diff --git a/loopx/control_plane/todos/contract.py b/loopx/control_plane/todos/contract.py
index 04f0e27d77..4ebe815956 100644
--- a/loopx/control_plane/todos/contract.py
+++ b/loopx/control_plane/todos/contract.py
@@ -1115,7 +1115,9 @@ def _metadata_value_is_present(value: Any) -> bool:
         _TodoMetadataField(
             key,
             _nonempty_metadata_text,
-            write_normalizer=_truthy_value,
+            write_normalizer=normalize_todo_generation
+            if key == "material_change_generation"
+            else _truthy_value,
         )
         for key in TODO_MONITOR_METADATA_FIELDS
     ),
diff --git a/tests/control_plane/test_todo_metadata_schema.py b/tests/control_plane/test_todo_metadata_schema.py
index c4126946c8..26e46703f5 100644
--- a/tests/control_plane/test_todo_metadata_schema.py
+++ b/tests/control_plane/test_todo_metadata_schema.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def test_todo_metadata_round_trip_preserves_canonical_values() -> None:
         result_hash="abc123",
         consecutive_no_change="2",
         material_change="false",
+        material_change_generation=0,
         max_no_change_before_replan="3",
         note="focused validation passed",
         evidence="receipt cqr_123",
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ def test_todo_metadata_round_trip_preserves_canonical_values() -> None:
         "result_hash": "abc123",
         "consecutive_no_change": "2",
         "material_change": "false",
+        "material_change_generation": "0",
         "max_no_change_before_replan": "3",
         "note": "focused validation passed",
         "evidence": "receipt cqr_123",