIX make -j2 -f Makefile.cbm lint-ci "${MAKE_ARGS[@]+"${MAKE_ARGS[@]}"}"
diff --git a/tests/test_c_lsp.c b/tests/test_c_lsp.c
index 48c368fb..171a5e83 100644
--- a/tests/test_c_lsp.c
+++ b/tests/test_c_lsp.c
@@ -606,19 +606,19 @@ TEST(clsp_calls_attributed_to_function_issue220) {
 TEST(clsp_nocrash_issue355_xxhash_header) {
     FILE *fp = fopen("vendored/xxhash/xxhash.h", "rb");
     if (!fp) {
-        SKIP("vendored/xxhash/xxhash.h not found (run from repo root)");
+        FAIL("vendored/xxhash/xxhash.h not found (run from repo root)");
     }
     fseek(fp, 0, SEEK_END);
     long n = ftell(fp);
     fseek(fp, 0, SEEK_SET);
     if (n <= 0) {
         fclose(fp);
-        SKIP("xxhash.h unreadable");
+        FAIL("xxhash.h unreadable");
     }
     char *buf = (char *)malloc((size_t)n + 1);
     if (!buf) {
         fclose(fp);
-        SKIP("oom");
+        FAIL("oom");
     }
     size_t rd = fread(buf, 1, (size_t)n, fp);
     fclose(fp);
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.c b/tests/test_cli.c
index 088e5b88..add43138 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.c
+++ b/tests/test_cli.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_shell_rc_zsh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-rc-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     /* Save and override SHELL — must strdup because setenv may realloc env block */
     const char *raw = getenv("SHELL");
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_shell_rc_bash) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-rc-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     const char *raw = getenv("SHELL");
     char *old_shell = raw ? strdup(raw) : NULL;
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_shell_rc_bash_with_bashrc) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-rc-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     const char *raw = getenv("SHELL");
     char *old_shell = raw ? strdup(raw) : NULL;
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_shell_rc_fish) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-rc-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     const char *raw = getenv("SHELL");
     char *old_shell = raw ? strdup(raw) : NULL;
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_shell_rc_default) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-rc-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     const char *raw = getenv("SHELL");
     char *old_shell = raw ? strdup(raw) : NULL;
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ TEST(cli_find_cli_not_found) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-find-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     const char *raw = getenv("PATH");
     char *old_path = raw ? strdup(raw) : NULL;
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ TEST(cli_find_cli_on_path) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-find-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char fakecli[512];
     snprintf(fakecli, sizeof(fakecli), "%s/fakecli", tmpdir);
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ TEST(cli_find_cli_on_path) {
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
     rmdir(tmpdir);
-    SKIP("PATH-based CLI lookup uses POSIX semantics");
+    SKIP_PLATFORM("Windows: PATH-based CLI lookup uses POSIX semantics");
 #endif
     const char *raw = getenv("PATH");
     char *old_path = raw ? strdup(raw) : NULL;
@@ -357,11 +357,11 @@ TEST(cli_find_cli_fallback_paths) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-find-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
     rmdir(tmpdir);
-    SKIP("fallback path lookup uses POSIX semantics");
+    SKIP_PLATFORM("Windows: fallback path lookup uses POSIX semantics");
 #endif
     char localbin[512];
     snprintf(localbin, sizeof(localbin), "%s/.local/bin", tmpdir);
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ TEST(cli_skill_creation) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-skill-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ TEST(cli_skill_idempotent) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-skill-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ TEST(cli_skill_force_overwrite) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-skill-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ TEST(cli_uninstall_removes_skills) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-skill-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ TEST(cli_remove_old_monolithic_skill) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-skill-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ TEST(cli_editor_mcp_install) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.cursor/mcp.json", tmpdir);
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ TEST(cli_editor_mcp_idempotent) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.cursor/mcp.json", tmpdir);
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ TEST(cli_editor_mcp_preserves_others) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.cursor/mcp.json", tmpdir);
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ TEST(cli_editor_mcp_uninstall) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.cursor/mcp.json", tmpdir);
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ TEST(cli_gemini_mcp_install) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.gemini/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ TEST(cli_vscode_mcp_install) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/Code/User/mcp.json", tmpdir);
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ TEST(cli_vscode_mcp_uninstall) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/Code/User/mcp.json", tmpdir);
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ TEST(cli_zed_mcp_install) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.config/zed/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ TEST(cli_zed_mcp_preserves_settings) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.config/zed/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ TEST(cli_zed_mcp_uninstall) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.config/zed/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ TEST(cli_zed_mcp_jsonc_comments) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-mcp-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/.config/zed/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ TEST(cli_ensure_path_append) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-path-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char rcfile[512];
     snprintf(rcfile, sizeof(rcfile), "%s/.zshrc", tmpdir);
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ TEST(cli_ensure_path_already_present) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-path-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char rcfile[512];
     snprintf(rcfile, sizeof(rcfile), "%s/.zshrc", tmpdir);
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ TEST(cli_ensure_path_dry_run) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-path-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char rcfile[512];
     snprintf(rcfile, sizeof(rcfile), "%s/.zshrc", tmpdir);
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ TEST(cli_ensure_path_fish_syntax_issue319) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-path-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char rcfile[512];
     snprintf(rcfile, sizeof(rcfile), "%s/config.fish", tmpdir);
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ TEST(cli_copy_file) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-copy-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char src[512], dst[512];
     snprintf(src, sizeof(src), "%s/source", tmpdir);
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ TEST(cli_copy_file_source_not_found) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-copy-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char src[512], dst[512];
     snprintf(src, sizeof(src), "%s/nonexistent", tmpdir);
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ TEST(cli_install_dry_run) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-dry-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ TEST(cli_uninstall_dry_run) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-dry-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -1274,7 +1274,7 @@ TEST(cli_install_and_uninstall) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-full-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char skills_dir[512];
     snprintf(skills_dir, sizeof(skills_dir), "%s/.claude/skills", tmpdir);
@@ -1411,7 +1411,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_claude) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
     snprintf(dir, sizeof(dir), "%s/.claude", tmpdir);
@@ -1439,7 +1439,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_claude_via_env) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     /* Config dir lives OUTSIDE home_dir/.claude, pointed at by CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR. */
     char ccd[512];
@@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_codex) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
     snprintf(dir, sizeof(dir), "%s/.codex", tmpdir);
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_cursor_issue222) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
     snprintf(dir, sizeof(dir), "%s/.cursor", tmpdir);
@@ -1507,7 +1507,7 @@ TEST(cli_install_plan_receipt_no_mutation_issue388) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-plan-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     /* Make Cursor + Codex "detected". */
     char dir[512];
@@ -1544,7 +1544,7 @@ TEST(cli_codex_session_hook_issue330) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-codexhook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cfg[512];
     snprintf(cfg, sizeof(cfg), "%s/config.toml", tmpdir);
@@ -1578,7 +1578,7 @@ TEST(cli_gemini_session_hook_parity) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-gemhook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cfg[512];
     snprintf(cfg, sizeof(cfg), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -1601,7 +1601,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_gemini) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
     snprintf(dir, sizeof(dir), "%s/.gemini", tmpdir);
@@ -1618,7 +1618,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_zed) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
 #ifdef __APPLE__
@@ -1641,7 +1641,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_antigravity) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
     /* Antigravity CLI installs under ~/.gemini/antigravity-cli/ (2026). */
@@ -1660,7 +1660,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_kilocode) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
 #ifdef __APPLE__
@@ -1685,7 +1685,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_finds_kiro) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char dir[512];
     snprintf(dir, sizeof(dir), "%s/.kiro", tmpdir);
@@ -1702,7 +1702,7 @@ TEST(cli_detect_agents_none_found) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-detect-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     /* Empty home dir → no config dirs → no directory-based agents detected.
      * Note: opencode/aider may still be detected via system fallback paths
@@ -1738,7 +1738,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_codex_mcp_fresh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-codex-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/config.toml", tmpdir);
@@ -1759,7 +1759,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_codex_mcp_existing) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-codex-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/config.toml", tmpdir);
@@ -1784,7 +1784,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_codex_mcp_replace) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-codex-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/config.toml", tmpdir);
@@ -1817,7 +1817,7 @@ TEST(cli_zed_mcp_uses_args_format) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-zed-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -1842,7 +1842,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_opencode_mcp_fresh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-ocode-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/opencode.json", tmpdir);
@@ -1869,7 +1869,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_opencode_mcp_existing) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-ocode-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/opencode.json", tmpdir);
@@ -1895,7 +1895,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_antigravity_mcp_fresh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-anti-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/mcp_config.json", tmpdir);
@@ -1915,7 +1915,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_antigravity_mcp_replace) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-anti-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char configpath[512];
     snprintf(configpath, sizeof(configpath), "%s/mcp_config.json", tmpdir);
@@ -1942,7 +1942,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_instructions_fresh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-instr-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char filepath[512];
     snprintf(filepath, sizeof(filepath), "%s/AGENTS.md", tmpdir);
@@ -1964,7 +1964,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_instructions_existing) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-instr-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char filepath[512];
     snprintf(filepath, sizeof(filepath), "%s/AGENTS.md", tmpdir);
@@ -1990,7 +1990,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_instructions_replace) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-instr-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char filepath[512];
     snprintf(filepath, sizeof(filepath), "%s/AGENTS.md", tmpdir);
@@ -2020,7 +2020,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_instructions_no_duplicate) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-instr-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char filepath[512];
     snprintf(filepath, sizeof(filepath), "%s/AGENTS.md", tmpdir);
@@ -2051,7 +2051,7 @@ TEST(cli_remove_instructions) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-instr-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char filepath[512];
     snprintf(filepath, sizeof(filepath), "%s/AGENTS.md", tmpdir);
@@ -2092,7 +2092,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_claude_hook_fresh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-hook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2121,7 +2121,7 @@ TEST(cli_hook_gate_script_no_predictable_tmp_issue384) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-gate-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_install_hook_gate_script(tmpdir, "/usr/local/bin/codebase-memory-mcp");
 
@@ -2143,7 +2143,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_claude_hook_existing) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-hook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2172,7 +2172,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_claude_hook_replace) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-hook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2198,7 +2198,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_claude_hook_preserves_others) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-hook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2226,7 +2226,7 @@ TEST(cli_remove_claude_hooks) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-hook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2252,7 +2252,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_gemini_hook_fresh) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-ghook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2273,7 +2273,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_gemini_hook_existing) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-ghook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2299,7 +2299,7 @@ TEST(cli_upsert_gemini_hook_replace) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-ghook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2324,7 +2324,7 @@ TEST(cli_remove_gemini_hooks) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-ghook-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char settingspath[512];
     snprintf(settingspath, sizeof(settingspath), "%s/settings.json", tmpdir);
@@ -2363,7 +2363,7 @@ TEST(cli_config_open_close) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-cfg-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_config_t *cfg = cbm_config_open(tmpdir);
     ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
@@ -2383,7 +2383,7 @@ TEST(cli_config_get_set) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-cfg-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_config_t *cfg = cbm_config_open(tmpdir);
     ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
@@ -2408,7 +2408,7 @@ TEST(cli_config_get_bool) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-cfg-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_config_t *cfg = cbm_config_open(tmpdir);
     ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
@@ -2440,7 +2440,7 @@ TEST(cli_config_get_int) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-cfg-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_config_t *cfg = cbm_config_open(tmpdir);
     ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
@@ -2463,7 +2463,7 @@ TEST(cli_config_delete) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-cfg-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_config_t *cfg = cbm_config_open(tmpdir);
     ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
@@ -2484,7 +2484,7 @@ TEST(cli_config_persists) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-cfg-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     cbm_config_t *cfg = cbm_config_open(tmpdir);
     ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
@@ -2513,7 +2513,7 @@ TEST(replace_binary_overwrites_readonly) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-replace-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
     }
 
     char path[512];
@@ -2554,7 +2554,7 @@ TEST(replace_binary_creates_new_file) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cli-replace2-XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
     }
 
     char path[512];
diff --git a/tests/test_cs_lsp_bench.c b/tests/test_cs_lsp_bench.c
index 58a9a619..bed17667 100644
--- a/tests/test_cs_lsp_bench.c
+++ b/tests/test_cs_lsp_bench.c
@@ -187,13 +187,9 @@ static double elapsed_ms(struct timespec t0, struct timespec t1) {
 }
 
 TEST(cslsp_bench_resolution_ratio) {
-    /* Perf benchmark: time-budgeted, so skip under CBM_SKIP_PERF (set by the
-     * CI dry-run). Under ASan+UBSan the budget is unattainable and an early
-     * assert-bail would leak the result; runs normally when perf is enabled. */
-    const char *skip = getenv("CBM_SKIP_PERF");
-    if (skip && skip[0] && skip[0] != '0') {
-        SKIP("CBM_SKIP_PERF=1 (perf benchmark)");
-    }
+    /* Perf benchmark: time-budgeted. Under ASan+UBSan the budget is scaled
+     * (see the sanitizer-aware time-budget assert below); the benchmark always
+     * runs so regressions surface in every configuration. */
     int slen = (int)strlen(bench_source);
 
     struct timespec t0;
diff --git a/tests/test_discover.c b/tests/test_discover.c
index 07e4a10c..af51a928 100644
--- a/tests/test_discover.c
+++ b/tests/test_discover.c
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ TEST(discover_symlink_skipped) {
 #ifdef _WIN32
     /* Symlinks require elevated privileges on Windows — skip.
      * Guard the entire body: symlink() doesn't exist on Windows. */
-    SKIP("symlinks need admin on Windows");
+    SKIP_PLATFORM("Windows: symlinks need admin / symlink() unavailable");
 #else
     char *base = th_mktempdir("cbm_disc_sym");
     ASSERT(base != NULL);
diff --git a/tests/test_framework.h b/tests/test_framework.h
index 7c5635b8..2af654b4 100644
--- a/tests/test_framework.h
+++ b/tests/test_framework.h
@@ -66,6 +66,27 @@ static inline const char *tf_reset(void) {
         return -1;                                               \
     } while (0)
 
+/* Hard failure with a message — for setup/environment failures that must NOT be
+ * silently skipped (a test that cannot establish its preconditions has FAILED,
+ * not "skipped"). Mirrors the ASSERT failure path (red FAIL + file:line). */
+#define FAIL(reason)                                                                         \
+    do {                                                                                     \
+        printf("  %sFAIL%s %s:%d: %s\n", tf_red(), tf_reset(), __FILE__, __LINE__, (reason)); \
+        return 1;                                                                            \
+    } while (0)
+
+/* The ONLY tolerable skip: a test that is inherently platform-specific and does
+ * not apply on the current OS (e.g. a Windows-only test running on macOS).
+ * Distinct from SKIP() so the no-skips linter (scripts/check-no-test-skips.sh)
+ * can allow these and reject every other skip. Use sparingly + with a reason
+ * that names the platform. Prefer compile-gating (#ifdef) where practical. */
+#define SKIP_PLATFORM(reason)                                              \
+    do {                                                                   \
+        printf("%sSKIP%s (platform: %s)\n", tf_dim(), tf_reset(), reason); \
+        tf_skip_count++;                                                   \
+        return -1;                                                         \
+    } while (0)
+
 /* ── Assertions ────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 
 #define ASSERT(cond)                                                                           \
diff --git a/tests/test_incremental.c b/tests/test_incremental.c
index 9e229bba..c210d543 100644
--- a/tests/test_incremental.c
+++ b/tests/test_incremental.c
@@ -2824,10 +2824,6 @@ SUITE(incremental) {
         return;
     }
 
-    int skip_perf = (getenv("CBM_SKIP_PERF") != NULL &&
-                     getenv("CBM_SKIP_PERF")[0] != '0' &&
-                     getenv("CBM_SKIP_PERF")[0] != '\0');
-
     /* Phase 1: Full index baseline (needed for tool tests below) */
     RUN_TEST(incr_full_index);
     RUN_TEST(incr_full_has_functions);
@@ -2855,39 +2851,35 @@ SUITE(incremental) {
         g_full_imports = get_edge_count_by_type("IMPORTS");
     }
 
-    if (!skip_perf) {
-        /* Phase 2: Noop */
-        RUN_TEST(incr_noop_reindex);
+    /* Phase 2: Noop */
+    RUN_TEST(incr_noop_reindex);
 
-        /* Phase 3: Incremental deltas */
-        RUN_TEST(incr_modify_file);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_formatter_run);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_add_file);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_delete_file);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_simultaneous_changes);
+    /* Phase 3: Incremental deltas */
+    RUN_TEST(incr_modify_file);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_formatter_run);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_add_file);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_delete_file);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_simultaneous_changes);
 
-        /* Phase 4: Adversarial */
-        RUN_TEST(incr_empty_file);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_syntax_error);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_huge_single_function);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_binary_content);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_large_generated);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_new_subdir);
+    /* Phase 4: Adversarial */
+    RUN_TEST(incr_empty_file);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_syntax_error);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_huge_single_function);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_binary_content);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_large_generated);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_new_subdir);
 
-        /* Phase 5: Stress */
-        RUN_TEST(incr_rapid_reindex);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_replace_file_content);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_batch_add_delete);
+    /* Phase 5: Stress */
+    RUN_TEST(incr_rapid_reindex);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_replace_file_content);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_batch_add_delete);
 
-        /* Phase 6: Recovery + accuracy */
-        RUN_TEST(incr_db_deleted_recovery);
-        RUN_TEST(incr_accuracy_vs_full);
+    /* Phase 6: Recovery + accuracy */
+    RUN_TEST(incr_db_deleted_recovery);
+    RUN_TEST(incr_accuracy_vs_full);
 
-        /* Phase 7: Performance regression */
-        RUN_TEST(incr_perf_single_file_fast);
-    } else {
-        printf("  [phases 2-7 SKIPPED — CBM_SKIP_PERF=1]\n");
-    }
+    /* Phase 7: Performance regression */
+    RUN_TEST(incr_perf_single_file_fast);
 
     /* Phase 8: list_projects + index_status + schema */
     RUN_TEST(tool_list_projects_basic);
diff --git a/tests/test_integration.c b/tests/test_integration.c
index 54c969e1..3fdd24f6 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration.c
+++ b/tests/test_integration.c
@@ -531,9 +531,11 @@ TEST(integ_store_bfs_traversal) {
 SUITE(integration) {
     /* Set up: create temp project and index it */
     if (integration_setup() != 0) {
-        printf("  %-50s", "integration_setup");
-        printf("SKIP (setup failed)\n");
-        tf_skip_count += 16; /* skip all integration tests */
+        /* A suite that cannot establish its preconditions has FAILED, not
+         * "skipped" — surface it as a single red failure (no-skips policy). */
+        printf("  %sFAIL%s %s:%d: %s\n", tf_red(), tf_reset(), __FILE__, __LINE__,
+               "integration_setup failed");
+        tf_fail_count++;
         integration_teardown();
         return;
     }
diff --git a/tests/test_mem.c b/tests/test_mem.c
index d5d2866d..debb9b50 100644
--- a/tests/test_mem.c
+++ b/tests/test_mem.c
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ TEST(parallel_extract_with_slab) {
     cbm_mem_init(0.5);
 
     if (setup_mem_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("tmpdir setup failed");
+        FAIL("tmpdir setup failed");
     }
 
     cbm_discover_opts_t opts = {.mode = CBM_MODE_FULL};
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ TEST(parallel_extract_with_slab) {
     int file_count = 0;
     if (cbm_discover(g_mem_tmpdir, &opts, &files, &file_count) != 0) {
         teardown_mem_test_repo();
-        SKIP("discover failed");
+        FAIL("discover failed");
     }
 
     ASSERT_GTE(file_count, 5);
diff --git a/tests/test_parallel.c b/tests/test_parallel.c
index 98743547..1c4d3d9b 100644
--- a/tests/test_parallel.c
+++ b/tests/test_parallel.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static void parity_teardown(void) {
 /* Node count parity */
 TEST(parallel_node_count) {
     if (ensure_parity_setup() != 0)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     int seq = cbm_gbuf_node_count(g_seq_gbuf);
     int par = cbm_gbuf_node_count(g_par_gbuf);
     ASSERT_GT(seq, 0);
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ static int assert_edge_type_parity(const char *type) {
 TEST(parallel_calls_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("CALLS");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ TEST(parallel_calls_parity) {
 TEST(parallel_defines_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("DEFINES");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ TEST(parallel_defines_parity) {
 TEST(parallel_defines_method_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("DEFINES_METHOD");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ TEST(parallel_defines_method_parity) {
 TEST(parallel_imports_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("IMPORTS");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ TEST(parallel_imports_parity) {
 TEST(parallel_usage_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("USAGE");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ TEST(parallel_usage_parity) {
 TEST(parallel_inherits_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("INHERITS");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -297,14 +297,14 @@ TEST(parallel_inherits_parity) {
 TEST(parallel_implements_parity) {
     int rc = assert_edge_type_parity("IMPLEMENTS");
     if (rc == -1)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     ASSERT_EQ(rc, 0);
     PASS();
 }
 
 TEST(parallel_total_edges) {
     if (ensure_parity_setup() != 0)
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     int seq = cbm_gbuf_edge_count(g_seq_gbuf);
     int par = cbm_gbuf_edge_count(g_par_gbuf);
     ASSERT_GT(seq, 0);
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ TEST(parallel_python_lsp_override_emits_lsp_strategy_edges) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_par_pylsp_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("mkdtemp failed");
     }
 
     /* Single-file scenario: pins the in-file LSP path where py_lsp
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ TEST(parallel_python_lsp_override_emits_lsp_strategy_edges) {
     snprintf(fpath0, sizeof(fpath0), "%s/app.py", tmpdir);
     FILE *f = fopen(fpath0, "w");
     if (!f) {
-        SKIP("fopen app.py failed");
+        FAIL("fopen app.py failed");
     }
     fprintf(f, "class Greeter:\n"
                "    def hello(self):\n"
@@ -555,14 +555,14 @@ TEST(parallel_python_lsp_override_cross_file_emits_lsp_strategy_edges) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_par_pylsp_xf_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("mkdtemp failed");
     }
 
     char gpath[512];
     snprintf(gpath, sizeof(gpath), "%s/greeter.py", tmpdir);
     FILE *gf = fopen(gpath, "w");
     if (!gf) {
-        SKIP("fopen greeter.py failed");
+        FAIL("fopen greeter.py failed");
     }
     fprintf(gf, "class Greeter:\n"
                 "    def hello(self):\n"
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ TEST(parallel_python_lsp_override_cross_file_emits_lsp_strategy_edges) {
     if (!af) {
         unlink(gpath);
         rmdir(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("fopen app.py failed");
+        FAIL("fopen app.py failed");
     }
     fprintf(af, "from greeter import Greeter\n"
                 "\n"
diff --git a/tests/test_pipeline.c b/tests/test_pipeline.c
index 1204137b..7af64d0a 100644
--- a/tests/test_pipeline.c
+++ b/tests/test_pipeline.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_run_null) {
 
 TEST(store_file_persistence) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
     char db_path[512];
     snprintf(db_path, sizeof(db_path), "%s/persist_test.db", g_tmpdir);
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ TEST(store_file_persistence) {
 
 TEST(store_bulk_persistence) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
     char db_path[512];
     snprintf(db_path, sizeof(db_path), "%s/bulk_test.db", g_tmpdir);
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ TEST(store_bulk_persistence) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_structure_nodes) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_structure_nodes) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_structure_edges) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_structure_edges) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_project_name_derived) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_tmpdir, NULL, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_project_name_derived) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_fast_mode) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_fast_mode) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_definitions_function_nodes) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_definitions_function_nodes) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_definitions_defines_edges) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_definitions_defines_edges) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_definitions_properties) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_definitions_properties) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_calls_resolution) {
     if (setup_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ TEST(usages_creates_edges) {
                             "}\n";
 
     if (setup_usages_repo("mypkg/main.go", go_source, "go.mod", "module testmod\ngo 1.21\n") != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ TEST(usages_no_duplicate_calls) {
                             "}\n";
 
     if (setup_usages_repo("mypkg/main.go", go_source, "go.mod", "module testmod\ngo 1.21\n") != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -1038,7 +1038,7 @@ TEST(usages_kotlin_creates_edges) {
                             "}\n";
 
     if (setup_usages_repo("Main.kt", kt_source, NULL, NULL) != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ TEST(usages_kotlin_no_duplicate_calls) {
                             "}\n";
 
     if (setup_usages_repo("Main.kt", kt_source, NULL, NULL) != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -1189,7 +1189,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_python_project) {
         "class DataProcessor:\n    def transform(self, data):\n        return data\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1235,7 +1235,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_go_cross_package_call) {
         "package svc\n\nfunc ProcessOrder(id string) error {\n\treturn nil\n}\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1290,7 +1290,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_python_cross_module_call) {
         "def process():\n    result = fetch_data(\"https://example.com\")\n    return result\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_go_type_classification) {
                               "type ID = string\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1394,7 +1394,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_go_grouped_types) {
                               ")\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1438,7 +1438,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_kotlin_project) {
         "object Config {\n    val API_URL = \"https://example.com/api\"\n}\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1492,7 +1492,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_lua_anonymous_functions) {
                               "end\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1543,7 +1543,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_csharp_modern) {
                               "}\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1583,7 +1583,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_bom_stripping) {
     /* Port of TestBOMStripping — UTF-8 BOM prefix should be handled */
     snprintf(g_lang_tmpdir, sizeof(g_lang_tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_bom_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(g_lang_tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     char path[512];
     snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/bom.go", g_lang_tmpdir);
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_form_call_resolution) {
                               "#endprocedure\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1683,7 +1683,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_python_type_inference) {
                               "    return result\n"};
 
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
 
@@ -1742,7 +1742,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_docstring_go_function) {
                               "// Compute does something.\n"
                               "func Compute() {}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -1783,7 +1783,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_docstring_python_function) {
                               "\t\"\"\"Does something.\"\"\"\n"
                               "\tpass\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -1824,7 +1824,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_docstring_java_method) {
                               "\tvoid compute() {}\n"
                               "}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -1863,7 +1863,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_docstring_kotlin_function) {
     const char *contents[] = {"/** Computes result. */\n"
                               "fun compute() {}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -1903,7 +1903,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_docstring_go_class) {
                               "// MyStruct is documented.\n"
                               "type MyStruct struct{}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -2220,7 +2220,7 @@ TEST(configures_env_var_in_config) {
                               "\t_ = url\n"
                               "}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -2253,7 +2253,7 @@ TEST(configures_lowercase_key_skipped) {
 
                               "package main\n\nfunc main() {}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -2277,7 +2277,7 @@ TEST(configures_non_config_file_skipped) {
                               "var API_URL = \"https://api.example.com\"\n\n"
                               "func main() {}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -2322,7 +2322,7 @@ TEST(configures_full_pipeline_integration) {
                               "}\n\n"
                               "func readFile(path string) string { return \"\" }\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 4) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -2567,7 +2567,7 @@ TEST(decorator_tags_python_auto_discovery) {
                               "def special():\n"
                               "    pass\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -2641,7 +2641,7 @@ TEST(decorator_tags_java_class_methods) {
                               "    public void updateOwner() {}\n"
                               "}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 1) != 0)
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
     cbm_pipeline_t *p = cbm_pipeline_new(g_lang_tmpdir, db, CBM_MODE_FULL);
@@ -3868,7 +3868,7 @@ TEST(envscan_dockerfile_env_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_dock_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "Dockerfile",
                     "FROM python:3.9-slim\n"
@@ -3896,7 +3896,7 @@ TEST(envscan_shell_env_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_sh_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "setup.sh",
                     "#!/bin/bash\n"
@@ -3922,7 +3922,7 @@ TEST(envscan_env_file_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_env_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, ".env",
                     "\nAPI_URL=https://api.example.com/v1\n"
@@ -3947,7 +3947,7 @@ TEST(envscan_toml_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_toml_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "config.toml",
                     "[service]\n"
@@ -3973,7 +3973,7 @@ TEST(envscan_yaml_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_yaml_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "config.yaml",
                     "service:\n"
@@ -3997,7 +3997,7 @@ TEST(envscan_terraform_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_tf_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "variables.tf",
                     "variable \"webhook_url\" {\n"
@@ -4022,7 +4022,7 @@ TEST(envscan_properties_urls) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_prop_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "app.properties",
                     "api.url=https://api.example.com/health\n"
@@ -4043,7 +4043,7 @@ TEST(envscan_secret_key_exclusion) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_skey_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "Dockerfile",
                     "FROM node:18\n"
@@ -4070,7 +4070,7 @@ TEST(envscan_secret_value_exclusion) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_sval_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(
         tmpdir, "deploy.sh",
@@ -4094,7 +4094,7 @@ TEST(envscan_secret_file_exclusion) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_sfile_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     /* Secret file should be skipped */
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "credentials.sh",
@@ -4126,7 +4126,7 @@ TEST(envscan_skips_ignored_dirs) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_ign_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     /* File inside .git should be skipped */
     char gitdir[512];
@@ -4173,7 +4173,7 @@ TEST(envscan_non_url_values_skipped) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_envscan_nurl_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "Dockerfile",
                     "FROM python:3.9\n"
@@ -4432,7 +4432,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_fastapi_depends_edges) {
                               "def get_profile(user = Depends(get_current_user)):\n"
                               "    return {\"user\": user}\n"};
     if (setup_lang_repo(files, contents, 2) != 0) {
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     }
     char db[512];
     snprintf(db, sizeof(db), "%s/test.db", g_lang_tmpdir);
@@ -4477,7 +4477,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_fastapi_depends_edges) {
 TEST(incremental_full_then_noop) {
     /* Full index, then re-run → should detect no changes and skip */
     if (setup_incremental_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     }
 
     /* First: full index */
@@ -4515,7 +4515,7 @@ TEST(incremental_full_then_noop) {
 TEST(incremental_detects_changed_file) {
     /* Full index, modify one file, re-index → changed file re-parsed */
     if (setup_incremental_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     }
 
     /* First: full index */
@@ -4556,7 +4556,7 @@ TEST(incremental_detects_changed_file) {
 TEST(incremental_detects_deleted_file) {
     /* Full index, delete a file, re-index → deleted file's nodes removed */
     if (setup_incremental_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     }
 
     /* First: full index */
@@ -4592,7 +4592,7 @@ TEST(incremental_detects_deleted_file) {
 TEST(incremental_new_file_added) {
     /* Full index, add a new file, re-index → new file's nodes appear */
     if (setup_incremental_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("setup failed");
+        FAIL("setup failed");
     }
 
     /* First: full index */
@@ -4642,7 +4642,7 @@ TEST(incremental_fast_preserves_mode_skipped_tools_dir) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_modeskip_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     }
     char dbpath[512];
     snprintf(dbpath, sizeof(dbpath), "%s/test.db", tmpdir);
@@ -4783,7 +4783,7 @@ TEST(incremental_k8s_manifest_indexed) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_k8s_incr_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     }
     char dbpath[512];
     snprintf(dbpath, sizeof(dbpath), "%s/test.db", tmpdir);
@@ -4848,7 +4848,7 @@ TEST(incremental_kustomize_module_indexed) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_kust_incr_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
     }
     char dbpath[512];
     snprintf(dbpath, sizeof(dbpath), "%s/test.db", tmpdir);
@@ -5441,7 +5441,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_complexity_transitive_loop_depth) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_cx_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("tmpdir");
+        FAIL("tmpdir");
 
     write_temp_file(tmpdir, "cx.go",
                     "package p\n\n"
diff --git a/tests/test_py_lsp_bench.c b/tests/test_py_lsp_bench.c
index 74af98ef..67e3f9df 100644
--- a/tests/test_py_lsp_bench.c
+++ b/tests/test_py_lsp_bench.c
@@ -218,13 +218,9 @@ static double elapsed_ms(struct timespec t0, struct timespec t1) {
 }
 
 TEST(pylsp_bench_resolution_ratio) {
-    /* Perf benchmark: time-budgeted, so skip under CBM_SKIP_PERF (set by the
-     * CI dry-run). Under ASan+UBSan the budget is unattainable and an early
-     * assert-bail would leak the result; runs normally when perf is enabled. */
-    const char *skip = getenv("CBM_SKIP_PERF");
-    if (skip && skip[0] && skip[0] != '0') {
-        SKIP("CBM_SKIP_PERF=1 (perf benchmark)");
-    }
+    /* Perf benchmark: time-budgeted. Under ASan+UBSan the budget is scaled up
+     * (see the sanitizer-aware budget below) and the result is freed before
+     * asserting so a budget miss doesn't leak. */
     int slen = (int)strlen(bench_source);
 
     struct timespec t0;
diff --git a/tests/test_simhash.c b/tests/test_simhash.c
index c464dbd7..ef651e31 100644
--- a/tests/test_simhash.c
+++ b/tests/test_simhash.c
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ static void teardown_sim_test_repo(void) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_minhash_end_to_end) {
     if (setup_sim_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_minhash_end_to_end) {
 TEST(pipeline_minhash_no_false_positives) {
     snprintf(g_sim_tmpdir, sizeof(g_sim_tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_sim_nofp_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(g_sim_tmpdir)) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     /* 5 diverse functions — no clones */
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_minhash_no_false_positives) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_minhash_incremental) {
     if (setup_sim_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
@@ -1066,7 +1066,7 @@ TEST(pipeline_minhash_incremental) {
 
 TEST(pipeline_minhash_incremental_new_clone) {
     if (setup_sim_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("failed to create temp dir");
+        FAIL("failed to create temp dir");
     }
 
     char db_path[512];
diff --git a/tests/test_vmem.c b/tests/test_vmem.c
index 0da8d78b..b3e3dc9d 100644
--- a/tests/test_vmem.c
+++ b/tests/test_vmem.c
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ TEST(vmem_parallel_extract_with_slab) {
     cbm_vmem_init(0.5);
 
     if (setup_vmem_test_repo() != 0) {
-        SKIP("tmpdir setup failed");
+        FAIL("tmpdir setup failed");
     }
 
     cbm_discover_opts_t opts = {.mode = CBM_MODE_FULL};
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ TEST(vmem_parallel_extract_with_slab) {
     int file_count = 0;
     if (cbm_discover(g_vmem_tmpdir, &opts, &files, &file_count) != 0) {
         teardown_vmem_test_repo();
-        SKIP("discover failed");
+        FAIL("discover failed");
     }
 
     ASSERT_GTE(file_count, 5);
diff --git a/tests/test_watcher.c b/tests/test_watcher.c
index 7c2fa5fe..b83c20c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_watcher.c
+++ b/tests/test_watcher.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ TEST(watcher_poll_this_repo) {
     if (!getcwd(cwd, sizeof(cwd))) {
         cbm_watcher_free(w);
         cbm_store_close(store);
-        SKIP("getcwd failed");
+        FAIL("getcwd failed");
     }
 
     cbm_watcher_watch(w, "self", cwd);
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_git_commit) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_test_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_git_commit) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_dirty_worktree) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_dirty_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_dirty_worktree) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_new_file) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_newf_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_new_file) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ TEST(watcher_no_change_no_reindex) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_nochg_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ TEST(watcher_no_change_no_reindex) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ TEST(watcher_multiple_projects) {
     char tmpdirB[256];
     snprintf(tmpdirB, sizeof(tmpdirB), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_mB_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdirA) || !cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdirB))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ TEST(watcher_multiple_projects) {
              "git add a.txt && git commit -q -m 'init'",
              tmpdirA);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ TEST(watcher_multiple_projects) {
              "git add b.txt && git commit -q -m 'init'",
              tmpdirB);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ TEST(watcher_non_git_skips) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_nongit_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     /* Create a file so it's not empty */
     {
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ TEST(watcher_interval_blocks_repoll) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_intv_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ TEST(watcher_interval_blocks_repoll) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ TEST(watcher_git_removed_no_crash) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_rmgit_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ TEST(watcher_git_removed_no_crash) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ TEST(watcher_continued_dirty) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_cont_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ TEST(watcher_continued_dirty) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ TEST(watcher_baseline_dirty_repo) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_bld_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ TEST(watcher_baseline_dirty_repo) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     /* Make dirty BEFORE baseline */
@@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ TEST(watcher_unwatch_prunes_state) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_prune_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ TEST(watcher_unwatch_prunes_state) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ TEST(watcher_watch_after_unwatch) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_rewatch_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ TEST(watcher_watch_after_unwatch) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_file_delete) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_del_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_file_delete) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_subdir_file) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_sub_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ TEST(watcher_detects_subdir_file) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ TEST(watcher_full_flow_new_file) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_ffnf_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -1024,7 +1024,7 @@ TEST(watcher_full_flow_new_file) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -1066,7 +1066,7 @@ TEST(watcher_fallback_still_detects) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_fb_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -1076,7 +1076,7 @@ TEST(watcher_fallback_still_detects) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -1128,7 +1128,7 @@ TEST(watcher_poll_only_watched_projects) {
     char tmpdirB[256];
     snprintf(tmpdirB, sizeof(tmpdirB), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_owB_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdirA) || !cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdirB))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     /* Init both repos */
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ TEST(watcher_poll_only_watched_projects) {
              "git add a.txt && git commit -q -m 'init'",
              tmpdirA);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -1147,7 +1147,7 @@ TEST(watcher_poll_only_watched_projects) {
              "git add b.txt && git commit -q -m 'init'",
              tmpdirB);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ TEST(watcher_touch_resets_immediate) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_tch_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -1203,7 +1203,7 @@ TEST(watcher_touch_resets_immediate) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -1245,7 +1245,7 @@ TEST(watcher_modify_tracked_file) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_mod_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -1255,7 +1255,7 @@ TEST(watcher_modify_tracked_file) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
@@ -1455,7 +1455,7 @@ TEST(watcher_poll_non_git_dir) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_ng2_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     /* Create a regular file so directory is not empty */
     {
@@ -1541,7 +1541,7 @@ TEST(watcher_callback_data_passed) {
     char tmpdir[256];
     snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof(tmpdir), "/tmp/cbm_watcher_cbdata_XXXXXX");
     if (!cbm_mkdtemp(tmpdir))
-        SKIP("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
+        FAIL("cbm_mkdtemp failed");
 
     char cmd[512];
     snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd),
@@ -1551,7 +1551,7 @@ TEST(watcher_callback_data_passed) {
              tmpdir);
     if (system(cmd) != 0) {
         th_rmtree(tmpdir);
-        SKIP("git not available");
+        FAIL("git not available");
     }
 
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_memory();
diff --git a/tests/test_worker_pool.c b/tests/test_worker_pool.c
index cef1516c..b1253f26 100644
--- a/tests/test_worker_pool.c
+++ b/tests/test_worker_pool.c
@@ -194,10 +194,10 @@ TEST(parallel_for_actually_parallel) {
     atomic_init(&cc.concurrent_now, 0);
     cbm_parallel_for_opts_t opts = {.max_workers = 4, .force_pthreads = false};
     cbm_parallel_for(100, concurrency_worker, &cc, opts);
-    /* At least 2 threads ran concurrently (skip on single-core CI runners) */
-    if (atomic_load(&cc.concurrent_max) < 2) {
-        SKIP("single-core runner — cannot verify parallelism");
-    }
+    /* At least 2 of the 4 workers must have run concurrently. No skip: every CI
+     * runner is multi-core, so failing to demonstrate parallelism here is a real
+     * failure of the invariant, not an environment we silently pass over. */
+    ASSERT_GTE(atomic_load(&cc.concurrent_max), 2);
     PASS();
 }