diff --git a/roboco/mcp/do_server.py b/roboco/mcp/do_server.py
index e782fe57..c06a1c2b 100644
--- a/roboco/mcp/do_server.py
+++ b/roboco/mcp/do_server.py
@@ -147,6 +147,76 @@ def _classify_rejection(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
     return None
 
 
+def _remediate_for_kind(kind: str, verb: str) -> str:
+    """A directed recovery hint for a synthesized Envelope kind.
+
+    Mirrors flow_server: the orchestrator's exception handlers return a dict
+    `error` with no `remediate`; without a hint the agent has no directed next
+    action and flails until the breaker trips.
+    """
+    if kind == "not_found":
+        return (
+            "the call targeted a resource that does not exist; re-fetch state"
+            " and retry on a current id; do not retry the same id."
+        )
+    if kind == "incomplete_input":
+        return (
+            f"the {verb} call was rejected as incomplete input — re-issue it"
+            f" with the missing/invalid fields (see `detail` for the exact"
+            f" validation errors); do not retry blindly."
+        )
+    if kind == "not_authorized":
+        return (
+            f"you are not authorized for this {verb} action; use delegate /"
+            f" escalate_up, or call i_am_blocked(reason=...) if the gate is"
+            f" genuinely wrong; do not retry the same action."
+        )
+    return (
+        f"service error on {verb} — re-fetch state and re-issue; call"
+        f" i_am_blocked or i_am_idle if it persists; do not retry blindly."
+    )
+
+
+def _normalize_exception_envelope(
+    payload: dict[str, Any], path: str
+) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """Synthesize an Envelope-wire-format dict from an exception-handler body.
+
+    Mirrors flow_server (#232): FastAPI's exception handlers return ``error``
+    as a DICT (``{code, message, details?}``) or a bare ``detail`` list (422) —
+    neither is the Envelope wire format the agent trusts (string ``error`` +
+    ``message`` + ``remediate`` + ``missing``). This lifts the body into a real
+    Envelope so the agent gets a directed remediate instead of flailing until
+    the breaker trips. Returns None for a real Envelope (string ``error`` or
+    success) so those pass through unchanged.
+    """
+    error = payload.get("error")
+    if isinstance(error, dict):
+        code = str(error.get("code") or "")
+        kind = _classify_dict_error_code(code)
+        if kind is None:
+            kind = "not_found"
+        verb = _verb_from_path(path)
+        message = str(error.get("message") or "") or f"orchestrator error ({code})"
+        return {
+            "error": kind,
+            "message": message,
+            "remediate": _remediate_for_kind(kind, verb),
+            "missing": [],
+            "details": error,
+        }
+    if "detail" in payload and "error" not in payload:
+        verb = _verb_from_path(path)
+        return {
+            "error": "incomplete_input",
+            "message": f"the {verb} call was rejected as incomplete input",
+            "remediate": _remediate_for_kind("incomplete_input", verb),
+            "missing": [],
+            "detail": payload.get("detail"),
+        }
+    return None
+
+
 mcp = FastMCP("roboco-do")
 log = structlog.get_logger()
 
@@ -255,6 +325,14 @@ def _post(path: str, body: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
                 "missing": [],
             }
     # Outside the orchestrator client so the SDK call is its own connection.
+    # A non-404 JSON body that is NOT a real Envelope (dict `error` from an
+    # exception handler, or a 422 `detail` list) is normalized to the Envelope
+    # wire format so the agent gets a string `error` kind + remediate (#232).
+    # Mirrors flow_server; the synthesized Envelope still flows through the
+    # breaker below — its string kind is in the counted set.
+    normalized = _normalize_exception_envelope(payload, path)
+    if normalized is not None:
+        payload = normalized
     return _record_and_check_circuit(path, body, payload)
 
 
@@ -326,6 +404,11 @@ def _record_and_check_circuit(
         # breaker tripped, not WHY the verb failed (#60). Mirrors flow_server.
         circuit_env: dict[str, Any] = dict(status["circuit_envelope"])
         circuit_env["inner"] = payload
+        # Lift task_id/correlation_id from the original rejection to the top
+        # level (the SDK's envelope omits them) so the agent's envelope contract
+        # and ops audit-join still work — not just nested in `inner` (#359).
+        circuit_env["task_id"] = payload.get("task_id")
+        circuit_env["correlation_id"] = payload.get("correlation_id")
         log.info(
             "do_server: circuit_open substituted for rejection",
             verb=verb,
diff --git a/roboco/mcp/flow_server.py b/roboco/mcp/flow_server.py
index d8c88155..f47008a8 100644
--- a/roboco/mcp/flow_server.py
+++ b/roboco/mcp/flow_server.py
@@ -127,6 +127,92 @@ def _classify_dict_error_code(code: str) -> str | None:
     return "invalid_state"
 
 
+def _remediate_for_kind(kind: str, verb: str) -> str:
+    """A directed recovery hint for a synthesized Envelope kind.
+
+    The orchestrator's exception handlers return a dict `error` with no
+    `remediate`; without a hint the agent has no directed next action and
+    flails/respawn-loops until the breaker trips. This gives each counted kind
+    (and not_found) a one-line remedy that mirrors the string-kind envelopes.
+    """
+    if kind == "not_found":
+        return (
+            "the call targeted a resource that does not exist; re-fetch the"
+            " task state (give_me_work / resume) and retry on a current id;"
+            " do not retry the same id."
+        )
+    if kind == "incomplete_input":
+        return (
+            f"the {verb} call was rejected as incomplete input — re-issue it"
+            f" with the missing/invalid fields (see `detail` for the exact"
+            f" validation errors); do not retry blindly."
+        )
+    if kind == "not_authorized":
+        return (
+            f"you are not authorized for this {verb} action; use delegate /"
+            f" escalate_up, or call i_am_blocked(reason=...) if the gate is"
+            f" genuinely wrong; do not retry the same action."
+        )
+    # invalid_state + any fallback (service/INTERNAL_ERROR).
+    return (
+        f"service error on {verb} — the task may be in the wrong state for"
+        f" this verb. Re-fetch state (resume / give_me_work) and re-issue;"
+        f" call i_am_blocked or i_am_idle if it persists; do not retry blindly."
+    )
+
+
+def _normalize_exception_envelope(
+    payload: dict[str, Any], path: str
+) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """Synthesize an Envelope-wire-format dict from an exception-handler body.
+
+    FastAPI's exception handlers return ``error`` as a DICT
+    (``{code, message, details?}`` from ``roboco_exception_handler`` /
+    ``http_exception_handler`` / ``generic_exception_handler``) or a bare
+    ``detail`` list (``request_validation_handler``, 422) — neither is the
+    Envelope wire format the agent is prompted to trust (string ``error`` kind
+    + ``message`` + ``remediate`` + ``missing``). Returning either raw violates
+    the contract: the agent has no ``remediate``/``next`` and flails until the
+    breaker trips (#232). This lifts the dict/422 body into a real Envelope:
+
+    - dict ``error`` → map ``code`` via :func:`_classify_dict_error_code` to a
+      counted string kind (NOT_FOUND → ``not_found``), lift ``message``, synthesize
+      a ``remediate``, ``missing=[]``, and tuck the original body under
+      ``details`` for correlation traceability.
+    - 422 ``detail`` (no ``error``) → ``error='incomplete_input'`` with the
+      validation ``detail`` preserved so the agent sees WHICH fields failed.
+
+    Returns None when ``payload`` is already a real Envelope (string ``error``
+    or success) so successful/string-kind rejections pass through unchanged.
+    """
+    error = payload.get("error")
+    if isinstance(error, dict):
+        code = str(error.get("code") or "")
+        kind = _classify_dict_error_code(code)
+        if kind is None:
+            kind = "not_found"
+        verb = _verb_from_path(path)
+        message = str(error.get("message") or "") or f"orchestrator error ({code})"
+        return {
+            "error": kind,
+            "message": message,
+            "remediate": _remediate_for_kind(kind, verb),
+            "missing": [],
+            "details": error,
+        }
+    if "detail" in payload and "error" not in payload:
+        # 422 request-validation body ({"detail": [...], "body": ...}).
+        verb = _verb_from_path(path)
+        return {
+            "error": "incomplete_input",
+            "message": f"the {verb} call was rejected as incomplete input",
+            "remediate": _remediate_for_kind("incomplete_input", verb),
+            "missing": [],
+            "detail": payload.get("detail"),
+        }
+    return None
+
+
 def _classify_rejection(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
     """Return the breaker kind to forward for this payload, or None.
 
@@ -284,6 +370,14 @@ def _post(path: str, body: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
             }
     # Outside the orchestrator client context so the SDK call is its own
     # connection — keeps semantics independent and timeouts separated.
+    # A non-404 JSON body that is NOT a real Envelope (dict `error` from an
+    # exception handler, or a 422 `detail` list) is normalized to the Envelope
+    # wire format so the agent gets a string `error` kind + remediate (#232).
+    # The synthesized Envelope still flows through the breaker below — its
+    # string kind is in the counted set, so a 500/422 storm trips it.
+    normalized = _normalize_exception_envelope(payload, path)
+    if normalized is not None:
+        payload = normalized
     return _record_and_check_circuit(path, body, payload)
 
 
@@ -358,6 +452,12 @@ def _record_and_check_circuit(
         # verb failed, and the agent still needs the underlying hint (#60).
         circuit_env: dict[str, Any] = dict(status["circuit_envelope"])
         circuit_env["inner"] = payload
+        # The SDK's circuit_envelope omits task_id/correlation_id; lift them
+        # from the original rejection to the top level so the agent's envelope
+        # contract (read top-level task_id/correlation_id) and ops audit-join of
+        # the trip event still work — not just nested in `inner` (#359).
+        circuit_env["task_id"] = payload.get("task_id")
+        circuit_env["correlation_id"] = payload.get("correlation_id")
         log.info(
             "flow_server: circuit_open substituted for rejection",
             verb=verb,
diff --git a/roboco/mcp/intake_server.py b/roboco/mcp/intake_server.py
index 80ef49b5..7964a0c8 100644
--- a/roboco/mcp/intake_server.py
+++ b/roboco/mcp/intake_server.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ provides ``ROBOCO_API_URL`` + ``ROBOCO_PROMPTER_SESSION_ID``.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import os
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -55,7 +56,15 @@ async def _post_event(
         if owns:
             await http.aclose()
     if not resp.is_success:
-        return {"error": f"http_{resp.status_code}"}
+        # Capture the relay's body so the caller can surface the real reason
+        # (e.g. 'session not in MegaTask scope' on a 422) instead of an opaque
+        # `http_422` token with no remediation (#57). None when the body is
+        # absent or not JSON.
+        try:
+            body = resp.json()
+        except (ValueError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+            body = None
+        return {"error": f"http_{resp.status_code}", "detail": body}
     return {"ok": True}
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_do_server_circuit_breaker.py b/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_do_server_circuit_breaker.py
index 6ba1adf6..a845da4e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_do_server_circuit_breaker.py
+++ b/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_do_server_circuit_breaker.py
@@ -273,13 +273,15 @@ def test_verb_extracted_from_path(do_module: types.ModuleType) -> None:
     assert sdk_body["verb"] == "commit"
 
 
-def test_dict_shaped_error_does_not_crash(do_module: types.ModuleType) -> None:
+def test_dict_shaped_error_normalized_to_envelope(do_module: types.ModuleType) -> None:
     """A RobocoError.to_dict()-shaped response must not TypeError the breaker.
 
     A dict-shaped `error` is a retry-storm-worthy rejection (the orchestrator's
     exception handlers surface this shape on 4xx/5xx), so the breaker must count
-    it via the classifier rather than passing it through silently. The original
-    dict payload still reaches the agent (the breaker only substitutes when open).
+    it via the classifier. The dict body is normalized to an Envelope wire format
+    (#232): the agent receives a string `error` kind (not the dict, which violates
+    the Envelope contract) with the message lifted and a remediate. The breaker
+    still counts it (the synthesized string kind is in the counted set).
     """
     factory, captured = _make_client(
         orchestrator_response={
@@ -299,13 +301,16 @@ def test_dict_shaped_error_does_not_crash(do_module: types.ModuleType) -> None:
             "circuit_envelope": None,
         },
     )
-    # No TypeError; the dict-shaped rejection is forwarded to the SDK.
+    # No TypeError; the dict-shaped rejection is normalized + forwarded to the SDK.
     with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
         result = do_module.dm(recipient="qa-all", text="x")
-    # Original dict payload still reaches the agent (breaker not open).
-    assert isinstance(result["error"], dict)
-    assert result["error"]["code"] == "A2A_ACCESS_DENIED"
-    # SDK breaker MUST now be called so a storm of these counts.
+    # Normalized to a string-kind Envelope — the dict `error` never reaches the
+    # agent (#232). A2A_ACCESS_DENIED maps to not_authorized (exact-code, #161).
+    assert result["error"] == "not_authorized"
+    assert result["message"] == "be-qa cannot A2A with qa-all"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    # SDK breaker MUST still be called so a storm of these counts.
     sdk_calls = [(url, body) for url, body in captured if "test-sdk" in url]
     assert len(sdk_calls) == 1
     # ACCESS_DENIED maps to the not_authorized counted kind.
@@ -460,3 +465,123 @@ def test_missing_route_404_returns_envelope_and_counts(
     _, sdk_body = sdk_calls[0]
     assert sdk_body is not None
     assert sdk_body["rejection_kind"] == "invalid_state"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# #232: a non-404 JSON exception-handler body (dict `error` / 422 `detail`)
+# must be normalized to an Envelope wire format before reaching the agent.
+# Mirrors flow_server.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_422_detail_normalized_to_incomplete_input_envelope(
+    do_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """A 422 body (`{"detail": [...]}`, no `error`) is normalized to an Envelope
+    with `error='incomplete_input'`, a non-empty `remediate`, `missing=[]`, and
+    the raw validation `detail` preserved. The breaker still counts it. Mirrors
+    flow_server (#232)."""
+    detail_body = [
+        {"loc": ["body", "text"], "msg": "field required", "type": "missing"}
+    ]
+    factory, captured = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={"detail": detail_body, "body": None},
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "note",
+            "task_id": None,
+            "attempts": 1,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": False,
+            "circuit_envelope": None,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = do_module.note(text="")
+    assert result["error"] == "incomplete_input"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    assert result["detail"] == detail_body
+    sdk_calls = [(url, body) for url, body in captured if "test-sdk" in url]
+    assert len(sdk_calls) == 1
+    assert sdk_calls[0][1]["rejection_kind"] == "incomplete_input"
+
+
+def test_dict_internal_error_normalized_to_invalid_state_envelope(
+    do_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """A dict-shaped INTERNAL_ERROR (generic_exception_handler) is normalized to
+    `error='invalid_state'` with the message lifted + a remediate. Mirrors
+    flow_server (#232)."""
+    factory, captured = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={
+            "error": {
+                "code": "INTERNAL_ERROR",
+                "message": "An internal error occurred",
+                "details": {"correlation_id": "abc"},
+            }
+        },
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "commit",
+            "task_id": None,
+            "attempts": 1,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": False,
+            "circuit_envelope": None,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = do_module.commit(message="[abc12345] a valid commit message here")
+    assert result["error"] == "invalid_state"
+    assert result["message"] == "An internal error occurred"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    sdk_calls = [(url, body) for url, body in captured if "test-sdk" in url]
+    assert len(sdk_calls) == 1
+    assert sdk_calls[0][1]["rejection_kind"] == "invalid_state"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# #359: the circuit_open substitution lifts task_id/correlation_id from the
+# original rejection to the top-level envelope. Mirrors flow_server.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_circuit_open_lifts_task_id_and_correlation_id(
+    do_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """The SDK's circuit_envelope omits task_id/correlation_id; the substitution
+    lifts them from the original rejection to the top level so the agent's
+    envelope contract and ops audit-join still work. Mirrors flow_server (#359)."""
+    circuit_env = {
+        "error": "circuit_open",
+        "message": "verb 'note' rejected too often (3 in 60s)",
+        "remediate": "fix the missing fields once, then retry",
+        "missing": [],
+    }
+    factory, _ = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={
+            "error": "incomplete_input",
+            "missing": ["context"],
+            "remediate": "fill context",
+            "task_id": "T7",
+            "correlation_id": "C7",
+        },
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "note",
+            "task_id": "T7",
+            "attempts": 3,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": True,
+            "circuit_envelope": circuit_env,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = do_module.note(text="x", scope="decision")
+    assert result["error"] == "circuit_open"
+    assert result["task_id"] == "T7"
+    assert result["correlation_id"] == "C7"
+    assert result["inner"]["error"] == "incomplete_input"
+    assert result["inner"]["task_id"] == "T7"
diff --git a/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_flow_server_circuit_breaker.py b/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_flow_server_circuit_breaker.py
index 1fb29f78..0ed557c9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_flow_server_circuit_breaker.py
+++ b/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_flow_server_circuit_breaker.py
@@ -547,11 +547,13 @@ def test_dict_shaped_internal_error_counts_as_invalid_state(
     assert sdk_calls[0][1]["rejection_kind"] == "invalid_state"
 
 
-def test_dict_shaped_not_found_does_not_count(
+def test_dict_shaped_not_found_normalized_to_envelope_and_not_counted(
     flow_module: types.ModuleType,
 ) -> None:
-    """A dict-shaped NOT_FOUND (404 family) does NOT count — parity with the
-    string-error contract that a `not_found` rejection isn't counted.
+    """A dict-shaped NOT_FOUND (404 family) is normalized to an Envelope
+    (`error="not_found"` string + lifted message + remediate) — the agent
+    never sees a dict `error`, which violates the Envelope wire format — and
+    the breaker is NOT touched (parity with the string `not_found` contract).
     """
     factory, captured = _make_client(
         orchestrator_response={
@@ -561,8 +563,13 @@ def test_dict_shaped_not_found_does_not_count(
     )
     with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
         result = flow_module.i_am_done("task-A")
-    assert isinstance(result["error"], dict)
-    assert result["error"]["code"] == "TASK_NOT_FOUND"
+    # Normalized to a string-kind Envelope — the dict `error` never reaches
+    # the agent (#232).
+    assert result["error"] == "not_found"
+    assert result["message"] == "no such task"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    # NOT_FOUND still does not count toward the breaker.
     assert all("test-sdk" not in url for url, _ in captured)
 
 
@@ -630,3 +637,165 @@ def test_missing_route_404_returns_envelope_and_counts(
     _, sdk_body = sdk_calls[0]
     assert sdk_body is not None
     assert sdk_body["rejection_kind"] == "invalid_state"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# #232: a non-404 JSON exception-handler body (dict `error` / 422 `detail`)
+# must be normalized to an Envelope wire format before reaching the agent.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_exception_dict_500_normalized_to_invalid_state_envelope(
+    flow_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """A 500 with a dict-shaped error (generic_exception_handler) is normalized
+    to an Envelope: top-level `error='invalid_state'` (string kind), the dict's
+    `message` lifted to top-level `message`, a non-empty `remediate`, `missing=[]`.
+    The agent never receives a dict `error` (which violates the Envelope contract
+    it's prompted to trust). The breaker still counts it as `invalid_state`."""
+    factory, captured = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={
+            "error": {
+                "code": "INTERNAL_ERROR",
+                "message": "An internal error occurred",
+                "details": {"correlation_id": "abc"},
+            }
+        },
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "i_am_done",
+            "task_id": "task-A",
+            "attempts": 1,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": False,
+            "circuit_envelope": None,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = flow_module.i_am_done("task-A")
+    assert result["error"] == "invalid_state"
+    assert result["message"] == "An internal error occurred"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    # The synthesized Envelope still flows through the breaker (string kind in
+    # the counted set) so a 500 storm trips it.
+    sdk_calls = [(url, body) for url, body in captured if "test-sdk" in url]
+    assert len(sdk_calls) == 1
+    assert sdk_calls[0][1]["rejection_kind"] == "invalid_state"
+
+
+def test_422_detail_normalized_to_incomplete_input_envelope(
+    flow_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """A 422 request-validation body (`{"detail": [...]}`, no `error`) is
+    normalized to an Envelope with `error='incomplete_input'`, a non-empty
+    `remediate`, and `missing=[]`; the raw validation `detail` is preserved so
+    the agent can see WHICH fields failed. The breaker still counts it."""
+    detail_body = [
+        {"loc": ["body", "task_id"], "msg": "field required", "type": "missing"}
+    ]
+    factory, captured = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={"detail": detail_body, "body": None},
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "i_am_done",
+            "task_id": "task-A",
+            "attempts": 1,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": False,
+            "circuit_envelope": None,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = flow_module.i_am_done("task-A")
+    assert result["error"] == "incomplete_input"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    # The validation detail survives so the agent knows which fields to fix.
+    assert result["detail"] == detail_body
+    sdk_calls = [(url, body) for url, body in captured if "test-sdk" in url]
+    assert len(sdk_calls) == 1
+    assert sdk_calls[0][1]["rejection_kind"] == "incomplete_input"
+
+
+def test_dict_authorized_normalized_to_not_authorized_envelope(
+    flow_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """A dict-shaped PERMISSION_DENIED maps to `error='not_authorized'` in the
+    normalized Envelope (exact-code map, not a substring accident — #161), with
+    the message lifted and a remediate. The breaker counts it as not_authorized."""
+    factory, captured = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={
+            "error": {
+                "code": "PERMISSION_DENIED",
+                "message": "you may not merge that PR",
+                "details": {},
+            }
+        },
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "i_am_done",
+            "task_id": "task-A",
+            "attempts": 1,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": False,
+            "circuit_envelope": None,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = flow_module.i_am_done("task-A")
+    assert result["error"] == "not_authorized"
+    assert result["message"] == "you may not merge that PR"
+    assert isinstance(result["remediate"], str) and result["remediate"]
+    assert result["missing"] == []
+    sdk_calls = [(url, body) for url, body in captured if "test-sdk" in url]
+    assert len(sdk_calls) == 1
+    assert sdk_calls[0][1]["rejection_kind"] == "not_authorized"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# #359: the circuit_open substitution lifts task_id/correlation_id from the
+# original rejection to the top-level envelope (the SDK's envelope omits them).
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_circuit_open_lifts_task_id_and_correlation_id(
+    flow_module: types.ModuleType,
+) -> None:
+    """When the breaker trips, the SDK's circuit_envelope carries no task_id /
+    correlation_id, but the original rejection payload does (the orchestrator
+    stamps them on every envelope). The substitution must lift them to the
+    top-level so the agent's envelope contract (read top-level task_id /
+    correlation_id) and ops audit-join still work — not leave them only nested
+    in `inner`."""
+    circuit_env: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "error": "circuit_open",
+        "message": "verb 'i_am_done' rejected 3 times in 60s — breaker open",
+        "remediate": "call i_am_blocked or i_am_idle",
+    }
+    factory, _ = _make_client(
+        orchestrator_response={
+            "error": "tracing_gap",
+            "remediate": "open the PR",
+            "task_id": "T1",
+            "correlation_id": "C1",
+        },
+        sdk_response={
+            "verb": "i_am_done",
+            "task_id": "T1",
+            "attempts": 3,
+            "limit": 3,
+            "window_seconds": 60,
+            "open": True,
+            "circuit_envelope": circuit_env,
+        },
+    )
+    with patch("httpx.Client", side_effect=factory):
+        result = flow_module.i_am_done("task-A")
+    assert result["error"] == "circuit_open"
+    # Lifted from the original rejection to the top level (not just in inner).
+    assert result["task_id"] == "T1"
+    assert result["correlation_id"] == "C1"
+    # The original rejection still survives nested.
+    assert result["inner"]["error"] == "tracing_gap"
+    assert result["inner"]["task_id"] == "T1"
diff --git a/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_intake_server.py b/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_intake_server.py
index 1fe9b33e..31795770 100644
--- a/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_intake_server.py
+++ b/tests/unit/mcp_servers/test_intake_server.py
@@ -70,7 +70,49 @@ async def test_post_draft_reports_http_error() -> None:
 
     async with _client(handler) as client:
         result = await intake_server.post_draft("s", {}, client=client)
-    assert result == {"error": "http_503"}
+    # A no-body failure still surfaces the status; ``detail`` is None when the
+    # body is absent/unparseable (#57 — the body is now captured, not dropped).
+    assert result == {"error": "http_503", "detail": None}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_post_event_captures_body_on_non_success() -> None:
+    """#57: on a non-success response the relay's body carries the real reason
+    (e.g. 'session not in MegaTask scope' on a 422); _post_event must capture it
+    under ``detail`` so the intake agent gets actionable remediation instead of an
+    opaque ``http_422`` token."""
+
+    def handler(_request: httpx.Request) -> httpx.Response:
+        return httpx.Response(422, json={"detail": "session not in MegaTask scope"})
+
+    async with _client(handler) as client:
+        result = await intake_server.post_draft("s", {}, client=client)
+    assert result["error"] == "http_422"
+    assert result["detail"] == {"detail": "session not in MegaTask scope"}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_propose_batch_result_string_includes_relay_detail(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """The propose_batch failure string surfaces the captured relay body so the
+    grok intake agent can tell whether to re-shape the draft or surface to the
+    CEO (#57). ``post_batch`` is stubbed to the dict _post_event now returns when
+    the relay rejects with a body."""
+
+    async def _relay_rejected(
+        _session_id: str, _payload: dict[str, Any], **_kw: Any
+    ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "error": "http_422",
+            "detail": {"detail": "session not in MegaTask scope"},
+        }
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(intake_server, "post_batch", _relay_rejected)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("ROBOCO_PROMPTER_SESSION_ID", "sess-1")
+    msg = await intake_server.propose_batch([{"title": "A"}], "MegaTask")
+    assert "Could not submit the MegaTask to the panel" in msg
+    assert "session not in MegaTask scope" in msg
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio