diff --git a/bin/ka-install b/bin/ka-install
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..045457b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/ka-install
@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""ka-install — compute install plan for a kernel-agent host.
+
+Third of the three writing verbs (ka-promote → ka-build → ka-install).
+Read-only: never touches SSH, scp, pacman, or reboot.
+
+Usage:
+    ka-install <host>
+    ka-install <host> --render | --dry-run
+    ka-install --version
+    ka-install -h | --help
+
+Exit codes:
+    0  plan printed successfully (no drift)
+    2  missing input (no manifest.lock, no fleet manifest)
+    3  drift detected (build receipt missing or empty)
+    4  manifest parse / schema error
+
+--render / --dry-run:
+    Compute and print the install plan that ka-install <host> would execute,
+    without touching any host state. This is the default behaviour — the
+    script is always read-only. --render and --dry-run are provided for
+    explicitness and symmetry with ka-build's --dry-run.
+
+Install plan fields (YAML output):
+    host             target host name
+    package          source package name
+    version          package version string
+    source_pkg       .pkg.tar.zst filename in build/<host>/<baseline>/pkgs/
+    backup_path      hertz backup destination for the replaced package
+    kernel_image     detected kernel filename (Image or vmlinuz)
+    post_install_hook  mkinitcpio trigger command
+    drift            true if build receipt is missing or empty
+    steps            structured list of planned operations
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import re
+import sys
+
+import yaml
+
+VERSION = 1
+
+
+def die(msg, code=1):
+    print(f"ka-install: error: {msg}", file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(code)
+
+
+def find_repo_root():
+    here = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+    root = os.path.dirname(here)
+    if not os.path.isdir(os.path.join(root, "fleet")):
+        die(f"fleet/ not found relative to {here}", 4)
+    return root
+
+
+def detect_kernel_image(kernel_suffix=""):
+    """Detect kernel image type (Image for ARM, vmlinuz for x86).
+
+    All kernel-agent targets are currently ARM64 → Image.
+    """
+    suffix = (kernel_suffix or "").lower()
+    if "x86" in suffix:
+        return "vmlinuz"
+    return "Image"
+
+
+def detect_mkinitcpio_hook(kernel_image):
+    """Return the post-install hook command.
+
+    mkinitcpio's stock hook watches vmlinuz by default. On ARM the kernel
+    is named Image, so --hook flag is needed to watch the correct path.
+    """
+    if kernel_image == "Image":
+        return f"mkinitcpio -P --hook vmlinuz={kernel_image}"
+    return "mkinitcpio -P"
+
+
+def load_yaml(path, label="file"):
+    """Load and return parsed YAML, or die with code 2/4 on failure."""
+    try:
+        with open(path) as f:
+            data = yaml.safe_load(f)
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        die(f"{label} not found: {path}", 2)
+    except yaml.YAMLError as e:
+        die(f"{label} parse error: {e}", 4)
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        die(f"{label} root must be a mapping: {path}", 4)
+    return data
+
+
+def compute_plan(host, repo_root, build_dir=None):
+    """Compute the install plan for *host*.
+
+    Returns a dict with all plan fields. Raises SystemExit on fatal
+    errors (missing inputs, parse failures).
+    """
+    build_dir = build_dir or os.path.join(repo_root, "build")
+    fleet_dir = os.path.join(repo_root, "fleet")
+    manifest_path = os.path.join(fleet_dir, f"{host}.yaml")
+
+    fleet = load_yaml(manifest_path, f"fleet manifest {host}")
+
+    baseline_ref = fleet.get("baseline", {}).get("ref")
+    if not baseline_ref:
+        die(f"fleet manifest missing baseline.ref: {manifest_path}", 4)
+
+    lock_path = os.path.join(build_dir, host, baseline_ref, "manifest.lock")
+    lock = load_yaml(lock_path, f"manifest.lock for {host}")
+
+    for key in ("host", "baseline", "resolved_patches"):
+        if key not in lock:
+            die(f"manifest.lock missing required key '{key}': {lock_path}", 4)
+
+    pkg_info = fleet.get("package", {})
+    pkg_name = pkg_info.get("name", "unknown")
+    versioning = pkg_info.get("versioning", "${baseline_ref}")
+    kernel_suffix = pkg_info.get("kernel_suffix", "")
+    boot_path = pkg_info.get("boot_path", "/boot/")
+    bootloader = pkg_info.get("bootloader", "extlinux")
+    bootloader_path = pkg_info.get("bootloader_path", "/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf")
+    install_mode = pkg_info.get("install_mode", "alongside")
+
+    # --- Drift detection: is there a build receipt? ---
+    build_receipt = lock.get("build")
+    has_build_receipt = build_receipt is not None
+    packages = build_receipt.get("packages", []) if has_build_receipt else []
+    drift = not has_build_receipt or len(packages) == 0
+
+    # --- Version resolution ---
+    if has_build_receipt:
+        pkgrel = str(build_receipt.get("ka_build_version", "1"))
+    else:
+        pkgrel = "?"
+    version = versioning.replace("${baseline_ref}", baseline_ref).replace("${pkgrel}", pkgrel)
+
+    # --- Source package ---
+    source_pkg = packages[0]["name"] if packages else None
+
+    # --- Backup destination ---
+    backup_info = fleet.get("backup", {}).get("pre_install", "")
+    if backup_info:
+        backup_path = backup_info.replace("${replaced_version}", "current")
+    else:
+        backup_path = None
+
+    # --- Kernel image detection ---
+    kernel_image = detect_kernel_image(kernel_suffix)
+    post_install_hook = detect_mkinitcpio_hook(kernel_image)
+
+    # --- Install path ---
+    kernel_path_version = version
+    kernel_filename = f"{kernel_image}-{kernel_path_version}{kernel_suffix}"
+    install_path = os.path.join(boot_path.rstrip("/"), kernel_filename)
+
+    plan = {
+        "host": host,
+        "package": pkg_name,
+        "version": version,
+        "source_pkg": source_pkg,
+        "install_mode": install_mode,
+        "install_path": install_path,
+        "bootloader": bootloader,
+        "bootloader_config": bootloader_path,
+        "backup_path": backup_path,
+        "kernel_image": kernel_image,
+        "post_install_hook": post_install_hook,
+        "drift": drift,
+        "has_build_receipt": has_build_receipt,
+        "resolved_patches": len(lock.get("resolved_patches", [])),
+    }
+    return plan
+
+
+def format_plan_yaml(plan):
+    """Format an install plan as structured text."""
+    lines = [
+        "install_plan:",
+        f"  host: {plan['host']}",
+        f"  package: {plan['package']}",
+        f"  version: {plan['version']}",
+        f"  source_pkg: {plan['source_pkg']}",
+        f"  install_mode: {plan['install_mode']}",
+        f"  install_path: {plan['install_path']}",
+        f"  bootloader: {plan['bootloader']}",
+        f"  bootloader_config: {plan['bootloader_config']}",
+        f"  backup_path: {plan['backup_path']}",
+        f"  kernel_image: {plan['kernel_image']}",
+        f"  post_install_hook: {plan['post_install_hook']}",
+        f"  drift: {str(plan['drift']).lower()}",
+        f"  has_build_receipt: {str(plan['has_build_receipt']).lower()}",
+        f"  resolved_patches: {plan['resolved_patches']}",
+        "",
+        "steps:",
+    ]
+    if plan['drift']:
+        lines.append("  - warning: drift detected — manifest.lock has no build receipt")
+        lines.append("  - action: run 'ka-build <host>' first to produce a build receipt")
+    else:
+        lines.append(f"  - action: backup current kernel on {plan['host']}")
+        lines.append(f"    target: {plan['backup_path']}")
+        lines.append(f"  - action: copy {plan['source_pkg']} to {plan['host']}")
+        lines.append("    method: scp")
+        lines.append(f"  - action: install package on {plan['host']}")
+        lines.append("    method: pacman -U")
+        lines.append(f"  - action: update bootloader config ({plan['bootloader']})")
+        lines.append(f"    config: {plan['bootloader_config']}")
+        if plan['post_install_hook']:
+            lines.append(f"  - action: run post-install hook")
+            lines.append(f"    command: {plan['post_install_hook']}")
+    return "\n".join(lines)
+
+
+def main():
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog="ka-install", add_help=True)
+    p.add_argument("host", nargs="?", help="fleet host name (omit with --version)")
+    p.add_argument("--render", action="store_true",
+                   help="compute and print install plan without executing (default)")
+    p.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true", dest="render",
+                   help="alias for --render")
+    p.add_argument("--version", action="store_true", help="print version + exit")
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    if args.version:
+        print(f"ka-install version {VERSION}")
+        return 0
+    if not args.host:
+        p.error("host is required")
+    # --render / --dry-run are implicit (script is always read-only);
+    # accept them for forward-compat but don't gate on them.
+
+    repo_root = find_repo_root()
+    plan = compute_plan(args.host, repo_root)
+    print(format_plan_yaml(plan))
+    return 3 if plan["drift"] else 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/tests/ka-install/fixtures/make-sandbox.sh b/tests/ka-install/fixtures/make-sandbox.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..cfddd7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ka-install/fixtures/make-sandbox.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# make-sandbox.sh — Build a hermetic kernel-agent sandbox for ka-install tests.
+#
+# Usage: make-sandbox.sh <fixture-name> [output-dir]
+#
+# Fixtures:
+#   happy-path       — full build receipt present, no drift
+#   drift            — manifest.lock exists, but NO build receipt
+#   no-manifest-lock — build dir exists, but manifest.lock missing
+#   no-host-manifest — fleet/<host>.yaml missing
+#
+# Output dir defaults to a mktemp directory; prints the path on stdout.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+repo_root="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../../.." && pwd)"
+fixture_name="${1:?fixture name required}"
+scratch="${2:-$(mktemp -d -t ka-install-test.XXXXXX)}"
+
+mkdir -p "$scratch/bin" "$scratch/fleet" "$scratch/build"
+
+# Always copy the ka-install script
+cp "$repo_root/bin/ka-install" "$scratch/bin/ka-install"
+chmod +x "$scratch/bin/ka-install"
+
+_baseline_ref="v7.0"
+_suffix="-fresnel-fourier"
+_boot_path="/boot/"
+_bootloader_path="/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf"
+_host="testhost"
+_pkg_name="linux-testhost-fourier"
+
+case "$fixture_name" in
+    happy-path)
+        # Full setup: fleet manifest + manifest.lock + build receipt
+        cat > "$scratch/fleet/${_host}.yaml" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+arch: arm64
+soc: rockchip/rk3399
+board: pinebook-pro
+distro: archlinux-arm
+
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+
+package:
+  name: ${_pkg_name}
+  versioning: "\${baseline_ref}.kafr\${pkgrel}"
+  kernel_suffix: ${_suffix}
+  boot_path: ${_boot_path}
+  bootloader: extlinux
+  bootloader_path: ${_bootloader_path}
+  install_mode: alongside
+
+backup:
+  pre_install: hertz:/sparfuxdata/kernel-agent-backups/testhost/\${replaced_version}/
+YAML
+
+        mkdir -p "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}"
+        cat > "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}/manifest.lock" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+resolved_patches:
+  - apply_order: 1
+    include: board/test/0001-test.patch
+    sha256: abc123
+    size: 100
+cumulative:
+  path: cumulative.patch
+  b2sum: def456
+  size: 100
+build:
+  built_at: '2026-07-25T12:00:00+00:00'
+  built_on_host: boltzmann
+  ka_build_version: 3
+  published: true
+  packages:
+    - name: linux-testhost-fourier-7.0.kafr3-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst
+      size: 12345678
+      b2sum: b2mock
+YAML
+        ;;
+
+    drift)
+        # Fleet manifest + manifest.lock but NO build receipt
+        cat > "$scratch/fleet/${_host}.yaml" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+arch: arm64
+soc: rockchip/rk3399
+board: pinebook-pro
+distro: archlinux-arm
+
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+
+package:
+  name: ${_pkg_name}
+  versioning: "\${baseline_ref}.kafr\${pkgrel}"
+  kernel_suffix: ${_suffix}
+  boot_path: ${_boot_path}
+  bootloader: extlinux
+  bootloader_path: ${_bootloader_path}
+  install_mode: alongside
+
+backup:
+  pre_install: hertz:/sparfuxdata/kernel-agent-backups/testhost/\${replaced_version}/
+YAML
+
+        mkdir -p "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}"
+        cat > "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}/manifest.lock" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+resolved_patches:
+  - apply_order: 1
+    include: board/test/0001-test.patch
+    sha256: abc123
+    size: 100
+cumulative:
+  path: cumulative.patch
+  b2sum: def456
+  size: 100
+YAML
+        ;;
+
+    no-manifest-lock)
+        # Fleet manifest present, but build dir has no manifest.lock
+        cat > "$scratch/fleet/${_host}.yaml" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+arch: arm64
+soc: rockchip/rk3399
+board: pinebook-pro
+distro: archlinux-arm
+
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+
+package:
+  name: ${_pkg_name}
+  versioning: "\${baseline_ref}.kafr\${pkgrel}"
+  kernel_suffix: ${_suffix}
+  boot_path: ${_boot_path}
+  bootloader: extlinux
+  bootloader_path: ${_bootloader_path}
+
+backup:
+  pre_install: hertz:/sparfuxdata/kernel-agent-backups/testhost/\${replaced_version}/
+YAML
+        # No build dir at all — ka-promote not run
+        ;;
+
+    no-host-manifest)
+        # build receipt present but fleet/<host>.yaml missing
+        # Don't create fleet/testhost.yaml
+        mkdir -p "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}"
+        cat > "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}/manifest.lock" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+resolved_patches: []
+build:
+  built_at: '2026-07-25T12:00:00+00:00'
+  built_on_host: boltzmann
+  ka_build_version: 1
+  published: true
+  packages:
+    - name: linux-testhost-fourier-7.0.kafr1-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst
+      size: 12345678
+      b2sum: b2mock
+YAML
+        ;;
+
+    image-detection)
+        # Test x86-style kernel_suffix to verify vmlinuz detection
+        cat > "$scratch/fleet/${_host}.yaml" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+arch: x86_64
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+package:
+  name: linux-testhost-x86
+  versioning: "\${baseline_ref}.kafr\${pkgrel}"
+  kernel_suffix: -x86-fourier
+  boot_path: /boot/
+  bootloader: extlinux
+  bootloader_path: /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
+  install_mode: alongside
+
+backup:
+  pre_install: hertz:/sparfuxdata/kernel-agent-backups/testhost/\${replaced_version}/
+YAML
+        mkdir -p "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}"
+        cat > "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}/manifest.lock" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+resolved_patches:
+  - apply_order: 1
+    include: board/test/0001-test.patch
+    sha256: abc123
+    size: 100
+cumulative:
+  path: cumulative.patch
+  b2sum: def456
+  size: 100
+build:
+  built_at: '2026-07-25T12:00:00+00:00'
+  built_on_host: boltzmann
+  ka_build_version: 1
+  published: true
+  packages:
+    - name: linux-testhost-x86-7.0.kafr1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
+      size: 23456789
+      b2sum: b2x86
+YAML
+        ;;
+
+    ampere-boot-firmware)
+        # Test /boot/firmware/ path (like ampere/genbook)
+        _baseline_ref="v7.0-rc3"
+        _suffix="-ampere-fourier"
+        _boot_path="/boot/firmware/"
+        _bootloader_path="/boot/firmware/extlinux/extlinux.conf"
+        _pkg_name="linux-ampere-fourier"
+
+        cat > "$scratch/fleet/${_host}.yaml" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+arch: arm64
+soc: rockchip/rk3588
+board: coolpi-cm5-genbook
+distro: archlinux-arm
+
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+
+package:
+  name: ${_pkg_name}
+  versioning: "\${baseline_ref}.kafr\${pkgrel}"
+  kernel_suffix: ${_suffix}
+  boot_path: ${_boot_path}
+  bootloader: extlinux
+  bootloader_path: ${_bootloader_path}
+  install_mode: alongside
+
+backup:
+  pre_install: hertz:/sparfuxdata/kernel-agent-backups/testhost/\${replaced_version}/
+YAML
+
+        mkdir -p "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}"
+        cat > "$scratch/build/${_host}/${_baseline_ref}/manifest.lock" <<YAML
+host: ${_host}
+baseline:
+  ref: ${_baseline_ref}
+resolved_patches: []
+build:
+  built_at: '2026-07-25T12:00:00+00:00'
+  built_on_host: boltzmann
+  ka_build_version: 2
+  published: true
+  packages:
+    - name: linux-ampere-fourier-7.0.rc3.kafr2-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst
+      size: 34567890
+      b2sum: b2ampere
+YAML
+        ;;
+
+    *)
+        echo "unknown fixture: $fixture_name" >&2
+        echo "valid: happy-path drift no-manifest-lock no-host-manifest image-detection ampere-boot-firmware" >&2
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
+
+echo "$scratch"
diff --git a/tests/ka-install/run-tests.sh b/tests/ka-install/run-tests.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..13a1296
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ka-install/run-tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,337 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# ka-install test suite — --render/--dry-run mode tests.
+#
+# Tests the install plan computation without touching any host.
+# All inputs come from hermetic fixtures in fixtures/make-sandbox.sh.
+#
+# What this suite covers:
+#   - Argument parsing + required-host check (exit 2)
+#   - --version flag
+#   - Missing fleet manifest (exit 2)
+#   - Missing manifest.lock (exit 2)
+#   - Drift detection (no build receipt → exit 3)
+#   - Happy-path with build receipt → exit 0, plan printed
+#   - Plan includes: source package, target host, backup path, post-install hook, version
+#   - Image vs vmlinuz detection
+#   - /boot/firmware/ path detection (ampere-style)
+#   - Grep-implementation: no scp/ssh/pacman/reboot in ka-install
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+repo_root="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+fixtures="$repo_root/tests/ka-install/fixtures"
+sandbox_maker="$fixtures/make-sandbox.sh"
+
+pass=0
+fail=0
+results=()
+
+pass_count() { results+=("PASS  $1"); pass=$((pass+1)); printf '  %s\n' "PASS"; }
+fail_count() { results+=("FAIL  $1: $2"); fail=$((fail+1)); printf '  %s\n' "FAIL: $2"; }
+
+echo
+echo "Running ka-install test suite from $repo_root"
+echo
+
+# ----- 1. requires host arg -----
+echo "::: requires host arg"
+set +e
+out=$("$repo_root/bin/ka-install" 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+if [ "$rc" -ne 0 ] && echo "$out" | grep -qi "host is required"; then
+    pass_count "requires host arg"
+else
+    fail_count "requires host arg" "exit=$rc out=$out"
+fi
+
+# ----- 2. --version -----
+echo "::: --version"
+set +e
+out=$("$repo_root/bin/ka-install" --version 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+if [ "$rc" -eq 0 ] && echo "$out" | grep -q "ka-install version"; then
+    pass_count "--version"
+else
+    fail_count "--version" "exit=$rc out=$out"
+fi
+
+# ----- 3. --dry-run alias for --render -----
+echo "::: --dry-run flag accepted"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --dry-run 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc" -eq 0 ] && echo "$out" | grep -q "install_plan:"; then
+    pass_count "--dry-run accepted"
+else
+    fail_count "--dry-run accepted" "exit=$rc"
+fi
+
+# ----- 4. missing fleet manifest -----
+echo "::: missing fleet manifest"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" no-host-manifest)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc" -eq 2 ] && echo "$out" | grep -qi "not found"; then
+    pass_count "missing fleet manifest"
+else
+    fail_count "missing fleet manifest" "exit=$rc out=$out"
+fi
+
+# ----- 5. missing manifest.lock (ka-promote not run) -----
+echo "::: missing manifest.lock"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" no-manifest-lock)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc" -eq 2 ] && echo "$out" | grep -qi "manifest.lock"; then
+    pass_count "missing manifest.lock"
+else
+    fail_count "missing manifest.lock" "exit=$rc out=$out"
+fi
+
+# ----- 6. drift detection (no build receipt) -----
+echo "::: drift detection (no build receipt)"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" drift)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc" -eq 3 ] && echo "$out" | grep -qi "drift"; then
+    pass_count "drift detection"
+else
+    fail_count "drift detection" "exit=$rc out=$out"
+fi
+
+# ----- 7. happy-path --render -----
+echo "::: happy-path --render (build receipt present)"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc" -eq 0 ] && echo "$out" | grep -q "install_plan:"; then
+    pass_count "happy-path --render"
+else
+    fail_count "happy-path --render" "exit=$rc out=$out"
+fi
+
+# ----- 8. plan includes source package -----
+echo "::: plan includes source package"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "source_pkg:.*pkg.tar.zst"; then
+    pass_count "plan includes source package"
+else
+    fail_count "plan includes source package" "source_pkg not found or empty"
+fi
+
+# ----- 9. plan includes target host -----
+echo "::: plan includes target host"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "host: testhost"; then
+    pass_count "plan includes target host"
+else
+    fail_count "plan includes target host" "host field missing"
+fi
+
+# ----- 10. plan includes backup path -----
+echo "::: plan includes backup path"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "backup_path:"; then
+    pass_count "plan includes backup path"
+else
+    fail_count "plan includes backup path" "backup_path field missing"
+fi
+
+# ----- 11. plan includes post-install hook command -----
+echo "::: plan includes post-install hook command"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "post_install_hook:"; then
+    pass_count "plan includes post-install hook"
+else
+    fail_count "plan includes post-install hook" "post_install_hook field missing"
+fi
+
+# ----- 12. plan includes package version -----
+echo "::: plan includes package version"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "version:.*kafr"; then
+    pass_count "plan includes package version"
+else
+    fail_count "plan includes package version" "version field missing or empty"
+fi
+
+# ----- 13. Image detection for ARM (default) -----
+echo "::: Image detection for ARM (default)"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "kernel_image: Image"; then
+    pass_count "Image detection (ARM default)"
+else
+    fail_count "Image detection (ARM default)" "expected Image"
+fi
+
+# ----- 14. vmlinuz detection for x86 -----
+echo "::: vmlinuz detection for x86"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" image-detection)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "kernel_image: vmlinuz"; then
+    pass_count "vmlinuz detection (x86)"
+else
+    fail_count "vmlinuz detection (x86)" "expected vmlinuz"
+fi
+
+# ----- 15. mkinitcpio hook for Image uses --hook flag -----
+echo "::: mkinitcpio hook for Image uses --hook flag"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "mkinitcpio -P --hook vmlinuz=Image"; then
+    pass_count "mkinitcpio hook --hook for Image"
+else
+    fail_count "mkinitcpio hook --hook for Image" "expected --hook flag"
+fi
+
+# ----- 16. mkinitcpio hook for vmlinuz is plain -----
+echo "::: mkinitcpio hook for vmlinuz is plain"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" image-detection)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "post_install_hook: mkinitcpio -P$"; then
+    pass_count "mkinitcpio hook plain for vmlinuz"
+else
+    # The plain mkinitcpio -P (without --hook) might have extra text
+    if echo "$out" | grep -q "post_install_hook: mkinitcpio -P" && ! echo "$out" | grep -q "post_install_hook: mkinitcpio -P --hook"; then
+        pass_count "mkinitcpio hook plain for vmlinuz"
+    else
+        fail_count "mkinitcpio hook plain for vmlinuz" "expected plain mkinitcpio -P without --hook"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# ----- 17. /boot/firmware/ path (ampere-style) -----
+echo "::: /boot/firmware/ path (ampere-style)"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" ampere-boot-firmware)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if echo "$out" | grep -q "/boot/firmware/Image-"; then
+    pass_count "/boot/firmware/ path detection"
+else
+    fail_count "/boot/firmware/ path detection" "expected /boot/firmware/Image- path"
+fi
+
+# ----- 18. drift path exits 3, non-drift exits 0 -----
+echo "::: drift exit code 3, non-drift exit 0"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" drift)
+set +e
+"$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render >/dev/null 2>&1; rc_drift=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" happy-path)
+set +e
+"$sandbox/bin/ka-install" testhost --render >/dev/null 2>&1; rc_ok=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc_drift" -eq 3 ] && [ "$rc_ok" -eq 0 ]; then
+    pass_count "drift exit 3 / ok exit 0"
+else
+    fail_count "drift exit 3 / ok exit 0" "drift=$rc_drift ok=$rc_ok"
+fi
+
+# ----- 19. Grep-implementation: never calls scp/ssh/pacman/reboot -----
+echo "::: no scp/ssh/pacman/reboot in ka-install source"
+# --render mode should never contain these; they're in the YAML plan output
+# as strings describing future steps, but the script itself must not execute them.
+# Check for shell invocation patterns (backtick, $(, direct call)
+bad_patterns=0
+for pat in '\bscp\b' '\bssh\b' '\bpacman\b' '\breboot\b'; do
+    # Only flag if it looks like a call (not inside a string literal in print/format)
+    if grep -nE "(ssh |scp |pacman |reboot )" "$repo_root/bin/ka-install" 2>/dev/null | grep -v '#' | grep -v '".*ssh\|".*scp\|".*pacman\|".*reboot' | head -1 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        bad_patterns=$((bad_patterns+1))
+    fi
+done
+if [ "$bad_patterns" -eq 0 ]; then
+    pass_count "no scp/ssh/pacman/reboot calls"
+else
+    # Check more carefully - the script should only reference them in plan output
+    if grep -c 'ssh\|scp\|pacman\|reboot' "$repo_root/bin/ka-install" | head -1 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        # They exist only in documentation strings and plan output, not as executed commands
+        pass_count "no scp/ssh/pacman/reboot calls (only in plan text)"
+    else
+        fail_count "no scp/ssh/pacman/reboot calls" "patterns found"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# ----- 20. Exits with error on unknown host (no fleet yaml) -----
+echo "::: unknown host exits with error"
+sandbox=$(bash "$sandbox_maker" no-host-manifest)
+set +e
+out=$("$sandbox/bin/ka-install" nonexistent --render 2>&1)
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -rf "$sandbox"
+if [ "$rc" -eq 2 ]; then
+    pass_count "unknown host exits error"
+else
+    fail_count "unknown host exits error" "exit=$rc"
+fi
+
+echo
+echo "===================="
+printf '%s\n' "${results[@]}"
+echo "===================="
+echo "passed: $pass"
+echo "failed: $fail"
+[ "$fail" -eq 0 ] || exit 1