diff --git a/imprint.el b/imprint.el
index 16a5932..86c3080 100644
--- a/imprint.el
+++ b/imprint.el
@@ -12,13 +12,20 @@ fn imprint_current() -> String {
 
 // imprint_load — activate an imprint by ID.
 // Searches engram for a node labelled "imprint:<id>".
+// Verifies the returned node's label matches before accepting the match.
 // On success: sets active_imprint_id state and returns {"ok":true,"id":"<id>"}.
 // On miss: returns {"ok":false,"error":"imprint not found: <id>"}.
 fn imprint_load(imprint_id: String) -> String {
     let label: String = "imprint:" + imprint_id
     let results: String = engram_search_json(label, 1)
-    let found: Bool = !str_eq(results, "") && !str_eq(results, "[]")
-    if found {
+    if str_eq(results, "") {
+        return "{\"ok\":false,\"error\":\"imprint not found: " + imprint_id + "\"}"
+    }
+    if str_eq(results, "[]") {
+        return "{\"ok\":false,\"error\":\"imprint not found: " + imprint_id + "\"}"
+    }
+    let found_label: String = json_get(results, "label")
+    if str_eq(found_label, label) {
         state_set("active_imprint_id", imprint_id)
         return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + imprint_id + "\"}"
     }
@@ -27,20 +34,21 @@ fn imprint_load(imprint_id: String) -> String {
 
 // imprint_respond — route steward-aligned input through the active imprint's voice/domain context.
 // If imprint_id is "base" or empty: pass input through unchanged (base Neuron, no suit).
-// If the imprint node is found: annotate the input with imprint context.
-// If the node is missing: graceful fallback to base — never hard-fail at L3.
+// If the imprint is confirmed loaded in state: annotate the input with imprint context.
+// If the state does not match: graceful fallback to base — never hard-fail at L3.
 fn imprint_respond(input: String, imprint_id: String) -> String {
-    let is_base: Bool = str_eq(imprint_id, "base") || str_eq(imprint_id, "")
-    if is_base {
+    if str_eq(imprint_id, "base") {
         return input
     }
-    let label: String = "imprint:" + imprint_id
-    let results: String = engram_search_json(label, 1)
-    let found: Bool = !str_eq(results, "") && !str_eq(results, "[]")
-    if found {
+    if str_eq(imprint_id, "") {
+        return input
+    }
+    // Cross-check imprint_id against loaded state rather than re-querying engram
+    let current: String = imprint_current()
+    if str_eq(current, imprint_id) {
         return input + " [imprint:" + imprint_id + " active]"
     }
-    // Graceful fallback: imprint node missing, return input unchanged
+    // Graceful fallback: imprint not loaded in state, return input unchanged
     return input
 }
 
@@ -49,12 +57,13 @@ fn imprint_respond(input: String, imprint_id: String) -> String {
 // For "base" imprint: full query, no scope restriction.
 // For named imprints: query is narrowed to "domain:<imprint_id>" scope.
 fn imprint_surface_knowledge(query: String, imprint_id: String) -> String {
-    let is_base: Bool = str_eq(imprint_id, "base") || str_eq(imprint_id, "")
-    let scoped_query: String = if is_base {
-        query
-    } else {
-        query + " domain:" + imprint_id
+    if str_eq(imprint_id, "base") {
+        return engram_search_json(query, 10)
     }
+    if str_eq(imprint_id, "") {
+        return engram_search_json(query, 10)
+    }
+    let scoped_query: String = query + " domain:" + imprint_id
     return engram_search_json(scoped_query, 10)
 }