diff --git a/modes/auto-pipeline.md b/modes/auto-pipeline.md
index a2cd28774..68d25c593 100644
--- a/modes/auto-pipeline.md
+++ b/modes/auto-pipeline.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ When the user pastes a JD (text or URL) without an explicit sub-command, execute
 
 If the input is a **URL** (not pasted JD text), follow this strategy to extract the content:
 
+**Liveness gate (first):** Confirm the URL is live before any evaluation (#835). While navigating to read the JD, check for dead-posting evidence — 404/410, "position closed / filled / no longer accepting applications", a hard redirect to a generic careers or search page, or a page with no JD. If the posting is dead, **stop here**: do not run Step 1 evaluation, write a report, or generate a PDF. Mark the entry in `data/pipeline.md` as `- [x] ~~Company | Role~~ — posting expired` and tell the user the link is dead. The headless `check-liveness.mjs <url>` script is the fallback when Playwright MCP is unavailable.
+
 **Priority order:**
 
 1. **Playwright (preferred):** Most job portals (Lever, Ashby, Greenhouse, Workday) are SPAs. Use `browser_navigate` + `browser_snapshot` to render and read the JD.
diff --git a/modes/oferta.md b/modes/oferta.md
index 0de43c4dc..3abe15cde 100644
--- a/modes/oferta.md
+++ b/modes/oferta.md
@@ -2,7 +2,21 @@
 
 When the candidate pastes a job (text or URL), ALWAYS deliver the 7 blocks (A-F evaluation + G legitimacy):
 
-## Step 0 — Archetype Detection
+## Step 0 — Liveness gate
+
+When the candidate provides a **URL** (not pasted JD text), confirm the posting is still live before spending any evaluation tokens. Dead links must be caught here — not after a full A-G report and a tailored CV have already been generated for a 404 (#835).
+
+1. `browser_navigate` to the URL and take a `browser_snapshot` (this snapshot is reused by Block G — Posting Freshness).
+2. Read the URL, page title, JD body, and any closed/expired signals:
+   - **active evidence:** role title + a real job description + an apply/submit path
+   - **dead evidence:** 404/410, "position closed / filled / no longer accepting applications", a hard redirect to a generic careers or search page, or a page with only nav/footer and no JD
+3. If the posting is dead, **stop before Block A** — do not evaluate, write a report, or generate a CV. Mark the entry in `data/pipeline.md` as `- [x] ~~Company | Role~~ — posting expired` and tell the candidate the link is dead.
+4. If liveness cannot be verified (no Playwright, or navigation blocked by a challenge/403), say so and ask the candidate to confirm the posting is active before continuing. The headless `check-liveness.mjs <url>` script is the fallback when Playwright MCP is unavailable.
+5. If the input is pasted JD text (no URL), skip this gate.
+
+Do not continue to Step 1 until liveness is resolved.
+
+## Step 1 — Archetype Detection
 
 Classify the job into one of the 6 archetypes (see `_shared.md`). If it is a hybrid, indicate the 2 closest ones. This determines:
 - Which proof points to prioritize in block B
diff --git a/test-all.mjs b/test-all.mjs
index 436686dc3..be1c25c1b 100644
--- a/test-all.mjs
+++ b/test-all.mjs
@@ -512,6 +512,29 @@ if (
   fail('apply mode missing liveness/role-match preflight gate');
 }
 
+// #835 — the eval side (oferta / auto-pipeline) must gate on URL liveness as
+// step 0, so a dead link is caught before a full A-G report + tailored CV.
+const ofertaMode = readFile('modes/oferta.md');
+if (
+  ofertaMode.includes('## Step 0 — Liveness gate') &&
+  ofertaMode.includes('stop before Block A') &&
+  ofertaMode.includes('Do not continue to Step 1 until liveness is resolved')
+) {
+  pass('oferta mode gates evaluation on a step-0 liveness check');
+} else {
+  fail('oferta mode missing the step-0 liveness gate');
+}
+
+const autoPipelineMode = readFile('modes/auto-pipeline.md');
+if (
+  autoPipelineMode.includes('Liveness gate (first)') &&
+  autoPipelineMode.includes('do not run Step 1 evaluation')
+) {
+  pass('auto-pipeline mode gates evaluation on URL liveness');
+} else {
+  fail('auto-pipeline mode missing the liveness gate before evaluation');
+}
+
 // ── 9. LOCAL PARSER CONTRACT ────────────────────────────────────
 
 console.log('\n9. Local parser contract');