diff --git a/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_conditional_test.go b/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_conditional_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e668d1c08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_conditional_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package reconcile
+
+// Purpose: P7-AUTO-11 conditional requests on the head scan: once a full scan has
+// stored its ETags, an unchanged repository answers 304 on the repository, the pull
+// list and (with extra branches) the branch list, and ScanHeads makes no further
+// request; a changed pull list is read in full again.
+// Inputs: the HOST-17 fixture forge and engine rig. Outputs: pass or fail.
+// Constraints: loopback TLS only; synthetic names and shas.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestScanHeadsConditional(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	r := newRig(t, "o/r")
+	r.f.do(func() { r.f.repos["o/r"].Pulls = []fPull{{Number: 7, Head: sha('b', 7), Assoc: "OWNER"}} })
+	opts := []ScanOptions{{}, {Branches: []string{"release/*"}, MaxBranches: 5}}
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		first, err := r.e.ScanHeads(ctx, "o/r", o)
+		if err != nil || first.NotModified || len(first.Heads) == 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("the first scan must list the heads: %+v %v", first, err)
+		}
+		r.f.reset()
+		again, err := r.e.ScanHeads(ctx, "o/r", o)
+		if err != nil || !again.NotModified || len(again.Heads) != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("an unchanged repository must answer NotModified: %+v %v", again, err)
+		}
+		want := 2 // the repository and the pull list
+		if len(o.Branches) > 0 {
+			want = 3 // and the branch list
+		}
+		if n := r.f.total(); n != want || r.f.nonCond304() != 0 || again.Calls != want {
+			t.Fatalf("a 304 pass must make exactly %d conditional requests: total=%d non-304=%d calls=%d", want, n, r.f.nonCond304(), again.Calls)
+		}
+		if r.f.count(func(q reqRec) bool { return !q.Cond }) != 0 {
+			t.Fatal("every repeated read must be conditional")
+		}
+	}
+
+	// A new pull request changes the list: the scan reads it and reports the new head.
+	r.f.do(func() {
+		r.f.repos["o/r"].Pulls = append(r.f.repos["o/r"].Pulls, fPull{Number: 8, Head: sha('c', 8), Assoc: "OWNER"})
+	})
+	r.f.reset()
+	changed, err := r.e.ScanHeads(ctx, "o/r", ScanOptions{})
+	if err != nil || changed.NotModified {
+		t.Fatalf("a changed pull list must not be NotModified: %+v %v", changed, err)
+	}
+	found := false
+	for _, h := range changed.Heads {
+		found = found || h.PR == 8
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("the new pull request head is missing: %+v", changed.Heads)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_export.go b/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_export.go
index 2635f1300..a5a414b35 100644
--- a/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_export.go
+++ b/free/ci/internal/providers/github/reconcile/scan_export.go
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ type ghCommit struct {
 }
 
 // ScanHeads lists the candidate heads of repo for the watcher.
-func (e *Engine) ScanHeads(ctx context.Context, repo string, o ScanOptions) (HeadScan, error) {
-	var res HeadScan
+// The result is named so the deferred call count reaches the caller on every return.
+func (e *Engine) ScanHeads(ctx context.Context, repo string, o ScanOptions) (res HeadScan, err error) {
 	s, err := e.session(ctx, kindScan, e.passLimit())
 	if err != nil {
 		return res, err
diff --git a/free/ci/internal/watch/conditional_test.go b/free/ci/internal/watch/conditional_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e57db322b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/free/ci/internal/watch/conditional_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+package watch
+
+// Purpose: P7-AUTO-11 conditional requests on the watcher side: a scan whose
+// conditional reads all answered 304 keeps the previous heads (no fresh listing
+// is needed to act on them), a 304 before any listing acts on nothing, and the
+// passes of two hosts are offset and jittered apart.
+// Inputs: the shared rig (fake ledger, scripted runner) and a scripted scanner.
+// Outputs: pass or fail. Constraints: no network, no sleeps.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// notModScan answers the first scan with heads and every later one with 304.
+type notModScan struct {
+	heads []Head
+	calls int
+}
+
+func (s *notModScan) Scan(context.Context, string) (Scan, error) {
+	s.calls++
+	if s.calls == 1 {
+		return Scan{Heads: append([]Head(nil), s.heads...)}, nil
+	}
+	return Scan{NotModified: true}, nil
+}
+
+func TestConditionalRequests(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// A 304 keeps the heads of the last full scan: the pass still sees them (here: already final).
+	r := newRig(t, ownerHead("o/r", 1))
+	scan := &notModScan{heads: r.scan.heads}
+	r.w.P.Scanner = scan
+	if rep := r.w.Pass(ctx); rep.Ran != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("the first pass must run the head: %+v", rep)
+	}
+	rep := r.w.Pass(ctx)
+	if scan.calls != 2 || len(rep.Decisions) != 1 || rep.Decisions[0].SHA != sha(1) || rep.Ran != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a 304 scan must keep the previous heads and run nothing new: calls=%d %+v", scan.calls, rep)
+	}
+	if r.runner.count() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a 304 scan must not rerun a head: %d runs", r.runner.count())
+	}
+
+	// A 304 before any full scan has nothing to act on.
+	fresh := newRig(t)
+	fresh.w.P.Scanner = &notModScan{calls: 1}
+	if rep := fresh.w.Pass(ctx); len(rep.Decisions) != 0 || rep.Ran != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a 304 without a previous scan must act on nothing: %+v", rep)
+	}
+
+	// Two hosts poll out of step: distinct phase offsets inside one interval, and a
+	// jittered wait within [0.9, 1.1) of the interval.
+	c := Defaults()
+	c.Interval = time.Minute
+	mk := func(host string, jitter float64) *Watcher {
+		c.Host = host
+		w, err := New(c, Ports{Scanner: scan, Ledger: r.gh.on(host), Reporter: r.gh.on(host), Runner: r.runner, Jitter: func() float64 { return jitter }})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return w
+	}
+	a, b := mk("mini1", 0), mk("mini2", 0.999)
+	if a.Offset() == b.Offset() {
+		t.Fatalf("two hosts must not share a phase offset: %v", a.Offset())
+	}
+	for _, w := range []*Watcher{a, b} {
+		if o := w.Offset(); o < 0 || o >= c.Interval {
+			t.Fatalf("offset %v is outside one interval", o)
+		}
+	}
+	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 28, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	if lo, hi := a.Next(now), b.Next(now); lo != 54*time.Second || hi < lo || hi >= 66*time.Second {
+		t.Fatalf("jittered waits %v and %v must lie in [0.9, 1.1) of the interval", lo, hi)
+	}
+}