diff --git a/00-META/checks/README.md b/00-META/checks/README.md
index 6b1cbb31..9ff0e5c4 100644
--- a/00-META/checks/README.md
+++ b/00-META/checks/README.md
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ off — "until renamed", "left for later", "not decided here", "postponed", "fut
 change" — names the issue that tracks it, as tracking it ("tracked by issue N", or "issue N tracks"), in that
 paragraph or list item, or in a dated progressive insight that speaks about it: one in the same section, or one
 that quotes it. An issue cited for another reason tracks nothing, and one insight does not excuse every deferral
-in a record. A rejected option is not work put off and is not held
+in a record. A rejected option is not work put off and is not held, judged by its `##` section, so an option under a
+`###` subheading of "Considered Options" is skipped too
 ([issue 354](../../04-ISSUES/354-a-decided-rename-was-never-scheduled-and-the-operator-believed-it-live/00-report.md):
 ADR 0244 deferred the code renames with no issue, and two days later the operator believed them done). Held to
 it: a record dated from 2026-10-09, and an older one corrected under the rule. Measured from ADR 0244's date
diff --git a/00-META/checks/cycle.py b/00-META/checks/cycle.py
index 908f1d02..becc8725 100644
--- a/00-META/checks/cycle.py
+++ b/00-META/checks/cycle.py
@@ -78,26 +78,29 @@ INSIGHT = re.compile(r"\*\*Progressive insights?[ \t]*[—–-][ \t]*(\d{4}-\d{2
 
 
 def paragraphs(path):
-    """A record's body as (first line number, section heading, text) paragraphs: frontmatter and fenced
+    """A record's body as (first line number, section heading, chapter, text) paragraphs: frontmatter and fenced
     code left out, a block quote's markers stripped, so a quoted insight reads as the paragraph it is. The
-    section is the nearest heading above the paragraph; a heading is its own paragraph and its own section."""
+    section is the nearest heading above the paragraph; a heading is its own paragraph and its own section.
+    The chapter is the nearest `#` or `##` heading, which a `###` subheading inside it does not change."""
     text = open(path, encoding="utf-8").read()
     m = re.match(r"^---\n.*?\n---\n?", text, re.S)
     body, first = (text[m.end():], text[: m.end()].count("\n") + 1) if m else (text, 1)
     body = re.sub(r"(?ms)^\s*```.*?^\s*```", lambda x: re.sub(r"[^\n]", " ", x.group(0)), body)
-    out, line, section = [], first, ""
+    out, line, section, chapter = [], first, "", ""
     for chunk in body.split("\n\n"):
         stripped = "\n".join(re.sub(r"^\s*>\s?", "", l) for l in chunk.split("\n")).strip()
         if stripped:
             heading = re.match(r"^#{1,6}\s+(.*)", stripped)
             if heading:
                 section = heading.group(1).strip()
+                if len(stripped) - len(stripped.lstrip("#")) <= 2:
+                    chapter = section
             # A list's top-level items are units of their own: a Consequences list is one paragraph, and an
             # issue named in one item tracks nothing in the next.
             items = re.split(r"\n(?=[-*] |\d+\. )", stripped)
             at = line + chunk[: len(chunk) - len(chunk.lstrip())].count("\n")
             for item in items:
-                out.append((at, section, item))
+                out.append((at, section, chapter, item))
                 at += item.count("\n") + 1
         line += chunk.count("\n") + 2
     return out
@@ -309,17 +312,18 @@ def main():
         if status != "accepted":
             continue
         paras = paragraphs(path)
-        insights = [(d, sec, text) for line, sec, text in paras for d in INSIGHT.findall(text)]
+        insights = [(d, sec, text) for line, sec, _, text in paras for d in INSIGHT.findall(text)]
         held = decided >= DEFERRALS_FROM or any(d >= DEFERRALS_FROM for d, _, _ in insights)
         if not held:
             continue
         # A dated insight naming an issue covers the deferrals it speaks about -- those in its own section,
         # or ones it quotes -- and no other: one insight must not excuse every deferral in the record.
         tracking = [(sec, text) for d, sec, text in insights if issue_refs(text, seen)]
-        for line, section, text in paras:
+        for line, section, chapter, text in paras:
             m = DEFERRAL.search(text)
-            # A rejected option is a decision not to do it, not work put off.
-            if re.match(r"(?i)(options? rejected|considered options|rejected)", section):
+            # A rejected option is a decision not to do it, not work put off -- judged by its chapter, so an
+            # option under a `###` subheading of "## Considered Options" is skipped as well.
+            if re.match(r"(?i)(options? rejected|considered options|rejected)", chapter):
                 continue
             if not m or issue_refs(text, seen):
                 continue