diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/e2e-health.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/e2e-health.yaml
index 37c4f68a..ea800552 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/e2e-health.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/e2e-health.yaml
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ jobs:
             --allow-existing-apply \
             --refresh-if-stale-days 6 \
             --refresh-work-item-id "${SOURCE_CANARY_WORK_ITEM_ID}" \
+            --verify-refresh-candidate \
             --reviewer-id gitea_e2e_source_link_canary \
             --operator-note "T122 rolling source-correlation canary refresh; append-only status-chain proof"
 
diff --git a/scripts/awooop_source_correlation_apply_smoke.py b/scripts/awooop_source_correlation_apply_smoke.py
index 4fc6b4fe..228e8a85 100644
--- a/scripts/awooop_source_correlation_apply_smoke.py
+++ b/scripts/awooop_source_correlation_apply_smoke.py
@@ -290,6 +290,17 @@ def _select_refresh_work_item(
     )
 
 
+def _refresh_candidate_result(item: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "refresh_candidate_status": "ready",
+        "refresh_candidate_work_item_id": _source_review_work_item_id(item),
+        "refresh_candidate_latest_provider_event_id": item.get(
+            "latest_provider_event_id"
+        ),
+        "refresh_candidate_alertname": item.get("alertname"),
+    }
+
+
 def _apply_source_correlation_item(
     *,
     args: argparse.Namespace,
@@ -453,6 +464,11 @@ def run(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
                 refresh_if_stale_days=args.refresh_if_stale_days,
             )
             if not refresh_reason:
+                refresh_candidate: dict[str, Any] = {}
+                if args.verify_refresh_candidate:
+                    refresh_candidate = _refresh_candidate_result(
+                        _select_refresh_work_item(recurrence, args=args)
+                    )
                 return {
                     **existing,
                     "apply_status": existing_apply.get("apply_status"),
@@ -461,6 +477,7 @@ def run(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
                     ),
                     "refresh_if_stale_days": args.refresh_if_stale_days,
                     "refresh_reason": None,
+                    **refresh_candidate,
                 }
             previous_latest_applied_link_at = str(
                 existing.get("latest_applied_link_at") or ""
@@ -539,6 +556,14 @@ def parse_args(argv: list[str]) -> argparse.Namespace:
         action="store_true",
         help="When refresh is needed, use the latest unapplied canary/smoke/codex work item.",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--verify-refresh-candidate",
+        action="store_true",
+        help=(
+            "Even when the existing applied link is still fresh, verify that "
+            "the configured refresh work item exists and is safe to apply later."
+        ),
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true")
     return parser.parse_args(argv)