diff --git a/.github/CI_VALIDATION_PR.md b/.github/CI_VALIDATION_PR.md
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+# CI validation PR
+
+This branch exists only to keep a PR open against `main` so that
+`pull_request`-triggered checks (CI, and anything chained off it via
+`workflow_run`) can be observed running for real.
+
+Workflow:
+- Real changes land on `main` directly (fast feedback, no PR round-trip).
+- After each push to `main`, this branch gets rebased onto the new tip and
+  force-pushed, keeping this PR's diff to just this file.
+- Do not merge this PR.