diff --git a/crates/oa-core/tests/r3_migration.rs b/crates/oa-core/tests/r3_migration.rs
index 4956ec9d..6df5963c 100644
--- a/crates/oa-core/tests/r3_migration.rs
+++ b/crates/oa-core/tests/r3_migration.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ fn frozen_v4_json_and_source_preserve_the_old_review_without_fabricating_semanti
         assert_eq!(baseline.sa.name, "Approved SA name");
         assert_ne!(baseline.oa.name, decoded.project.named(trace.oa));
         let mut expected: Value = serde_json::from_slice(JSON4).unwrap();
+        assert!(expected.as_object().unwrap().get("definitions").is_none());
+        assert!(decoded.project.definitions.is_empty());
         expected["schema_version"] = oa_core::SCHEMA_VERSION.into();
+        expected["definitions"] = serde_json::json!({});
         assert_eq!(serde_json::to_value(&decoded.project).unwrap(), expected);
         let reopened =
             persistence::decode_with_report(&serde_json::to_vec(&decoded.project).unwrap())
diff --git a/harness/ordinary-source8-compatibility-implementation-20260925.md b/harness/ordinary-source8-compatibility-implementation-20260925.md
index 888bbe38..2a7808e9 100644
--- a/harness/ordinary-source8-compatibility-implementation-20260925.md
+++ b/harness/ordinary-source8-compatibility-implementation-20260925.md
@@ -82,4 +82,21 @@ Only these evaluator names change:
   public_ordinary_source8_preserves_typed_refusal_and_numeric_controls
 
 Production is unchanged. The initial 294-pass/four-failure evidence remains;
-repaired outcomes require the parent's next runtime gate.
\ No newline at end of file
+repaired outcomes require the parent's next runtime gate.
+## Historical schema4 JSON oracle reconciliation
+
+Parent's r3_migration integration run at 0c07f53a completed four passes and one
+failure. Its whole-JSON expected value updated only schema_version, omitting the
+current definitions catalog. Project4::into_current already creates an empty
+catalog; Project serialization requires that schema8 field. The test now asserts
+that the original fixture has no definitions field and the decoded catalog is
+empty, then adds exactly definitions:{} to expected JSON. Complete JSON equality,
+historical baseline/prose checks, migration and reopen checks remain unchanged.
+No production behavior or frozen historical fixture changes.
+
+The parent reports completed core, six other selected integration gates and both
+actual CLI operations at 0c07f53a; that evidence remains reusable because this
+repair changes only the affected integration evaluator and this note. The initial
+r3 four-pass/one-failure record remains preserved. Parent owns the affected r3
+inventory/rerun and all-target Clippy/format checks on the repaired pin; this note
+does not claim their outcome or repeat unrelated runtime acceptance.
\ No newline at end of file