diff --git a/deploy/fixtures/node-lifecycle/service.go b/deploy/fixtures/node-lifecycle/service.go
index 918781f..b228a6c 100644
--- a/deploy/fixtures/node-lifecycle/service.go
+++ b/deploy/fixtures/node-lifecycle/service.go
@@ -15,21 +15,52 @@ const version = "fixture-old"
 const unhealthy = false
 
 func main() {
+	args := os.Args[1:]
+	hasArg := func(want string) bool {
+		for _, arg := range args {
+			if arg == want {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	validateConfig := func() bool {
+		for i, arg := range args {
+			if arg == "--config" && i+1 < len(args) {
+				data, err := os.ReadFile(args[i+1])
+				return err == nil && strings.Contains(string(data), "data_dir:")
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	// Match the production node's read-only maintenance contract so lifecycle
+	// tests exercise the installer's pre-stop guard instead of rejecting the
+	// synthetic candidate as an unsupported legacy binary.
+	if hasArg("--sale-upgrade-preflight-capability") {
+		if !hasArg("--validate-config") || !validateConfig() {
+			os.Exit(3)
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stdout, `{"schema":1,"command":"sale-upgrade-preflight"}`)
+		return
+	}
+	if hasArg("--sale-upgrade-preflight") {
+		if !validateConfig() {
+			os.Exit(3)
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stdout,
+			`{"schema":1,"status":"ok","mode":"inactive","tip_height":100,"tip_hash":%q}`+"\n",
+			strings.Repeat("a", 64))
+		return
+	}
 	for i, arg := range os.Args[1:] {
 		if arg == "--version" {
 			fmt.Println(version)
 			return
 		}
 		if arg == "--validate-config" {
-			for j, value := range os.Args {
-				if value == "--config" && j+1 < len(os.Args) {
-					data, err := os.ReadFile(os.Args[j+1])
-					if err != nil || !strings.Contains(string(data), "data_dir:") {
-						os.Exit(3)
-					}
-					fmt.Println("fixture config accepted")
-					return
-				}
+			if validateConfig() {
+				fmt.Println("fixture config accepted")
+				return
 			}
 			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "missing fixture config", i)
 			os.Exit(3)
diff --git a/deploy/publish_public_repo.py b/deploy/publish_public_repo.py
index 824c740..a76cf8b 100644
--- a/deploy/publish_public_repo.py
+++ b/deploy/publish_public_repo.py
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@
 """
 MESSAGE = ("chore: maintain verified source distribution\n\n"
            "Co-authored-by: aperod-network <aperod-network@users.noreply.github.com>")
+REQUIRED_CHECKS = {
+    "Whole-tree publication security",
+    "go build & vet & test",
+    "install-node.sh e2e smoke test (install)",
+    "install-node.sh e2e smoke test (validator)",
+    "install-node.sh e2e smoke test (update)",
+    "install-node.sh e2e smoke test (upgrade)",
+}
 
 
 def run(*args, cwd=None, test_python_userbase=None):
@@ -223,7 +231,7 @@ def publish(candidate, tree, expected_head, request, with_tests=False):
 
 def await_merge(pr, request, timeout=900):
     deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout
-    required = {"Whole-tree publication security", "go build & vet & test"}
+    required = REQUIRED_CHECKS
     while time.monotonic() < deadline:
         pull = request("GET", f"{API}/pulls/{pr['number']}")
         if pull.get("merged"):
diff --git a/deploy/test_publish_public_repo.py b/deploy/test_publish_public_repo.py
index a1da9ac..69853cd 100644
--- a/deploy/test_publish_public_repo.py
+++ b/deploy/test_publish_public_repo.py
@@ -97,6 +97,25 @@ def request(method, url, data=None):
             publisher.await_merge({"number": 1, "html_url": "test"}, request)
         self.assertNotIn("PUT", methods)
 
+    def test_failed_lifecycle_matrix_check_never_merges(self):
+        methods = []
+        failed = "install-node.sh e2e smoke test (update)"
+
+        def request(method, url, data=None):
+            methods.append(method)
+            if url.endswith("/pulls/1"):
+                return {"state": "open", "head": {"sha": "reviewed"}}
+            return {"check_runs": [
+                {"name": name, "status": "completed",
+                 "conclusion": "failure" if name == failed else "success",
+                 "app": {"id": 15368}}
+                for name in publisher.REQUIRED_CHECKS
+            ]}
+
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(RuntimeError, "check failed"):
+            publisher.await_merge({"number": 1, "html_url": "test"}, request)
+        self.assertNotIn("PUT", methods)
+
     def test_untrusted_status_provider_cannot_authorize_merge(self):
         methods = []
         def request(method, url, data=None):
@@ -122,7 +141,7 @@ def request(method, url, data=None):
                 return {"state": "open", "head": {"sha": "reviewed"}}
             return {"check_runs": [{"name": name, "status": "completed",
                                    "conclusion": "success", "app": {"id": 15368}}
-                                  for name in ("Whole-tree publication security", "go build & vet & test")]}
+                                   for name in publisher.REQUIRED_CHECKS]}
         publisher.await_merge({"number": 1, "html_url": "test"}, request)
         self.assertEqual(bodies[0]["sha"], "reviewed")
         self.assertNotIn("force", bodies[0])