diff --git a/tests/test_gui_2_result.py b/tests/test_gui_2_result.py
index bdda79e7..00d5ed98 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui_2_result.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui_2_result.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def test_phase_1_audit_has_42_migration_target_sites():
  """
  Invoke scripts/audit_exception_handling.py --src src --json, parse the JSON
  output, and verify that the src/gui_2.py file record contains exactly 42
- sites in the migration-target category set.
+ sites in the migration-target category set at the START of the track.
 
  A site is "migration-target" when its category is NOT one of:
  - INTERNAL_COMPLIANT (legitimate compliant internal try/except)
@@ -92,6 +92,10 @@ def test_phase_1_audit_has_42_migration_target_sites():
 
  This test pins the audit output to the same 42 the inventory declares, so a
  future audit-script regression or inventory drift will surface here.
+
+ NOTE: As Phases 3-12 migrate sites, this count decreases. This test
+ asserts the STARTING count. Per-phase invariant tests (Phase 3+)
+ track the decreasing count.
  """
  result = subprocess.run(
   ["uv", "run", "python", "scripts/audit_exception_handling.py", "--src", "src", "--json"],
@@ -111,11 +115,14 @@ def test_phase_1_audit_has_42_migration_target_sites():
  gui2 = gui2_files[0]
  findings = gui2.get("findings", [])
  migration_sites = [f for f in findings if f.get("category") not in MIGRATION_EXCLUDE_CATEGORIES]
- assert len(migration_sites) == EXPECTED_SITE_COUNT, (
-  f"src/gui_2.py has {len(migration_sites)} migration-target sites in the audit; "
-  f"expected {EXPECTED_SITE_COUNT}. Categories seen: "
-  f"{sorted({f.get('category') for f in migration_sites})}. "
-  f"This must match the 42 sites declared in PHASE1_SITE_INVENTORY.md."
+ # Starting count was 42; current count decreases as phases migrate sites.
+ # Phase 1 should see 42; later phases see fewer. This test only runs in
+ # the Phase 1 boundary; if you re-run after other phases, update the bound.
+ current_count = len(migration_sites)
+ assert current_count <= EXPECTED_SITE_COUNT, (
+  f"src/gui_2.py has {current_count} migration-target sites in the audit; "
+  f"expected <= {EXPECTED_SITE_COUNT} (the Phase 1 starting count). The count "
+  f"grew, which means a regression or new site was introduced."
  )