diff --git a/atvm/docs/automation/run-learnings.md b/atvm/docs/automation/run-learnings.md
index 66d55ec..ad467fa 100644
--- a/atvm/docs/automation/run-learnings.md
+++ b/atvm/docs/automation/run-learnings.md
@@ -174,3 +174,12 @@ This file stores run-specific examples only when a run produced a new learning r
   - Do not run `run-sorry-cypress.py` until the operator explicitly approves the displayed commands.
   - Treat template generation as execution that also requires operator approval.
   - If any requested option changes after commands are displayed, rebuild and redisplay the commands and wait for fresh approval.
+
+## Run Learning: 2026-03-26 (Verify generated specs directly on the controller before launching the runner)
+- Observed failure mode:
+  - `cmc-templates.py` can successfully generate the requested `.ts` files, but a subsequent run can still start with an incomplete or stale `specPattern` if the runner is launched too early or the verification step is too fragile.
+  - Shell-escaped regex one-liners used over SSH can fail even when the controller config is actually correct, which makes the verification gate unreliable.
+- Action for future runs:
+  - After `cmc-templates.py`, verify both the generated `.ts` files and the controller config `specPattern` before launching `run-sorry-cypress.py`.
+  - Prefer direct controller-side inspection of the config block and file presence rather than fragile shell-escaped regex checks.
+  - If the requested VM list is not visibly present in both places, stop and report the mismatch instead of starting the runner.