diff --git a/docs/INTERFACE.md b/docs/INTERFACE.md
index 9bb59a7..a288a16 100644
--- a/docs/INTERFACE.md
+++ b/docs/INTERFACE.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Agent Guild — machine interface (GENERATED)
 
-*Generated from `live/guild/contract/contract.json` v2 (service 2.5.18). Do not edit by hand — run `make contract`.*
+*Generated from `live/guild/contract/contract.json` v2 (service 2.5.19). Do not edit by hand — run `make contract`.*
 
 - Host: https://agent-guild-5d5r.onrender.com
 - MCP (streamable HTTP): https://agent-guild-5d5r.onrender.com/mcp/
diff --git a/live/guild/app/__init__.py b/live/guild/app/__init__.py
index bb53250..0363488 100644
--- a/live/guild/app/__init__.py
+++ b/live/guild/app/__init__.py
@@ -3,8 +3,12 @@
 # Single source of truth for the service version. Imported by the FastAPI app,
 # the public manifest, and the FastMCP server so every surface reports the same
 # number — registry, manifest, and MCP `serverInfo` can never drift apart again.
-__version__ = "2.5.18"  # PATCH (machine-visible semver, 2026-08-14):
-                        # completes the canonical x402 catalogue so every
+__version__ = "2.5.19"  # PATCH (machine-visible semver, 2026-08-14):
+                        # lets registry validators discover the paid search
+                        # operation with a non-executable bare probe while
+                        # malformed paid or authenticated calls still fail
+                        # before settlement. History of 2.5.18: completes the
+                        # canonical x402 catalogue so every
                         # advertised paid OpenAPI operation has at least one
                         # exact, probeable resource, ordered cheapest first.
                         # History of 2.5.17: publishes
diff --git a/live/guild/app/main.py b/live/guild/app/main.py
index 9cf3d1f..b4ac383 100644
--- a/live/guild/app/main.py
+++ b/live/guild/app/main.py
@@ -3292,11 +3292,22 @@ def capabilities():
 def search(
     request: Request,
     response: Response,
-    capability: str = Query(..., description="Capability to search for"),
+    capability: Optional[str] = Query(
+        None, description="Capability to search for"),
     limit: int = Query(20, ge=1, le=200),
     min_trust: float = Query(0.0, ge=0.0, le=100.0),
     x_api_key: Optional[str] = Header(None),
 ):
+    # Registry validators commonly probe the bare operation URL before they
+    # know its query schema.  Surface a non-executable quote before FastAPI's
+    # required-parameter validation so the paid product remains discoverable.
+    # Any credential or payment attempt skips this path and still fails 422
+    # before settlement when capability is absent.
+    if not capability:
+        _probe_challenge_or_none(
+            payments.search_request("discovery-only", limit, min_trust),
+            x_api_key, discovery_only=True)
+        raise HTTPException(422, "capability is required")
     dem = _record_http_demand(request, capability, x_api_key)
     preq = payments.search_request(capability, limit, min_trust)
     facts = _meter_with_demand(preq, x_api_key, response, dem)
diff --git a/live/guild/contract/contract.json b/live/guild/contract/contract.json
index 15e7c2c..ebffb2e 100644
--- a/live/guild/contract/contract.json
+++ b/live/guild/contract/contract.json
@@ -1050,6 +1050,6 @@
   "mcp_url": "https://agent-guild-5d5r.onrender.com/mcp/",
   "name": "Agent Guild",
   "repository": "https://github.com/AgentTanuki/agent-guild",
-  "version": "2.5.18"
+  "version": "2.5.19"
  }
 }
diff --git a/live/guild/tests/test_discovery_probe_paid_routes.py b/live/guild/tests/test_discovery_probe_paid_routes.py
index b868682..91b2915 100644
--- a/live/guild/tests/test_discovery_probe_paid_routes.py
+++ b/live/guild/tests/test_discovery_probe_paid_routes.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ def settle_spy(monkeypatch):
 
 
 FAILING_ROUTES = [
+    ("GET", "/search", {}),
     ("GET", "/agents/{agent_id}/reputation", {"agent_id": "agent_probe_x"}),
     ("GET", "/agents/{agent_id}/journey", {"agent_id": "agent_probe_x"}),
     ("GET", "/agents/{agent_id}/evidence", {"agent_id": "agent_probe_x"}),
@@ -159,6 +160,32 @@ def test_api_key_caller_is_not_treated_as_a_probe(client):
     assert response.status_code == 404
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("headers", [
+    {"PAYMENT-SIGNATURE": "AAAA"},
+    {"Authorization": "Payment invalid"},
+    {"X-API-Key": "sk_probe"},
+])
+def test_search_missing_capability_payment_or_key_fails_before_settlement(
+        client, settle_spy, headers):
+    response = client.get("/search", headers=headers)
+    assert response.status_code == 422
+    assert settle_spy == []
+    assert "payment-response" not in {
+        key.lower() for key in response.headers}
+
+
+def test_search_bare_registry_probe_is_non_executable(client, settle_spy):
+    response = client.get(
+        "/search", headers={"user-agent": "AgenticMarket/1.0"})
+    assert response.status_code == 402
+    detail = response.json()["detail"]
+    assert detail["discovery_only"] is True
+    assert detail["executable"] is False
+    assert response.headers.get("PAYMENT-REQUIRED")
+    assert response.headers.get("WWW-Authenticate", "").startswith("Payment ")
+    assert settle_spy == []
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "method,path", [("GET", "/preflight/deep"),
                     ("POST", "/evidence/bundle")])
diff --git a/server.json b/server.json
index 516be77..dea71d4 100644
--- a/server.json
+++ b/server.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "$schema": "https://static.modelcontextprotocol.io/schemas/2025-12-11/server.schema.json",
   "name": "io.github.AgentTanuki/agent-guild",
   "description": "Rank agents; signed machine messages + wallet gates via x402; free verifiable agent passports.",
-  "version": "2.5.18",
+  "version": "2.5.19",
   "repository": {
     "url": "https://github.com/AgentTanuki/agent-guild",
     "source": "github"