diff --git a/manager/core/agents.py b/manager/core/agents.py
index fc55bd8..f09658e 100644
--- a/manager/core/agents.py
+++ b/manager/core/agents.py
@@ -168,7 +168,10 @@ def _fresh_branch_point() -> tuple[str | None, str | None]:
     if fetched.returncode != 0 or \
             _git("rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", "origin/main").returncode != 0:
         return None, "fetch of origin/main failed; branched from local HEAD"
-    ahead = _git("rev-list", "--count", "main..origin/main").stdout.strip()
+    # Counted against HEAD, not main: HEAD is the fallback base, so this is
+    # exactly what launching would have missed — accurate even when the
+    # board checkout sits on another branch.
+    ahead = _git("rev-list", "--count", "HEAD..origin/main").stdout.strip()
     if ahead.isdigit() and int(ahead) > 0:
         return "origin/main", (f"branched from origin/main, "
                                f"{ahead} ahead of this checkout")
diff --git a/tests/test_fresh_branch_point.py b/tests/test_fresh_branch_point.py
index 2ba3282..7c5269c 100644
--- a/tests/test_fresh_branch_point.py
+++ b/tests/test_fresh_branch_point.py
@@ -98,6 +98,15 @@ class FreshBranchPoint(unittest.TestCase):
             capture_output=True)
         self.assertNotEqual(upstream_cfg.returncode, 0)
 
+    def test_ahead_count_is_relative_to_the_checkout_not_local_main(self):
+        # The checkout already holds origin/main's tip on another branch;
+        # only local main is behind. Nothing was missed, so no narration —
+        # counting main..origin/main would have claimed "1 ahead" here.
+        _commit(self.upstream, "landed elsewhere")
+        _git(self.local, "fetch", "-q", "origin")
+        _git(self.local, "checkout", "-q", "-b", "other", "origin/main")
+        self.assertEqual(agents._fresh_branch_point(), ("origin/main", None))
+
     def test_origin_in_sync_is_used_without_narration(self):
         self.assertEqual(agents._fresh_branch_point(), ("origin/main", None))