diff --git a/.github/workflows/check.yml b/.github/workflows/check.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..500e5118
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: check
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  manifests:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@a26af69be951a213d495a4c3e4e4022e16d87065 # v5.6.0
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.11'
+      - name: install deps
+        run: pip install pyyaml pytest
+      - name: run check.py
+        run: python3 scripts/check.py
+      - name: run check.py test suite
+        run: python3 -m pytest scripts/tests/ -v
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 7d0649ec..9cf5a1a7 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "equity-research",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "Equity research tools: earnings analysis, initiating coverage reports, and research workflows",
   "author": {
     "name": "Anthropic FSI"
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/hooks/hooks.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/hooks/hooks.json
index fe51488c..deffac97 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/hooks/hooks.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/hooks/hooks.json
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-[]
+{
+  "hooks": {}
+}
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index c3c39a33..8bb83a79 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "financial-analysis",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "Core financial modeling and analysis tools: DCF, comps, LBO, 3-statement models, competitive analysis, and deck QC",
   "author": {
     "name": "Anthropic FSI"
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/hooks/hooks.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/hooks/hooks.json
index fe51488c..deffac97 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/hooks/hooks.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/hooks/hooks.json
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-[]
+{
+  "hooks": {}
+}
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 8972bac1..276b49e3 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "private-equity",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "Private equity deal sourcing and workflow tools: company discovery, CRM integration, and founder outreach",
   "author": {
     "name": "Anthropic FSI"
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/hooks/hooks.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/hooks/hooks.json
index fe51488c..deffac97 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/hooks/hooks.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/private-equity/hooks/hooks.json
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-[]
+{
+  "hooks": {}
+}
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index e9c23274..117e5db6 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "wealth-management",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "Wealth management and financial advisory tools: client reviews, financial planning, portfolio analysis, and client reporting",
   "author": {
     "name": "Anthropic FSI"
diff --git a/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/hooks/hooks.json b/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/hooks/hooks.json
index fe51488c..deffac97 100644
--- a/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/hooks/hooks.json
+++ b/plugins/vertical-plugins/wealth-management/hooks/hooks.json
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-[]
+{
+  "hooks": {}
+}
diff --git a/scripts/check.py b/scripts/check.py
index e8e93c7b..33c9e52b 100755
--- a/scripts/check.py
+++ b/scripts/check.py
@@ -88,6 +88,20 @@ def rel(p: Path) -> str:
         except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
             err(f"JSON parse: {rel(jf)}: {e}")
 
+# --- 2b. hooks.json schema --- must be {"hooks": {...}}, never [] ----------
+for hjf in sorted(PLUGINS.glob("**/hooks/hooks.json")):
+    checked += 1
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(hjf.read_text())
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        err(f"hooks.json parse: {rel(hjf)}: {e}")
+        continue
+    if not isinstance(data, dict) or "hooks" not in data:
+        err(
+            f'hooks.json: {rel(hjf)}: must be {{"hooks": {{...}}}}, '
+            f"got {type(data).__name__}"
+        )
+
 # --- 3. agent.md frontmatter -----------------------------------------------
 for md in sorted(PLUGINS.glob("agent-plugins/*/agents/*.md")):
     checked += 1
diff --git a/scripts/tests/conftest.py b/scripts/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..afaea584
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tests/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+"""Test fixtures for check.py.
+
+Builds a minimal-valid repo skeleton in a tmpdir and copies `check.py` into it
+so the script's `Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]` correctly identifies the
+fixture as ROOT. Tests then mutate one file at a time and assert check.py's
+exit code + stderr.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+REAL_CHECK_PY = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "check.py"
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def minimal_repo(tmp_path: Path) -> Path:
+    """Build a minimal-valid repo skeleton; return its root path."""
+    root = tmp_path / "repo"
+
+    # scripts/check.py — copy, not symlink, so Path(__file__).resolve()
+    # lands inside the fixture
+    (root / "scripts").mkdir(parents=True)
+    shutil.copy(REAL_CHECK_PY, root / "scripts" / "check.py")
+
+    # .claude-plugin/marketplace.json
+    (root / ".claude-plugin").mkdir()
+    (root / ".claude-plugin" / "marketplace.json").write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "name": "test-marketplace",
+                "owner": {"name": "Test"},
+                "plugins": [
+                    {
+                        "name": "test-vertical",
+                        "source": "./plugins/vertical-plugins/test-vertical",
+                        "description": "Test vertical",
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "name": "test-agent",
+                        "source": "./plugins/agent-plugins/test-agent",
+                        "description": "Test agent",
+                    },
+                ],
+            }
+        )
+    )
+
+    # vertical plugin
+    vp = root / "plugins" / "vertical-plugins" / "test-vertical"
+    (vp / ".claude-plugin").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (vp / ".claude-plugin" / "plugin.json").write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "name": "test-vertical",
+                "version": "0.1.0",
+                "description": "Test vertical",
+                "author": {"name": "Test"},
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    (vp / "hooks").mkdir()
+    (vp / "hooks" / "hooks.json").write_text(json.dumps({"hooks": {}}))
+    (vp / "skills" / "shared-skill").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (vp / "skills" / "shared-skill" / "SKILL.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: shared-skill\ndescription: Test\n---\n\nbody\n"
+    )
+
+    # agent plugin (bundles the shared-skill)
+    ap = root / "plugins" / "agent-plugins" / "test-agent"
+    (ap / ".claude-plugin").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (ap / ".claude-plugin" / "plugin.json").write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "name": "test-agent",
+                "version": "0.1.0",
+                "description": "Test agent",
+                "author": {"name": "Test"},
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    (ap / "agents").mkdir()
+    (ap / "agents" / "test-agent.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: test-agent\ndescription: Test agent\n---\n\nbody\n"
+    )
+    # bundled copy of the skill — must match the source byte-for-byte
+    (ap / "skills" / "shared-skill").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (ap / "skills" / "shared-skill" / "SKILL.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: shared-skill\ndescription: Test\n---\n\nbody\n"
+    )
+
+    # managed-agent cookbook
+    mac = root / "managed-agent-cookbooks" / "test-agent"
+    mac.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (mac / "README.md").write_text("# test-agent\n")
+    (mac / "steering-examples.json").write_text(json.dumps([{"event": "x"}]))
+    (mac / "agent.yaml").write_text(
+        "name: test-agent\n"
+        "system:\n"
+        "  file: ../../plugins/agent-plugins/test-agent/agents/test-agent.md\n"
+        "skills:\n"
+        "  - from_plugin: ../../plugins/agent-plugins/test-agent\n"
+    )
+
+    return root
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def run_check():
+    """Return a callable that runs check.py inside the given repo root."""
+    def _run(repo: Path) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
+        return subprocess.run(
+            [sys.executable, str(repo / "scripts" / "check.py")],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+        )
+    return _run
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_check.py b/scripts/tests/test_check.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01f2558c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+"""End-to-end tests for scripts/check.py.
+
+Each test mutates one file in the minimal-valid fixture repo and asserts
+check.py's exit code + the specific error message. Subprocess-based so
+the script is exercised as it actually runs in CI.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+def test_clean_tree_passes(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+    assert "OK" in result.stdout
+
+
+# --- hooks.json validator (Phase 1 addition) -------------------------------
+
+def test_hooks_json_as_array_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    hjf = minimal_repo / "plugins" / "vertical-plugins" / "test-vertical" / "hooks" / "hooks.json"
+    hjf.write_text("[]")
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "must be" in result.stderr
+    assert "got list" in result.stderr
+    assert "hooks/hooks.json" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_hooks_json_missing_hooks_key_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    hjf = minimal_repo / "plugins" / "vertical-plugins" / "test-vertical" / "hooks" / "hooks.json"
+    hjf.write_text("{}")
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "must be" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_hooks_json_malformed_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    hjf = minimal_repo / "plugins" / "vertical-plugins" / "test-vertical" / "hooks" / "hooks.json"
+    hjf.write_text("{not json")
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "hooks.json parse" in result.stderr
+
+
+# --- existing validators (regression coverage) -----------------------------
+
+def test_missing_steering_examples_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    (minimal_repo / "managed-agent-cookbooks" / "test-agent" / "steering-examples.json").unlink()
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "missing" in result.stderr
+    assert "steering-examples.json" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_agent_md_missing_frontmatter_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    md = minimal_repo / "plugins" / "agent-plugins" / "test-agent" / "agents" / "test-agent.md"
+    md.write_text("no frontmatter here\n")
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "frontmatter" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_broken_system_file_ref_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    yml = minimal_repo / "managed-agent-cookbooks" / "test-agent" / "agent.yaml"
+    yml.write_text(
+        "name: test-agent\n"
+        "system:\n"
+        "  file: ../../plugins/agent-plugins/test-agent/agents/does-not-exist.md\n"
+    )
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "system.file" in result.stderr
+    assert "not found" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_bundled_skill_drift_fails(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    bundled = (
+        minimal_repo
+        / "plugins"
+        / "agent-plugins"
+        / "test-agent"
+        / "skills"
+        / "shared-skill"
+        / "SKILL.md"
+    )
+    bundled.write_text("drifted content\n")
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "drifted" in result.stderr
+    assert "sync-agent-skills.py" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_marketplace_source_must_resolve(minimal_repo: Path, run_check) -> None:
+    mp = minimal_repo / ".claude-plugin" / "marketplace.json"
+    data = json.loads(mp.read_text())
+    data["plugins"].append(
+        {
+            "name": "ghost",
+            "source": "./plugins/vertical-plugins/does-not-exist",
+            "description": "broken",
+        }
+    )
+    mp.write_text(json.dumps(data))
+    result = run_check(minimal_repo)
+    assert result.returncode == 1
+    assert "marketplace" in result.stderr
+    assert "ghost" in result.stderr