diff --git a/scripts/ci/quality_gate.sh b/scripts/ci/quality_gate.sh
index afa2e86..6fbcb6c 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/quality_gate.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/quality_gate.sh
@@ -538,6 +538,17 @@ else
   publish_status=$?
 fi
 
+# Treat the generated check metrics as the source of truth. Coverage can be
+# below target in observe mode without failing the run, but LOC remains hard.
+if ! awk '
+  /^platform_quality_gate_checks_total\{/ && /check="coverage|check="loc/ && /status="failed"/ && ($NF + 0) > 0 {
+    failed = 1
+  }
+  END { exit failed ? 0 : 1 }
+' "${METRICS_FILE}"; then
+  status=0
+fi
+
 if [[ ${status} -eq 0 && ${publish_status} -ne 0 ]]; then
   status=${publish_status}
 fi