diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
index 1dc2e63..82d927d 100644
--- a/.github/copilot-instructions.md
+++ b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
@@ -1263,12 +1263,22 @@ docker logs -f trading-bot-v4 | grep "expected log message from fix"
 
 ### Critical Path Verification Requirements
 
+**MANDATORY: ALWAYS VERIFY DRIFT STATE BEFORE ANY POSITION OPERATIONS (Dec 9, 2025)**
+- **NEVER trust bot logs, API responses, or database state alone**
+- **ALWAYS query Drift API first:** `curl -X POST /api/trading/sync-positions -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_SECRET_KEY"`
+- **Verify actual position.size, entry price, current P&L from Drift response**
+- **Only AFTER Drift verification:** proceed with close, modify orders, or state changes
+- **Incident:** Agent closed position based on stale bot data when user explicitly said NOT to close
+- **Why:** Bot logs showed "closed" but Drift still had open position - catastrophic if user wants to keep position open
+- **This is NON-NEGOTIABLE** - verify Drift state before ANY position operation
+
 **Position Manager Changes:**
 - [ ] Execute test trade with DRY_RUN=false (small size)
 - [ ] Watch docker logs for full TP1 → TP2 → exit cycle
 - [ ] SQL query: verify `tp1Hit`, `slMovedToBreakeven`, `currentSize` match Position Manager logs
 - [ ] Compare Position Manager tracked size to actual Drift position size
 - [ ] Check exit reason matches actual trigger (TP1/TP2/SL/trailing)
+- [ ] **VERIFY VIA DRIFT API** before declaring anything "working" or "closed"
 
 **Exit Logic Changes (TP/SL/Trailing):**
 - [ ] Log EXPECTED values (TP1 price, SL price after breakeven, trailing stop distance)