diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/job_queue/tests.rs b/hive-c0re/src/job_queue/tests.rs
index ba46586c..53d2ee55 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/job_queue/tests.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/job_queue/tests.rs
@@ -926,6 +926,88 @@ fn cancelled_dag_finalizes_with_terminal_rollup() {
     );
 }
 
+// ---- approval deploy subtree ----
+
+/// The config-PR deploy is a subtree, not one opaque node. The
+/// resource-holding root completes immediately (its `Finishing` state is the
+/// parent gate that releases the children), then the phases run strictly in
+/// order — and the `AfterAny` tail still runs when the irreversible half fails,
+/// because it's the node that compensates for it.
+#[test]
+fn deploy_dag_runs_phases_in_order_and_tails_a_failed_apply() {
+    let q = JobQueue::new(1);
+    let id = submit(
+        &q,
+        templates::approval_deploy("agent-a", 7, "approval #7".to_owned()),
+    );
+
+    let root = claim_one(&q);
+    assert!(
+        matches!(root.kind, NodeKind::DeployWindow { .. }),
+        "root claims first: it holds the meta window for the whole subtree"
+    );
+    q.complete_node(id, root.node_id, Ok(()));
+
+    let verify = claim_one(&q);
+    assert!(matches!(verify.kind, NodeKind::MergeVerify { .. }));
+    q.complete_node(id, verify.node_id, Ok(()));
+
+    let apply = claim_one(&q);
+    assert!(matches!(apply.kind, NodeKind::DeployApply { .. }));
+    q.complete_node(
+        id,
+        apply.node_id,
+        Err("nixos-container update blew up".into()),
+    );
+
+    let tail = claim_one(&q);
+    assert!(
+        matches!(tail.kind, NodeKind::DeployTail { .. }),
+        "AfterAny tail runs on a failed apply — that's the whole point of it"
+    );
+    q.complete_node(id, tail.node_id, Ok(()));
+
+    let summary = q.terminal_summary(id).expect("dag terminal");
+    assert_eq!(
+        summary.state,
+        State::Failed,
+        "an Ok tail must not launder a failed deploy into a success"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(summary.approval_id, Some(7));
+}
+
+/// A pre-merge rejection (drift gate, eval failure) cancel-cascades the
+/// irreversible half via its `AfterOk` edge, but the tail is still reached —
+/// it owns the forge mirror, not just compensation.
+#[test]
+fn deploy_dag_skips_apply_but_still_runs_tail_when_verify_fails() {
+    let q = JobQueue::new(1);
+    let id = submit(
+        &q,
+        templates::approval_deploy("agent-a", 9, "approval #9".to_owned()),
+    );
+
+    let root = claim_one(&q);
+    q.complete_node(id, root.node_id, Ok(()));
+    let verify = claim_one(&q);
+    q.complete_node(
+        id,
+        verify.node_id,
+        Err("PR head drifted since review".into()),
+    );
+
+    let tail = claim_one(&q);
+    assert!(
+        matches!(tail.kind, NodeKind::DeployTail { .. }),
+        "apply is cancel-cascaded, so the tail is the next claimable node"
+    );
+    q.complete_node(id, tail.node_id, Ok(()));
+
+    let summary = q.terminal_summary(id).expect("dag terminal");
+    assert_eq!(summary.state, State::Failed);
+    assert_eq!(summary.approval_id, Some(9));
+}
+
 // ---- steps, build logs, history ----
 
 #[test]