diff --git a/config/main-layout-writer-baseline.txt b/config/main-layout-writer-baseline.txt
index bddc84a2216..a66fd7053bb 100644
--- a/config/main-layout-writer-baseline.txt
+++ b/config/main-layout-writer-baseline.txt
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 # This is a RATCHET: counts may only go DOWN. Layout moves to one runtime owner; do not add
 # writers. Prune after removing writers: pnpm check:layout-writer-ratchets --prune
 1 src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/leaf-move.ts
-2 src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/spawn-commit-persist.ts
+1 src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/spawn-commit-persist.ts
 1 src/main/ipc/pty/pane/pane-owner-replacement.ts
 3 src/main/ipc/pty/pane/stable-owner.ts
-2 src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-commit.ts
+1 src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-commit.ts
 1 src/main/ipc/renderer-shutdown-checkpoint.ts
 1 src/main/ipc/runtime-environment-removal-cleanup.ts
 1 src/main/ipc/runtime-environment-session-reconcile.ts
diff --git a/config/scripts/check-layout-writer-ratchets.mjs b/config/scripts/check-layout-writer-ratchets.mjs
index 0e8c6bf71cb..4381123e576 100644
--- a/config/scripts/check-layout-writer-ratchets.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/check-layout-writer-ratchets.mjs
@@ -455,12 +455,13 @@ export function main(root = process.cwd()) {
         `::error file=${file}::${now} ${ratchet.label}, baseline allows ${allowed}. ${ADVICE}`
       )
     }
+    // Why: a removal must not fail PRs that branched before it; only growth fails.
     for (const { file, now, allowed } of shrunk) {
-      console.error(
-        `::error file=${file}::${now} ${ratchet.label}, baseline still allows ${allowed}. Run: pnpm check:layout-writer-ratchets --prune`
+      console.warn(
+        `::warning file=${file}::${now} ${ratchet.label}, baseline still allows ${allowed}. Run: pnpm check:layout-writer-ratchets --prune`
       )
     }
-    if (grown.length + shrunk.length > 0) {
+    if (grown.length > 0) {
       failed = true
     } else {
       console.log(`Layout-writer ratchet (${ratchet.id}) OK — ${total(current)} ${ratchet.label}.`)