diff --git a/src/commands/doctor.ts b/src/commands/doctor.ts
index 73dc89721..e57025188 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor.ts
@@ -7777,27 +7777,71 @@ export async function runRemediationPlan(
     return;
   }
 
-  // Human output
-  console.log(`Brain score: ${plan.brain_score_current}/100 → target ${targetScore}`);
+  for (const line of renderRemediationPlanLines(plan, targetScore)) {
+    console.log(line);
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Human-render the remediation plan into a sequence of console lines.
+ * Exported for unit-test access — `runRemediationPlan` consumes it
+ * verbatim and only adds the JSON-mode short-circuit.
+ *
+ * Gating the "at target" line on `brain_score_current >= targetScore`
+ * is load-bearing: when the plan is empty AND the target is unreachable,
+ * the prior shape printed both "Target unreachable: …" and "Brain is at
+ * target" back-to-back, which contradicted itself and hid the real next
+ * step (manual prereq config to lift `max_reachable_score`).
+ */
+export function renderRemediationPlanLines(
+  plan: RemediationPlanShape,
+  targetScore: number,
+): string[] {
+  const lines: string[] = [];
+  lines.push(`Brain score: ${plan.brain_score_current}/100 → target ${targetScore}`);
   if (plan.target_unreachable) {
-    console.log(`Target unreachable: max with autonomous remediation is ${plan.max_reachable_score}/100.`);
+    lines.push(`Target unreachable: max with autonomous remediation is ${plan.max_reachable_score}/100.`);
   }
   if (plan.plan.length === 0) {
-    console.log('No remediations needed. Brain is at target.');
+    if (plan.brain_score_current >= targetScore) {
+      lines.push('No remediations needed. Brain is at target.');
+    }
+    // When brain_score < targetScore and plan is empty, the unreachable
+    // line (if applicable) is the user-facing explanation; the blocked-
+    // checks block below surfaces the manual gap. Don't follow with a
+    // misleading "at target" claim.
   } else {
-    console.log(`Plan: ${plan.plan.length} step(s), est ${plan.est_total_seconds}s, est $${plan.est_total_usd_cost.toFixed(2)}`);
+    lines.push(`Plan: ${plan.plan.length} step(s), est ${plan.est_total_seconds}s, est $${plan.est_total_usd_cost.toFixed(2)}`);
     for (const step of plan.plan) {
       const protectedMark = step.protected ? ' [PROTECTED]' : '';
       const costMark = step.est_usd_cost ? ` ($${step.est_usd_cost.toFixed(2)})` : '';
-      console.log(`  ${step.step}. [${step.severity}] ${step.job}${protectedMark} — ${step.rationale}${costMark}`);
+      lines.push(`  ${step.step}. [${step.severity}] ${step.job}${protectedMark} — ${step.rationale}${costMark}`);
     }
   }
   if (plan.blocked.length > 0) {
-    console.log(`\nBlocked checks (prereq missing):`);
+    lines.push(`\nBlocked checks (prereq missing):`);
     for (const b of plan.blocked) {
-      console.log(`  - ${b.check}: ${b.reason}`);
+      lines.push(`  - ${b.check}: ${b.reason}`);
     }
   }
+  return lines;
+}
+
+interface RemediationPlanShape {
+  brain_score_current: number;
+  target_unreachable: boolean;
+  max_reachable_score: number;
+  plan: Array<{
+    step: number;
+    severity: string;
+    job: string;
+    protected?: boolean;
+    est_usd_cost?: number;
+    rationale: string;
+  }>;
+  est_total_seconds: number;
+  est_total_usd_cost: number;
+  blocked: Array<{ check: string; reason: string }>;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/test/doctor-remediation-plan-render.test.ts b/test/doctor-remediation-plan-render.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b73d314ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/doctor-remediation-plan-render.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+// Regression coverage for the `gbrain doctor --remediation-plan` verdict
+// contradiction: when the brain was below target AND the target was
+// unreachable, the human renderer printed "Target unreachable: max with
+// autonomous remediation is N/100" followed immediately by "No
+// remediations needed. Brain is at target." — two consecutive lines that
+// contradicted each other and hid the real next step.
+
+import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
+import { renderRemediationPlanLines } from '../src/commands/doctor.ts';
+
+type Plan = Parameters<typeof renderRemediationPlanLines>[0];
+
+function planFixture(overrides: Partial<Plan>): Plan {
+  return {
+    brain_score_current: 0,
+    target_unreachable: false,
+    max_reachable_score: 100,
+    plan: [],
+    est_total_seconds: 0,
+    est_total_usd_cost: 0,
+    blocked: [],
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+describe('renderRemediationPlanLines', () => {
+  test('unreachable + brain below target — never claims "Brain is at target"', () => {
+    const plan = planFixture({
+      brain_score_current: 45,
+      target_unreachable: true,
+      max_reachable_score: 70,
+      plan: [],
+      blocked: [{ check: 'link_density', reason: 'no enrichment keys configured' }],
+    });
+    const text = renderRemediationPlanLines(plan, 90).join('\n');
+    expect(text).toContain('Brain score: 45/100');
+    expect(text).toContain('Target unreachable: max with autonomous remediation is 70/100');
+    expect(text).not.toContain('Brain is at target');
+    expect(text).toContain('Blocked checks');
+  });
+
+  test('reachable, brain at or above target, no plan — emits the "at target" line', () => {
+    const plan = planFixture({
+      brain_score_current: 95,
+      target_unreachable: false,
+      max_reachable_score: 100,
+      plan: [],
+    });
+    const text = renderRemediationPlanLines(plan, 90).join('\n');
+    expect(text).toContain('Brain is at target');
+    expect(text).not.toContain('Target unreachable');
+  });
+
+  test('brain at exact target with empty plan — still "at target"', () => {
+    const plan = planFixture({
+      brain_score_current: 90,
+      target_unreachable: false,
+      plan: [],
+    });
+    const text = renderRemediationPlanLines(plan, 90).join('\n');
+    expect(text).toContain('Brain is at target');
+  });
+
+  test('brain below target with plan steps — lists the plan, no "at target" line', () => {
+    const plan = planFixture({
+      brain_score_current: 60,
+      target_unreachable: false,
+      max_reachable_score: 100,
+      est_total_seconds: 120,
+      est_total_usd_cost: 0.4,
+      plan: [
+        { step: 1, severity: 'high', job: 'embed-coverage', rationale: 'missing embeddings' },
+        { step: 2, severity: 'med', job: 'consolidate', rationale: 'pending entity merges', est_usd_cost: 0.4 },
+      ],
+    });
+    const lines = renderRemediationPlanLines(plan, 90);
+    const text = lines.join('\n');
+    expect(text).toContain('Plan: 2 step(s)');
+    expect(text).toContain('1. [high] embed-coverage');
+    expect(text).toContain('2. [med] consolidate');
+    expect(text).toContain('($0.40)');
+    expect(text).not.toContain('Brain is at target');
+  });
+
+  test('unreachable but a partial plan exists — plan prints, "at target" suppressed', () => {
+    const plan = planFixture({
+      brain_score_current: 30,
+      target_unreachable: true,
+      max_reachable_score: 55,
+      est_total_seconds: 90,
+      est_total_usd_cost: 0.2,
+      plan: [
+        { step: 1, severity: 'high', job: 'embed-coverage', rationale: 'reach max_reachable' },
+      ],
+      blocked: [{ check: 'enrichment', reason: 'no provider key configured' }],
+    });
+    const text = renderRemediationPlanLines(plan, 90).join('\n');
+    expect(text).toContain('Target unreachable: max with autonomous remediation is 55/100');
+    expect(text).toContain('Plan: 1 step(s)');
+    expect(text).toContain('Blocked checks');
+    expect(text).not.toContain('Brain is at target');
+  });
+});