diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c1721270..078121c2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -152,6 +152,10 @@ jobs:
     needs: [checks]
     if: needs.checks.result == 'success'
     timeout-minutes: 20
+    env:
+      VERCEL_ORG_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_ORG_ID }}
+      VERCEL_PROJECT_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_PROJECT_ID }}
+      VERCEL_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_TOKEN }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -170,10 +174,6 @@ jobs:
           echo "stale=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
       - name: Require Vercel credentials
         if: steps.tip.outputs.stale != 'true'
-        env:
-          VERCEL_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_TOKEN }}
-          VERCEL_ORG_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_ORG_ID }}
-          VERCEL_PROJECT_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_PROJECT_ID }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           missing=()
@@ -184,17 +184,29 @@ jobs:
             echo "::error::Missing repo secrets for gated deploy: ${missing[*]}. Add them under Settings → Secrets, then re-run this workflow."
             exit 1
           fi
+          # Fail closed on obvious paste mistakes (must be team_/prj_ from .vercel/project.json).
+          case "$VERCEL_ORG_ID" in team_*) ;; *)
+            echo "::error::VERCEL_ORG_ID must look like team_… (from .vercel/project.json after vercel link)."
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+          esac
+          case "$VERCEL_PROJECT_ID" in prj_*) ;; *)
+            echo "::error::VERCEL_PROJECT_ID must look like prj_… (from .vercel/project.json after vercel link)."
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+          esac
+      - name: Install Vercel CLI
+        if: steps.tip.outputs.stale != 'true'
+        run: npm install --global vercel@41
       - name: Deploy production
         if: steps.tip.outputs.stale != 'true'
-        env:
-          VERCEL_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_TOKEN }}
-          VERCEL_ORG_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_ORG_ID }}
-          VERCEL_PROJECT_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_PROJECT_ID }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          npx --yes vercel@41 pull --yes --environment=production --token="$VERCEL_TOKEN"
-          npx --yes vercel@41 build --prod --token="$VERCEL_TOKEN"
-          npx --yes vercel@41 deploy --prebuilt --prod --token="$VERCEL_TOKEN"
+          # Canonical CI link (Vercel KB): env VERCEL_*_ID + pull → build → deploy --prebuilt.
+          # "Could not retrieve Project Settings" usually means bad/expired token or wrong IDs (403).
+          vercel pull --yes --environment=production --token="$VERCEL_TOKEN"
+          vercel build --prod --token="$VERCEL_TOKEN"
+          vercel deploy --prebuilt --prod --token="$VERCEL_TOKEN"
 
   requeue:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/docs/CUTOVER-MAIN-ONLY.md b/docs/CUTOVER-MAIN-ONLY.md
index a2559166..ee5109c8 100644
--- a/docs/CUTOVER-MAIN-ONLY.md
+++ b/docs/CUTOVER-MAIN-ONLY.md
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ Status after agent delivery (2026-07-31):
 - [x] Code PR opened (main-only cutover) — see PR targeting `main`
 - [x] `pnpm configure:branch-protection` applied on `main` (required: `checks` + `migration-lock`, `strict=false`, 0 reviews)
 - [x] No open PRs targeting `stage` at cutover time
-- [ ] Repo secrets still needed:
-  - `VERCEL_TOKEN`, `VERCEL_ORG_ID`, `VERCEL_PROJECT_ID` (deploy job fail-closed until set)
-  - `POOL_GITHUB_TOKEN` (PAT: `actions:write` + `issues:write` + `contents:read`) — `PROMOTE_GITHUB_TOKEN` already exists; reuse/rename if scopes cover Actions variables, else mint a new PAT
+- [x] Repo secrets present (`VERCEL_*`, `POOL_GITHUB_TOKEN`)
+- [x] `VERCEL_ORG_ID` / `VERCEL_PROJECT_ID` synced from local `.vercel/project.json` (`vercel link`)
+- [ ] Confirm `ci.yml` deploy job green after token+IDs are correct
+  - Misleading CLI error *"Could not retrieve Project Settings"* usually means **403** (bad/expired `VERCEL_TOKEN` or wrong IDs) — regenerate token at vercel.com/account/tokens if deploy still fails
 
 After the cutover PR merges to `main`: