diff --git a/apps/api/src/services/awooop_truth_chain_service.py b/apps/api/src/services/awooop_truth_chain_service.py
index e33266f41..c733ffcea 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/services/awooop_truth_chain_service.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/services/awooop_truth_chain_service.py
@@ -619,7 +619,11 @@ def _truth_status(
 
     if gateway_mcp_total == 0:
         blockers.append("awooop_mcp_gateway_audit_empty")
-    if legacy_mcp_total == 0 and incident is not None:
+    # The first-class gateway is the authoritative MCP audit path.  The
+    # retired legacy bridge may be absent without blocking an incident that
+    # already has gateway receipts; requiring both would turn a superseded
+    # compatibility path into a permanent false blocker.
+    if gateway_mcp_total == 0 and legacy_mcp_total == 0 and incident is not None:
         blockers.append("legacy_mcp_audit_missing")
     if outbound_visible_total == 0:
         blockers.append("outbound_mirror_not_visible_for_source")
diff --git a/apps/api/tests/test_awooop_truth_chain_service.py b/apps/api/tests/test_awooop_truth_chain_service.py
index 5035b449c..5fdeac667 100644
--- a/apps/api/tests/test_awooop_truth_chain_service.py
+++ b/apps/api/tests/test_awooop_truth_chain_service.py
@@ -318,6 +318,42 @@ def test_truth_status_keeps_verified_controlled_apply_autonomous_when_incident_o
     assert "incident_open_after_successful_execution" in status["blockers"]
 
 
+def test_truth_status_does_not_require_retired_legacy_mcp_when_gateway_has_receipts() -> None:
+    status = _truth_status(
+        incident={"incident_id": "INC-FIRST-CLASS-MCP", "status": "RESOLVED"},
+        approvals=[],
+        evidence_rows=[],
+        automation_ops=[],
+        drift=None,
+        drift_repeat_count=0,
+        gateway_mcp_total=3,
+        legacy_mcp_total=0,
+        outbound_visible_total=1,
+        auto_repair_executions=[],
+    )
+
+    assert "awooop_mcp_gateway_audit_empty" not in status["blockers"]
+    assert "legacy_mcp_audit_missing" not in status["blockers"]
+
+
+def test_truth_status_keeps_mcp_gap_when_no_audit_path_has_receipts() -> None:
+    status = _truth_status(
+        incident={"incident_id": "INC-NO-MCP", "status": "INVESTIGATING"},
+        approvals=[],
+        evidence_rows=[],
+        automation_ops=[],
+        drift=None,
+        drift_repeat_count=0,
+        gateway_mcp_total=0,
+        legacy_mcp_total=0,
+        outbound_visible_total=1,
+        auto_repair_executions=[],
+    )
+
+    assert "awooop_mcp_gateway_audit_empty" in status["blockers"]
+    assert "legacy_mcp_audit_missing" in status["blockers"]
+
+
 def test_truth_status_marks_repeated_pending_drift_as_human_needed() -> None:
     status = _truth_status(
         incident=None,