diff --git a/hermes-agent-baseline.prose.md b/hermes-agent-baseline.prose.md
index fba3a89..8f814b8 100644
--- a/hermes-agent-baseline.prose.md
+++ b/hermes-agent-baseline.prose.md
@@ -11,6 +11,24 @@ author: Abiba (pi agent)
 
 # Hermes Agent Baseline — Canonical Good State
 
+## Reachability Detection
+
+Before checking agent baseline, verify the host is reachable and can be audited. Use the shared reachability helper from the clone root:
+
+```bash
+# Run on each host to check reachability (Tanko, Mumuni, Koonimo, Koby)
+scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh <host> "api_key:" "/root/.hermes/config.yaml"
+# Example: scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh 192.168.68.122 "api_key:" "/root/.hermes/config.yaml"
+
+# Expected outcomes:
+# - UNREACHABLE: SSH connection failed (host is down)
+# - VIOLATION: SSH succeeded and found matches (report the finding)
+# - COMPLIANT: SSH succeeded and found no matches (no api_key in config)
+#
+# NOTE: The bug this replaces was deriving reachability from the remote grep's exit code.
+# The correct pattern: remote side always succeeds (grep ...; true), so ssh status = connection only.
+```
+
 ## Quick Restore
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/hermes-config-template.prose.md b/hermes-config-template.prose.md
index a6e3d29..b04d93e 100644
--- a/hermes-config-template.prose.md
+++ b/hermes-config-template.prose.md
@@ -19,6 +19,24 @@ description: >
 - agent_keys: map (see Agent Keys section)
 - infra_endpoints_verified: array
 
+## Reachability Detection
+
+Before auditing the config template, verify the host is reachable and can be checked. Use the shared reachability helper from the clone root:
+
+```bash
+# Run on each host to check reachability (Tanko, Mumuni, Koonimo, Koby)
+scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh <host> "base_url:" "/root/.hermes/config.yaml"
+# Example: scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh 192.168.68.122 "base_url:" "/root/.hermes/config.yaml"
+
+# Expected outcomes:
+# - UNREACHABLE: SSH connection failed (host is down)
+# - VIOLATION: SSH succeeded and found matches (report the finding)
+# - COMPLIANT: SSH succeeded and found no matches (no base_url in config)
+#
+# NOTE: The bug this replaces was deriving reachability from the remote grep's exit code.
+# The correct pattern: remote side always succeeds (grep ...; true), so ssh status = connection only.
+```
+
 ## Agent Keys (LiteLLM — Current 2026-07-11)
 
 Each agent has a unique LiteLLM API key (virtual key) generated against the LiteLLM
diff --git a/hermes-key-enforcement.prose.md b/hermes-key-enforcement.prose.md
index 3c5e42c..ee38b0d 100644
--- a/hermes-key-enforcement.prose.md
+++ b/hermes-key-enforcement.prose.md
@@ -117,6 +117,24 @@ model:
   api_key_env: LITELLM_API_KEY
 ```
 
+## Reachability Detection
+
+Before checking for hardcoded keys, verify the host is reachable and can be audited. Use the shared reachability helper from the clone root:
+
+```bash
+# Run on each host to check reachability (Tanko, Mumuni, Koonimo, Koby)
+scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh <host> "api_key: sk-" "/root/.hermes/"
+# Example: scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh 192.168.68.122 "api_key: sk-" "/root/.hermes/"
+
+# Expected outcomes:
+# - UNREACHABLE: SSH connection failed (host is down)
+# - VIOLATION: SSH succeeded and found matches (report the finding)
+# - COMPLIANT: SSH succeeded and found no matches (no hardcoded keys in config)
+#
+# NOTE: The bug this replaces was deriving reachability from the remote grep's exit code.
+# The correct pattern: remote side always succeeds (grep ...; true), so ssh status = connection only.
+```
+
 ## Detection Query
 
 Run on any Hermes host to detect violations:
diff --git a/scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh b/scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ba6ec1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Shared helper for Hermes contract reachability checks
+# Separates SSH exit status from remote command result
+
+hermes_check_host() {
+    local host=$1
+    local pattern=$2
+    local path=$3
+    
+    # Remote side always succeeds (grep ...; true), so ssh exit code = connection status only
+    local out
+    out=$(ssh -o BatchMode=yes -o ConnectTimeout=3 root@"$host" "grep -RIn '$pattern' '$path' 2>/dev/null; true" 2>/dev/null)
+    local status=$?
+    
+    if [ $status -ne 0 ]; then
+        echo "$host: UNREACHABLE (ssh exit $status)"
+    elif [ -n "$out" ]; then
+        echo "$host: VIOLATION: $out"
+    else
+        echo "$host: COMPLIANT (no matches found)"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Standalone mode: scripts/hermes-reachability-check.sh <host> <pattern> <path>
+if [ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" = "${0}" ]; then
+    if [ $# -ne 3 ]; then
+        echo "Usage: $0 <host> <pattern> <path>" >&2
+        exit 2
+    fi
+    hermes_check_host "$1" "$2" "$3"
+    exit 0
+fi