diff --git a/agents/ast-grep-runner.md b/agents/ast-grep-runner.md
index 9fe8f91..27e13c3 100644
--- a/agents/ast-grep-runner.md
+++ b/agents/ast-grep-runner.md
@@ -54,6 +54,31 @@ If `ast-grep` itself fails on a YAML (syntax error, missing file), include the e
 
 ## Process
 
+### 0. Preflight: verify ast-grep binary (fail-fast)
+
+**Always run this first, before any scan or inventory step.** Without the binary, every subsequent `ast-grep scan` call returns empty `tool_result`, the LLM loops on the verification check, and the job hits `activeDeadlineSeconds` 30 min later with no review posted. Observed end-to-end on bborbe/coding#34 (admin-merged after the loop).
+
+```bash
+if ! command -v ast-grep >/dev/null 2>&1 && ! command -v sg >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  cat <<'EOF' >&2
+ERROR: ast-grep / sg binary not found in PATH.
+This funnel cannot run without it.
+
+Install (host):     npm install -g @ast-grep/cli
+Install (alpine):   apk --no-cache add ast-grep
+Install (debian):   curl -fsSL https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/latest/download/ast-grep-linux-x86_64.tar.gz | tar xz -C /usr/local/bin
+Container fix:      ensure pr-reviewer image has ast-grep — see
+                    bborbe/maintainer agent/pr-reviewer/Dockerfile (commit 1de083f
+                    added 'ast-grep' to the alpine apk line).
+Runbook:            [[Agent - Debug Missing PR Reviewer Review]] gate 5.
+EOF
+  printf '{"stats":{"yamls_run":0,"findings_count":0,"elapsed_ms":0},"findings_by_owner":{},"errors":[{"kind":"missing-tool","tool":"ast-grep","detail":"binary not in PATH"}]}\n'
+  exit 1
+fi
+```
+
+**Why exit 1, not "continue with errors":** the dispatcher's per-Owner adjudication phase reads from `findings_by_owner` only. A missing-tool error in `errors[]` would be invisible to the LLM tier — the review would post as APPROVED with no comments, masking that the mechanical layer never ran. Exit 1 surfaces the gap to the dispatcher (which aborts the review with an actionable error) instead of producing a silently-empty review.
+
 ### 1. Resolve rule inventory
 
 ```bash
@@ -117,7 +142,7 @@ Write the structured output to stdout. The dispatcher reads stdout, slices `find
 
 | Symptom | Cause | Handling |
 |---|---|---|
-| ast-grep binary missing | toolchain gap | emit `{"errors": [{"kind": "missing-tool", "tool": "ast-grep"}]}`, exit non-zero |
+| ast-grep binary missing | toolchain gap (e.g. pr-reviewer image regression — see bborbe/coding#34) | preflight Step 0 catches this BEFORE any scan; emit the missing-tool JSON skeleton, exit 1, dispatcher surfaces actionable error rather than posting an empty review |
 | YAML rejected by ast-grep | rule syntax bug (PR #4 / #8 trap) | append to `errors[]`, continue |
 | Rule ID not in index | stale walker output | append to `errors[]`, continue |
 | Owner from index missing in `agents/` | stale rule entry | append to `errors[]` with `kind: missing-owner-agent`, drop finding |
diff --git a/commands/code-review.md b/commands/code-review.md
index 4d48446..dbcdb0b 100644
--- a/commands/code-review.md
+++ b/commands/code-review.md
@@ -74,6 +74,17 @@ Mirrors `commands/pr-review.md` Step 4 (PR #27). Mechanical pre-filter via `codi
   - "Missing LICENSE file"
   - "README missing license section" (check with Grep for `## License` in README.md)
 
+#### 4.0: Toolchain preflight (fail-fast)
+
+Mirror of `commands/pr-review.md` Step 4.0. Verify `ast-grep` is in PATH before invoking the runner; the runner fail-fasts on the same check (`agents/ast-grep-runner.md` Step 0), but doing it here too keeps the failure surface close to the dispatcher:
+
+```bash
+cd <directory> && (command -v ast-grep >/dev/null 2>&1 || command -v sg >/dev/null 2>&1) \
+  || { echo "ERROR: ast-grep/sg not in PATH. Install via 'npm install -g @ast-grep/cli' (or 'apk add ast-grep' in alpine). pr-reviewer container fix: bborbe/maintainer agent/pr-reviewer/Dockerfile commit 1de083f." >&2; exit 1; }
+```
+
+If preflight fails, report the toolchain gap in Step 5 (Must Fix) and skip Step 4 entirely.
+
 #### 4a: Mechanical funnel
 
 ```
diff --git a/commands/pr-review.md b/commands/pr-review.md
index f0e9189..3e1970c 100644
--- a/commands/pr-review.md
+++ b/commands/pr-review.md
@@ -93,6 +93,17 @@ The dispatcher replaces the previous hardcoded "load conventions + invoke fixed
 
 **Short Mode**: No agents — skip to Step 5.
 
+#### 4.0: Toolchain preflight (fail-fast)
+
+Before invoking the runner, verify `ast-grep` is available in PATH. The runner itself fail-fasts on the same check (`agents/ast-grep-runner.md` Step 0), but doing it here too keeps the failure surface close to the dispatcher so the user sees a single clear error rather than the runner's JSON envelope:
+
+```bash
+cd <REVIEW_DIR> && (command -v ast-grep >/dev/null 2>&1 || command -v sg >/dev/null 2>&1) \
+  || { echo "ERROR: ast-grep/sg not in PATH. Install via 'npm install -g @ast-grep/cli' (or 'apk add ast-grep' in alpine). pr-reviewer container fix: bborbe/maintainer agent/pr-reviewer/Dockerfile commit 1de083f." >&2; exit 1; }
+```
+
+If preflight fails, report the toolchain gap in Step 5 (Must Fix) and skip Step 4 entirely — a review without the mechanical funnel would silently miss every MUST-tier YAML finding.
+
 #### 4a: Mechanical funnel
 
 ```