diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-release.yml b/.github/workflows/create-release.yml
index ec5a4060e..442b29d03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-release.yml
@@ -773,6 +773,21 @@ jobs:
             RELEASE_URL=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.html_url')
           fi
 
+          RELEASE_JSON=$(gh api "repos/${{ github.repository }}/releases/${RELEASE_ID}")
+          ACTUAL_RELEASE_TAG=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.tag_name // empty')
+          ACTUAL_TARGET_COMMITISH=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.target_commitish // empty')
+          RELEASE_URL=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.html_url')
+
+          if [ "$ACTUAL_RELEASE_TAG" != "$TAG" ]; then
+            echo "::error::Draft release ${RELEASE_ID} is bound to tag ${ACTUAL_RELEASE_TAG}, expected ${TAG}."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          if [ "$ACTUAL_TARGET_COMMITISH" != "$HEAD_SHA" ]; then
+            echo "::error::Draft release ${RELEASE_ID} target_commitish is ${ACTUAL_TARGET_COMMITISH}, expected ${HEAD_SHA}."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
           rm -f "$NOTES_FILE"
 
           echo "release_url=${RELEASE_URL}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
@@ -939,10 +954,11 @@ jobs:
     needs:
       - prepare
       - create_release
-    if: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only != 'true' }}
+    if: ${{ always() && needs.prepare.result == 'success' && needs.create_release.result == 'success' && needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only != 'true' }}
     permissions:
       contents: write
       issues: write
+      statuses: write
     uses: ./.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml
     secrets: inherit
     with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml
index 1e0163d7d..828ac63cb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       contents: write
       issues: write
+      statuses: write
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set commit status - Success
         if: steps.context.outputs.should_run == 'true' && steps.validate.outputs.validation_passed == 'true'
         run: |
-          curl -X POST \
+          curl --fail-with-body --silent --show-error -X POST \
             -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" \
             -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
             "https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/statuses/${{ steps.context.outputs.target_commitish }}" \
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set commit status - Failure
         if: steps.context.outputs.should_run == 'true' && (failure() || steps.validate.outputs.validation_passed == 'false')
         run: |
-          curl -X POST \
+          curl --fail-with-body --silent --show-error -X POST \
             -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" \
             -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
             "https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/statuses/${{ steps.context.outputs.target_commitish }}" \
diff --git a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md
index add304b2d..7866e686f 100644
--- a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md
+++ b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ server-side update execution surfaces.
 13. `.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml`
 14. `.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml`
 15. `.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml`
+16. `.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml`
 16. `.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/v6_rc_feedback.yml`
 17. `docs/RELEASE_NOTES.md`
 18. `docs/releases/`
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ server-side update execution surfaces.
 ## Extension Points
 
 1. Add or change deployment-type detection, update planning, or apply behavior through `internal/updates/`
-2. Add or change release-build metadata injection, Docker build-context allowlists, release artifact assembly, governed promotion metadata resolution, the canonical version file, operator-facing release packet content, prerelease feedback intake wording, historical published-release integrity backfill, download endpoint checksum/signature header proof, or the canonical in-repo v6 upgrade guide through `scripts/build-release.sh`, `scripts/release_asset_common.sh`, `scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh`, `scripts/release_ldflags.sh`, `scripts/check-workflow-dispatch-inputs.py`, `scripts/release_control/render_release_body.py`, `scripts/release_control/resolve_release_promotion.py`, `scripts/release_control/record_rc_to_ga_rehearsal.py`, `scripts/release_control/internal/record_rc_to_ga_rehearsal.py`, `scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_support.py`, `.dockerignore`, `Dockerfile`, `.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/v6_rc_feedback.yml`, `docs/RELEASE_NOTES.md`, `docs/releases/`, `docs/UPGRADE_v6.md`, `docs/release-control/v6/internal/RELEASE_PROMOTION_POLICY.md`, `docs/release-control/v6/internal/PRE_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md`, `docs/release-control/v6/internal/RC_TO_GA_REHEARSAL_TEMPLATE.md`, `scripts/validate-release.sh`, `scripts/validate-published-release.sh`, the operator dispatch helpers `scripts/trigger-release.sh` and `scripts/trigger-release-dry-run.sh`, and the governed release workflows `.github/workflows/backfill-release-assets.yml`, `.github/workflows/create-release.yml`, `.github/workflows/deploy-demo-server.yml`, `.github/workflows/helm-pages.yml`, `.github/workflows/publish-docker.yml`, `.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml`, `.github/workflows/promote-floating-tags.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml`, and `.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml`
+2. Add or change release-build metadata injection, Docker build-context allowlists, release artifact assembly, governed promotion metadata resolution, the canonical version file, operator-facing release packet content, prerelease feedback intake wording, historical published-release integrity backfill, release asset validation status publication, download endpoint checksum/signature header proof, or the canonical in-repo v6 upgrade guide through `scripts/build-release.sh`, `scripts/release_asset_common.sh`, `scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh`, `scripts/release_ldflags.sh`, `scripts/check-workflow-dispatch-inputs.py`, `scripts/release_control/render_release_body.py`, `scripts/release_control/resolve_release_promotion.py`, `scripts/release_control/record_rc_to_ga_rehearsal.py`, `scripts/release_control/internal/record_rc_to_ga_rehearsal.py`, `scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_support.py`, `.dockerignore`, `Dockerfile`, `.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/v6_rc_feedback.yml`, `docs/RELEASE_NOTES.md`, `docs/releases/`, `docs/UPGRADE_v6.md`, `docs/release-control/v6/internal/RELEASE_PROMOTION_POLICY.md`, `docs/release-control/v6/internal/PRE_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md`, `docs/release-control/v6/internal/RC_TO_GA_REHEARSAL_TEMPLATE.md`, `scripts/validate-release.sh`, `scripts/validate-published-release.sh`, the operator dispatch helpers `scripts/trigger-release.sh` and `scripts/trigger-release-dry-run.sh`, and the governed release workflows `.github/workflows/backfill-release-assets.yml`, `.github/workflows/create-release.yml`, `.github/workflows/deploy-demo-server.yml`, `.github/workflows/helm-pages.yml`, `.github/workflows/publish-docker.yml`, `.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml`, `.github/workflows/promote-floating-tags.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml`, `.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml`, and `.github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml`
 3. Add or change shell installer, Docker bootstrap installer, Windows installer, container-agent installer, repo-root compose defaults, or auto-update script behavior through `scripts/install.sh`, `scripts/install-docker.sh`, `scripts/install.ps1`, `scripts/install-container-agent.sh`, `docker-compose.yml`, and `scripts/pulse-auto-update.sh`
 4. Add or change server update transport through `internal/api/updates.go` and `frontend-modern/src/api/updates.ts`
 5. Add or change local dev-runtime orchestration, managed ownership, browser-runtime proof wiring, frontend/backend coherence diagnostics, canonical developer entry wrappers, dependency manifest floors, frontend build chunking, or dev-runtime helper control surfaces through `scripts/hot-dev.sh`, `scripts/hot-dev-bg.sh`, `scripts/dev-deploy-agent.sh`, `Makefile`, `package.json`, `package-lock.json`, `frontend-modern/package.json`, `frontend-modern/package-lock.json`, `frontend-modern/vite.config.ts`, `go.mod`, `go.sum`, `scripts/dev-check.sh`, `scripts/toggle-mock.sh`, `scripts/clean-mock-alerts.sh`, `scripts/dev-launchd-setup.sh`, `scripts/dev-launchd-wrapper.sh`, `scripts/run_demo_public_browser_smoke.sh`, `scripts/demo_public_browser_smoke.cjs`, `scripts/com.pulse.hot-dev.plist.template`, `tests/integration/scripts/managed-dev-runtime.mjs`, `tests/integration/playwright.config.ts`, `tests/integration/tests/helpers.ts`, `tests/integration/tests/runtime-defaults.ts`, `tests/integration/README.md`, and `tests/integration/QUICK_START.md`
diff --git a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/registry.json b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/registry.json
index efe81795b..532effc48 100644
--- a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/registry.json
+++ b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/registry.json
@@ -2655,6 +2655,7 @@
         ".github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml",
         ".github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml",
         ".github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml",
+        ".github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml",
         "cmd/pulse-control-plane/main.go",
         "docker-compose.yml",
         "Dockerfile",
@@ -2784,6 +2785,7 @@
               ".github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml",
               ".github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml",
               ".github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml",
+              ".github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml",
               "docs/release-control/v6/internal/PRE_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md",
               "docs/release-control/v6/internal/RC_TO_GA_REHEARSAL_TEMPLATE.md",
               "docs/release-control/v6/internal/RELEASE_PROMOTION_POLICY.md",
diff --git a/scripts/installtests/build_release_assets_test.go b/scripts/installtests/build_release_assets_test.go
index 476b4ddc1..6bf7e0494 100644
--- a/scripts/installtests/build_release_assets_test.go
+++ b/scripts/installtests/build_release_assets_test.go
@@ -100,8 +100,13 @@ func TestCreateReleaseUploadsPowerShellInstaller(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("read create-release.yml: %v", err)
 	}
+	validationContent, err := os.ReadFile(repoFile(".github", "workflows", "validate-release-assets.yml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read validate-release-assets.yml: %v", err)
+	}
 
 	workflow := string(content)
+	validationWorkflow := string(validationContent)
 	required := []string{
 		`historical_asset_backfill_only:`,
 		`description: 'Repair an already-published release packet in place without rebuilding binaries'`,
@@ -131,10 +136,15 @@ func TestCreateReleaseUploadsPowerShellInstaller(t *testing.T) {
 		`git push origin "refs/tags/${TAG}" --force`,
 		`-F target_commitish="${HEAD_SHA}"`,
 		`historical_asset_backfill_only=${HISTORICAL_ASSET_BACKFILL_ONLY}`,
-		`if: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only != 'true' }}`,
+		`if: ${{ always() && needs.prepare.result == 'success' && needs.create_release.result == 'success' && needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only != 'true' }}`,
 		`if: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only == 'true' }}`,
 		`permissions:`,
 		`issues: write`,
+		`statuses: write`,
+		`ACTUAL_RELEASE_TAG=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.tag_name // empty')`,
+		`ACTUAL_TARGET_COMMITISH=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.target_commitish // empty')`,
+		`Draft release ${RELEASE_ID} is bound to tag ${ACTUAL_RELEASE_TAG}, expected ${TAG}.`,
+		`Draft release ${RELEASE_ID} target_commitish is ${ACTUAL_TARGET_COMMITISH}, expected ${HEAD_SHA}.`,
 		`./scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh --tag "${{ needs.prepare.outputs.tag }}" --repo "${{ github.repository }}"`,
 		`./scripts/validate-published-release.sh "${{ needs.prepare.outputs.tag }}" "${{ github.repository }}"`,
 	}
@@ -150,6 +160,17 @@ func TestCreateReleaseUploadsPowerShellInstaller(t *testing.T) {
 	if strings.Contains(workflow, `provenance: false`) {
 		t.Fatal("create-release.yml must not disable release-image provenance")
 	}
+
+	validationRequired := []string{
+		`statuses: write`,
+		`curl --fail-with-body --silent --show-error -X POST`,
+		`"context": "Release Asset Validation"`,
+	}
+	for _, needle := range validationRequired {
+		if !strings.Contains(validationWorkflow, needle) {
+			t.Fatalf("validate-release-assets.yml missing required status publication contract: %s", needle)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestBackfillReleaseWorkflowRepairsPublishedAssetsWithoutRebuilds(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py b/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
index 2885708ae..6bd872ade 100644
--- a/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
+++ b/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ class ReleasePromotionPolicyTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_release_workflow_enforces_rc_lineage_soak_and_v5_notice(self) -> None:
         content = read(".github/workflows/create-release.yml")
+        validation_workflow = read(".github/workflows/validate-release-assets.yml")
         helper = read("scripts/trigger-release.sh")
         renderer = read("scripts/release_control/render_release_body.py")
         policy = read("docs/release-control/v6/internal/RELEASE_PROMOTION_POLICY.md")
@@ -373,9 +374,21 @@ class ReleasePromotionPolicyTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('Retargeting existing draft tag ${TAG}', content)
         self.assertIn('-F target_commitish="${HEAD_SHA}"', content)
         self.assertIn('historical_asset_backfill_only=${HISTORICAL_ASSET_BACKFILL_ONLY}', content)
-        self.assertIn("if: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only != 'true' }}", content)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "if: ${{ always() && needs.prepare.result == 'success' && needs.create_release.result == 'success' && needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only != 'true' }}",
+            content,
+        )
         self.assertIn("if: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.historical_asset_backfill_only == 'true' }}", content)
         self.assertIn("issues: write", content)
+        self.assertIn("statuses: write", content)
+        self.assertIn("statuses: write", validation_workflow)
+        self.assertIn("curl --fail-with-body --silent --show-error -X POST", validation_workflow)
+        self.assertIn('"context": "Release Asset Validation"', validation_workflow)
+        self.assertIn('ACTUAL_RELEASE_TAG=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r \'.tag_name // empty\')', content)
+        self.assertIn(
+            'ACTUAL_TARGET_COMMITISH=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r \'.target_commitish // empty\')',
+            content,
+        )
         self.assertIn('./scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh --tag "${{ needs.prepare.outputs.tag }}" --repo "${{ github.repository }}"', content)
         self.assertIn('./scripts/validate-published-release.sh "${{ needs.prepare.outputs.tag }}" "${{ github.repository }}"', content)
         self.assertIn("PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY: ${{ secrets.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY }}", content)