diff --git a/tests/integration/narrative.test.ts b/tests/integration/narrative.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e83657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/narrative.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll } from "vitest";
+import PocketBase from "pocketbase";
+
+import { APP_URL, DEMO, adminPb, requireServices, signIn } from "./helpers";
+
+let admin: PocketBase;
+let projectId: string;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  await requireServices();
+  admin = await adminPb();
+  projectId = (
+    await admin.collection("projects").getFirstListItem(`slug = "${DEMO.projectSlug}"`)
+  ).id;
+});
+
+describe("a card with no commits gets no narrative", () => {
+  it("is left empty rather than invented", async () => {
+    const { narrateProject } = await import("@/lib/ai/narrate");
+    await narrateProject(projectId);
+
+    const cards = await admin.collection("cards").getFullList({
+      filter: `project = "${projectId}" && archived = false`,
+      fields: "id,narrative",
+    });
+
+    for (const card of cards) {
+      const linked = (
+        await admin
+          .collection("commits")
+          .getList(1, 1, { filter: `card = "${card.id}"`, fields: "id" })
+      ).totalItems;
+
+      if (linked === 0) {
+        expect(card.narrative ?? "").toBe("");
+      }
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+describe("the card page always shows something for a commit", () => {
+  it("falls back to the raw subject when there is no summary", async () => {
+    const card = await admin
+      .collection("cards")
+      .getFirstListItem(`project = "${projectId}"`);
+
+    const marker = `raw-subject-probe-${Date.now()}`;
+    const commit = await admin.collection("commits").create({
+      project: projectId,
+      sha: `narrative-probe-${Date.now()}`,
+      short_sha: "narprb",
+      message: `feat(probe): ${marker}`,
+      subject: `feat(probe): ${marker}`,
+      type: "feat",
+      scope: "probe",
+      authored_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+      is_merge: false,
+      card: card.id,
+      link_source: "manual",
+      summary: "",
+    });
+
+    const cookie = await signIn(DEMO.managerEmail, DEMO.managerPassword);
+    const response = await fetch(
+      `${APP_URL}/p/${DEMO.clientSlug}/${DEMO.projectSlug}/c/${card.id}`,
+      { headers: { cookie } }
+    );
+    const html = await response.text();
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
+    // A gap here would look to the client like no work happened.
+    expect(html).toContain(marker);
+
+    await admin.collection("commits").delete(commit.id);
+  });
+});