diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 34a4f0cc..52ed16cc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -151,3 +151,27 @@ jobs:
             $listeners | Format-Table -AutoSize LocalAddress, LocalPort, OwningProcess
             throw "Desktop E2E left an orphaned process or a listener on port 4445."
           }
+
+  ci-gate:
+    name: CI Gate
+    if: ${{ always() }}
+    needs: [check-frontend, check-backend, test-e2e-desktop]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Verify required check results
+        env:
+          NEEDS_RESULTS: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}
+        run: |
+          node --input-type=module <<'NODE'
+          const jobs = JSON.parse(process.env.NEEDS_RESULTS);
+          if (Object.keys(jobs).length === 0) throw new Error("No prerequisite results were provided.");
+
+          let failed = false;
+          for (const [name, { result }] of Object.entries(jobs)) {
+            console.log(`${name}: ${result} (expected success)`);
+            if (result !== "success") failed = true;
+          }
+          process.exit(failed ? 1 : 0);
+          NODE
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index c8c1ef02..932f9058 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -185,6 +185,12 @@ Verify changes locally before merging. Use `pnpm check:frontend` for frontend-on
 
 Frontend checks enforce a coverage floor. It is a ratchet set just below the measured numbers rather than a target: a change that falls below it needs tests, not a lower floor, and the floor is raised when the measured numbers move up.
 
+### CI Enforcement
+
+The `CI Gate` job in [the CI workflow](./.github/workflows/ci.yml) waits for `Frontend Checks`, `Backend Checks`, and `Desktop E2E`. It runs even when a prerequisite fails or is skipped, and passes only when every prerequisite succeeds.
+
+To change the required validation, update `ci-gate.needs` with the relevant job IDs. If a job becomes conditional, update the gate's result policy in the same pull request so intentional skips are explicit and unexpected skips still fail. Keep the `CI Gate` display name stable because GitHub branch protection uses it. When migrating branch protection, retain the existing required checks until the gate passes on a pull request and is merged, then require `CI Gate` from GitHub Actions.
+
 ## Maintainer Project Management
 
 Maintainers own issue classification, scheduling, and project state. Contributors only need to provide the information requested by the relevant issue template; maintainers triage contributor-reported issues after they are opened.