diff --git a/script/config/VerifyChain.s.sol b/script/config/VerifyChain.s.sol
index e206a24..e651f23 100644
--- a/script/config/VerifyChain.s.sol
+++ b/script/config/VerifyChain.s.sol
@@ -423,7 +423,8 @@ contract VerifyChain is Script {
         if (isEvm) {
             _checkApi(name, json);
             bool rpcOk = _checkRpc(json);
-            if (rpcOk) _checkOnChainCode(name, json);
+            // Called unconditionally: the rung self-gates on the fork so a failed RPC still gets a line.
+            _checkOnChainCode(name, json);
             _checkRegistryAndExtras(name, json);
             _checkMesh(name, json, projectJson);
             _checkLanesOnChain(name, json, projectJson);
@@ -869,7 +870,12 @@ contract VerifyChain is Script {
 
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------- 5. ON-CHAIN
     function _checkOnChainCode(string memory name, string memory json) private {
-        if (!s_forked) return;
+        if (!s_forked) {
+            _skipUnverified(
+                "on-chain: code checks need an RPC (no fork) - router/rmnProxy/tokenAdminRegistry/registryModuleOwnerCustom/link not read"
+            );
+            return;
+        }
         string[5] memory keys = ["router", "rmnProxy", "tokenAdminRegistry", "registryModuleOwnerCustom", "link"];
         uint256 bad = 0;
         for (uint256 i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
@@ -1456,11 +1462,12 @@ contract VerifyChain is Script {
         return s_skips;
     }
 
-    /// @notice Test hook: drives the three RPC-gated rungs in their no-fork state and returns the
+    /// @notice Test hook: drives the four RPC-gated rungs in their no-fork state and returns the
     /// unverified-gap count, so each counted site is pinned individually (a regression demoting one
     /// back to a designed skip fails this). `rolesJson` must declare `.roles.token` so the roles rung
     /// reaches its RPC gate rather than the designed no-roles skip. Not used by any production path.
     function rpcGatedSkipsForTest(string memory rolesJson) public returns (uint256 skipsOut) {
+        _checkOnChainCode("zz-tt-rpcgaps", "{}");
         _reconcilePoolWithTar(address(1), address(1), address(1));
         _checkRoles("zz-tt-rpcgaps", rolesJson, false);
         _checkLanesOnChain("zz-tt-rpcgaps", "", "{}");
@@ -1475,6 +1482,13 @@ contract VerifyChain is Script {
         return s_skips;
     }
 
+    /// @notice Test hook: runs the on-chain rung with no fork and then the verdict, so a test can
+    /// prove that rung reports its gap instead of vanishing. Not used by any production path.
+    function onChainNoForkVerdictForTest(string memory name) public {
+        _checkOnChainCode(name, "{}");
+        _verdict(name);
+    }
+
     /// @notice Test hook: seeds the outcome counters and runs `_verdict`, so the three-outcome
     /// contract (VERIFIED / INCOMPLETE / FAILED, and that designed skips never taint the verdict) is
     /// pinnable without the ffi/API/RPC doctor run. Not used by any production path.
diff --git a/script/config/test-tooling.sh b/script/config/test-tooling.sh
index 62a5128..cd15c54 100755
--- a/script/config/test-tooling.sh
+++ b/script/config/test-tooling.sh
@@ -1443,6 +1443,12 @@ run_case "doctor lanes rung prints its SKIP without an RPC (run INCOMPLETE)" non
     "lanes: on-chain reconciliation needs an RPC" -- \
     env FOUNDRY_PROFILE=sync forge script script/config/VerifyChain.s.sol --tc VerifyChain --sig "run(string)" "$TMP_CHAIN"
 
+# 28c. same for the ON-CHAIN rung (code at the ccip{} addresses). It used to return silently without a
+#      fork, so the verdict counted a rung that printed nothing at all.
+run_case "doctor on-chain rung prints its SKIP without an RPC (run INCOMPLETE)" nonzero \
+    "\[SKIP\] UNVERIFIED on-chain: code checks need an RPC" -- \
+    env FOUNDRY_PROFILE=sync forge script script/config/VerifyChain.s.sol --tc VerifyChain --sig "run(string)" "$TMP_CHAIN"
+
 # 29. BOTH=1 writes the reciprocal entry on the remote's file in the same invocation
 rm_fixture_config "$TMP_FILE" "$TMP_FILE_B"
 python3 -c "
diff --git a/test/config/VerifyChainVerdict.t.sol b/test/config/VerifyChainVerdict.t.sol
index a5e467d..31336da 100644
--- a/test/config/VerifyChainVerdict.t.sol
+++ b/test/config/VerifyChainVerdict.t.sol
@@ -73,7 +73,17 @@ contract VerifyChainVerdictTest is Test {
     function test_RpcGatedRungs_EachCountsOneUnverifiedGap() public {
         uint256 skips = new VerifyChain()
             .rpcGatedSkipsForTest('{"roles":{"token":{"address":"0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000001"}}}');
-        assertEq(skips, 3, "registry TAR, roles, and lanes each count one unverified gap without an RPC");
+        assertEq(skips, 4, "on-chain, registry TAR, roles, and lanes each count one gap without an RPC");
+    }
+
+    /// @dev The on-chain rung used to return silently with no fork, so a run that read nothing on-chain
+    ///      still exited clean. It must report the gap and take the verdict to INCOMPLETE.
+    function test_OnChainRung_WithoutFork_IsIncompleteNotSilent() public {
+        try new VerifyChain().onChainNoForkVerdictForTest(NAME) {
+            assertTrue(false, "an unforked on-chain rung must not exit clean");
+        } catch Error(string memory reason) {
+            _assertContains(reason, string.concat("check-chain INCOMPLETE for ", NAME));
+        }
     }
 
     function _assertContains(string memory haystack, string memory needle) internal pure {