diff --git a/asks/live_acceptance_test.go b/asks/live_acceptance_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb519b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asks/live_acceptance_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package asks
+
+import (
+	"os/exec"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// live-acceptance.sh is run by a person at the terminal and by no test: its syntax is judged here, as the lab's script
+// judged it with `sh -n` (novox/hq ADR 0529).
+func TestTheLiveAcceptanceScriptIsValidShell(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath("sh"); err != nil {
+		t.Skip("NOT TESTED HERE: no sh on the path")
+	}
+	if out, err := exec.Command("sh", "-n", "live-acceptance.sh").CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("live-acceptance.sh is not valid shell: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/asks/merge-check.sh b/asks/merge-check.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 0ecb971..0000000
--- a/asks/merge-check.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-# mesh-check-toolchain: go
-#
-# The proof of the operator's answers (novox/hq ADR 0259), the Go part of the lab's own check: run by the
-# build seat in the mesh's Go toolchain, its own container, because the lab's merge-check.sh declares it
-# (`# mesh-check-also: go asks/merge-check.sh`) — and by hand: `sh asks/merge-check.sh`.
-#
-# Formatted, vetted, and run against the clones beside the lab: on the build seat those are the controller,
-# the runtime and the catalogue **the mesh runs**, so every pull request of the lab proves the answers the
-# operator would get today. By hand, MESH_LAB_REPOS, or MESH_LAB_CONTROLLER, MESH_LAB_TOOLS and
-# MESH_LAB_CATALOGUE, point it at branches under review. It takes about four minutes when it runs.
-#
-# **Said, never passed silently**: where a clone is missing, or the controller predates the proof's fixture,
-# it says NOT RUN and why, in capitals, and passes; a proof that runs and fails, fails the check.
-set -eu
-cd "$(dirname "$0")"
-export GOPRIVATE=git.novox.be
-
-unformatted=$(gofmt -l .)
-if [ -n "$unformatted" ]; then
-	echo "not gofmt'd:"
-	echo "$unformatted"
-	exit 1
-fi
-sh -n live-acceptance.sh
-go vet ./...
-out=$(mktemp)
-status=0
-go test -count=1 -timeout 25m -v -run '^(TestTheOperatorsAnswerEndToEnd|TestTheFakePhoneShowsHTMLAsTelegramDoes)$' . >"$out" 2>&1 || status=$?
-grep -E '^(--- |    --- |ok|FAIL|PASS)' "$out" || true
-if grep -q 'NOT RUN' "$out"; then
-	echo "NOT RUN: THE PROOF OF THE OPERATOR'S ANSWERS DID NOT RUN HERE:"
-	grep -o 'NOT RUN: .*' "$out" | head -3
-fi
-[ "$status" -eq 0 ] || tail -60 "$out"
-rm -f "$out"
-exit "$status"
diff --git a/asks/proof_test.go b/asks/proof_test.go
index 1343f10..ea36d04 100644
--- a/asks/proof_test.go
+++ b/asks/proof_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build integration
+
 package asks
 
 import (