diff --git a/00-META/checks/words_test.go b/00-META/checks/words_test.go
index 3887ba4f..7af87b3c 100644
--- a/00-META/checks/words_test.go
+++ b/00-META/checks/words_test.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ const (
 	linesFrom = "2026-10-09"
 )
 
-var wordsAlways = []string{"00-META/", "03-DESIGN/", "AGENTS.md", "README.md"}
+var wordsAlways = []string{"00-META/", "03-DESIGN/", ".claude/", "AGENTS.md", "README.md"}
 
 // daemonLines are the daemons' lines (ADR 0272): each daemon's commands. "alone" is a command that is a line by
 // itself; "with an argument" one that is a line only when written as one ("the mesh-controller module" is prose;