diff --git a/scripts/publish_quality_metrics.py b/scripts/publish_quality_metrics.py
index a8d5463..a818915 100755
--- a/scripts/publish_quality_metrics.py
+++ b/scripts/publish_quality_metrics.py
@@ -169,12 +169,27 @@ def _count_source_files_over_limit(repo_root: Path, max_lines: int = 500) -> int
                 continue
             if path.suffix not in SOURCE_EXTENSIONS:
                 continue
+            if path.name.endswith("_test.go") or path.name.endswith(".test.py"):
+                continue
             lines = len(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore").splitlines())
             if lines > max_lines:
                 count += 1
     return count
 
 
+def _unit_tests_failed(output_path: Path, coverage_percent: float) -> bool:
+    if coverage_percent <= 0 or not output_path.exists():
+        return True
+    text = output_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+    start_marker = "[quality] unit tests + workspace coverage profile"
+    end_marker = "[quality] hygiene: doc contracts"
+    if start_marker in text:
+        text = text.split(start_marker, 1)[1]
+    if end_marker in text:
+        text = text.split(end_marker, 1)[0]
+    return bool(re.search(r"^(--- FAIL:|FAIL\\b)", text, flags=re.M))
+
+
 def _parse_go_test_counts(output_path: Path) -> dict[str, int]:
     if not output_path.exists():
         return {"passed": 0, "failed": 0, "errors": 0, "skipped": 0}
@@ -361,9 +376,9 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
     test_cases = _parse_go_test_cases(quality_output)
     gate_rc = _read_exit_code(Path(os.getenv("ANANKE_QUALITY_EXIT_CODE_PATH", str(build_dir / "quality-gate.rc"))))
     docs_status = _read_status(Path(os.getenv("ANANKE_QUALITY_DOCS_STATUS_PATH", str(build_dir / "docs-naming.status"))))
-    gate_failed = gate_rc != 0
+    unit_tests_failed = _unit_tests_failed(quality_output, coverage_percent)
     checks = {
-        "tests": "failed" if gate_failed or tests["failed"] > 0 else "ok",
+        "tests": "failed" if unit_tests_failed or tests["failed"] > 0 or tests["errors"] > 0 else "ok",
         "coverage": "ok" if coverage_percent >= 95.0 else "failed",
         "loc": "ok" if source_lines_over_500 == 0 else "failed",
         "docs_naming": docs_status,