diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 56eef56..ad7986d 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -252,6 +252,27 @@ curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/webhooks/nexus \
 
 ---
 
+## Verification patterns
+
+- Always run tests after making code changes. Report exact result: pass/fail count and any failure messages.
+- Never say "tests pass" without running `make test` yourself.
+- When adding a feature, also test boundary cases and error paths, not just the happy path.
+- After fixing a bug, add a regression test that reproduces the original failure. The regression test must fail before your fix and pass after. If you cannot write such a test, your fix may not be addressing the root cause.
+- When a test fails, do NOT delete, skip, or weaken it. Investigate: is the test wrong (rewrite it) or is your code wrong (fix the code)?
+- Use `make check` (lint + format + typecheck + test) as the final gate before considering a task complete.
+
+---
+
+## Bug Fixing Process
+
+- Reproduce first: identify the exact failing behavior. If possible, capture it as a failing test.
+- Minimal change: edit only the lines required to fix the bug. Do not rewrite larger sections "for cleanliness" unless you also rewrite the tests.
+- After fixing, verify with the same command that failed before (e.g., `make test`, a curl command, or a manual check).
+- Check for side effects: does your fix change behavior in an unrelated area? Run the full `make test` to be sure — partial test runs may miss regressions in other modules.
+- Document the fix: after resolving, briefly note what went wrong and how you diagnosed it. This becomes part of the team knowledge base for future reference.
+
+---
+
 ## Notes
 
 - **AI-generated code:** all code in this repository was generated by an AI assistant (Claude). Review carefully before production use.