diff --git a/dist/memory.c b/dist/memory.c
index fd77cef..a464f29 100644
--- a/dist/memory.c
+++ b/dist/memory.c
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ el_val_t mem_consolidate(void) {
 }
 
 el_val_t mem_save(el_val_t path) {
-  el_val_t save_result = engram_save(path);
-  if (str_eq(save_result, EL_STR(""))) {
+  el_val_t saved = engram_save(path);
+  if (saved == 0) {
     println(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[memory] mem_save: engram_save failed for "), path), EL_STR(" \xe2\x80\x94 snapshot may be incomplete")));
   }
   return 0;
diff --git a/dist/neuron-api.c b/dist/neuron-api.c
index 1a97d4a..c03371e 100644
--- a/dist/neuron-api.c
+++ b/dist/neuron-api.c
@@ -744,8 +744,8 @@ el_val_t handle_api_consolidate(el_val_t body) {
   el_val_t summary = json_get(body, EL_STR("summary"));
   el_val_t snap = state_get(EL_STR("soul_snapshot_path"));
   if (!str_eq(snap, EL_STR(""))) {
-    el_val_t save_result = engram_save(snap);
-    if (str_eq(save_result, EL_STR(""))) {
+    el_val_t saved = engram_save(snap);
+    if (saved == 0) {
       println(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[api] consolidate: engram_save failed for "), snap), EL_STR(" \xe2\x80\x94 snapshot may be out of sync")));
     }
   }
diff --git a/dist/soul.c b/dist/soul.c
index c7fb6eb..0265c00 100644
--- a/dist/soul.c
+++ b/dist/soul.c
@@ -25383,8 +25383,8 @@ el_val_t mem_consolidate(void) {
 }
 
 el_val_t mem_save(el_val_t path) {
-  el_val_t save_result = engram_save(path);
-  if (str_eq(save_result, EL_STR(""))) {
+  el_val_t saved = engram_save(path);
+  if (saved == 0) {
     println(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[memory] mem_save: engram_save failed for "), path), EL_STR(" \xe2\x80\x94 snapshot may be incomplete")));
   }
   return 0;
@@ -29336,8 +29336,8 @@ el_val_t handle_api_consolidate(el_val_t body) {
   el_val_t summary = json_get(body, EL_STR("summary"));
   el_val_t snap = state_get(EL_STR("soul_snapshot_path"));
   if (!str_eq(snap, EL_STR(""))) {
-    el_val_t save_result = engram_save(snap);
-    if (str_eq(save_result, EL_STR(""))) {
+    el_val_t saved = engram_save(snap);
+    if (saved == 0) {
       println(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[api] consolidate: engram_save failed for "), snap), EL_STR(" \xe2\x80\x94 snapshot may be out of sync")));
     }
   }
diff --git a/memory.el b/memory.el
index 46d9f28..542ee6c 100644
--- a/memory.el
+++ b/memory.el
@@ -133,8 +133,12 @@ fn mem_consolidate() -> String {
 }
 
 fn mem_save(path: String) -> Void {
-    let save_result: String = engram_save(path)
-    if str_eq(save_result, "") {
+    // engram_save returns an Int (1 = ok, 0 = failure), NOT a String. Calling
+    // str_eq on it casts EL_CSTR(1) -> (char*)0x1 and SIGSEGVs on a SUCCESSFUL
+    // save — which is exactly what a fresh-install genesis boot does first
+    // (seeds the brain, saves, crashes). This is issue #150. Check the Int.
+    let saved: Int = engram_save(path)
+    if saved == 0 {
         println("[memory] mem_save: engram_save failed for " + path + " — snapshot may be incomplete")
     }
 }
diff --git a/neuron-api.el b/neuron-api.el
index 12ce4c5..e1196f1 100644
--- a/neuron-api.el
+++ b/neuron-api.el
@@ -725,8 +725,10 @@ fn handle_api_consolidate(body: String) -> String {
     let summary: String = json_get(body, "summary")
     let snap: String = state_get("soul_snapshot_path")
     if !str_eq(snap, "") {
-        let save_result: String = engram_save(snap)
-        if str_eq(save_result, "") {
+        // engram_save returns an Int (1 = ok, 0 = failure); str_eq on it derefs
+        // EL_CSTR(1)=0x1 and SIGSEGVs on success (issue #150). Check the Int.
+        let saved: Int = engram_save(snap)
+        if saved == 0 {
             println("[api] consolidate: engram_save failed for " + snap + " — snapshot may be out of sync")
         }
     }