diff --git a/examples/control_plane/todo-first-open-summary-smoke.py b/examples/control_plane/todo-first-open-summary-smoke.py
index c0e44b4510..d25700d19a 100644
--- a/examples/control_plane/todo-first-open-summary-smoke.py
+++ b/examples/control_plane/todo-first-open-summary-smoke.py
@@ -217,7 +217,15 @@ def build_blocked_priority_fallback_status_payload() -> dict:
     }
 
 
-def assert_blocked_priority_fallback_visible() -> None:
+def assert_blocked_priority_fallback_notice_visible() -> None:
+    """A blocked higher-priority todo is announced, but it never gates delivery.
+
+    Informing the owner and requiring owner action are different decisions, and
+    only the first one changed: the fallback still runs, `requires_user_action`
+    and the interactive user channel's `action_required` stay false, and the
+    markdown readback says the notice instead of the old silent default.
+    """
+
     decision = build_quota_should_run(
         build_blocked_priority_fallback_status_payload(),
         goal_id=GOAL_ID,
@@ -225,16 +233,18 @@ def assert_blocked_priority_fallback_visible() -> None:
     )
     assert decision["should_run"] is True, decision
     fallback = decision["blocked_priority_fallback"]
-    assert fallback["notify_user"] is False, fallback
+    assert fallback["notify_user"] is True, fallback
     assert fallback["requires_user_action"] is False, fallback
     assert fallback["blocked_items"][0]["text"] == BLOCKED_CORE_TODO, fallback
     assert fallback["selected_executable"]["text"] == FALLBACK_TODO, fallback
-    assert decision["heartbeat_recommendation"]["notify"] == "DONT_NOTIFY", decision
+    assert decision["heartbeat_recommendation"]["notify"] == "NOTIFY", decision
     user_channel = decision["interaction_contract"]["user_channel"]
     assert user_channel["action_required"] is False, user_channel
-    assert user_channel["notify"] == "DONT_NOTIFY", user_channel
+    assert user_channel["notify"] == "NOTIFY", user_channel
+    assert "no owner action is required" in user_channel["reason"], user_channel
     markdown = render_quota_should_run_markdown(decision)
-    assert "blocked_priority_fallback: notify_user=False" in markdown, markdown
+    assert "blocked_priority_fallback: notify_user=True" in markdown, markdown
+    assert "no owner action is required" in markdown, markdown
     assert f"blocked_priority_item[1]: {BLOCKED_CORE_TODO}" in markdown, markdown
     assert f"blocked_priority_selected: {FALLBACK_TODO}" in markdown, markdown
 
@@ -788,7 +798,7 @@ def main() -> int:
     ], packet
     assert f"Agent 待办：{APPENDED_P0_TODO}" in packet["project_agent_handoff"], packet
     assert f"Agent 待办候选 2：{OPEN_TODO}" in packet["project_agent_handoff"], packet
-    assert_blocked_priority_fallback_visible()
+    assert_blocked_priority_fallback_notice_visible()
     assert_claimed_frontstage_lanes_visible()
     assert_project_asset_claimed_counts_use_lane_fallback()
     assert_claimed_markdown_todos_survive_visibility_lanes()