diff --git a/tests/unit/test_client.py b/tests/unit/test_client.py
index e99b884..27b95be 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_client.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from polygateway import (
     AllSourcesExhausted,
     GatewayClient,
     GatewaySettings,
+    RequestRejectedError,
     gather_bounded,
 )
 from polygateway.backends.memory.breaker import InMemoryGate
@@ -275,6 +276,42 @@ class TestReasoningEffortPriority:
         assert "reasoning_effort" not in body
 
 
+class TestEffortFallbackWiring:
+    """源级 `effort_fallback` 必须真的走到 `resolve_thinking`(issue #20)。
+
+    只测配置值域与纯函数是不够的: 变异实测显示把 transport 里的
+    `fallback=source.effort_fallback` 换成硬编码 `"error"`,全套单测依然全绿——
+    `nearest` 是人类明确要求实现的功能,没有这条端到端用例它会在零告警下变成
+    死代码(2026-09-05 独立验证查出)。故断言看**发出去的字节**。
+    """
+
+    def _capturing_client(self, captured, **overrides):
+        def handler(request):
+            captured.append(json.loads(request.content))
+            return _sse()
+
+        return _client(handler=handler, **overrides)
+
+    async def test_nearest_sends_the_mapped_tier(self):
+        """glm-5.3 只有 low/high/max: 请求 `medium` 等距,按"取弱"落到 low。"""
+        captured = []
+        source = _source(provider="zhipu", model="glm-5.3", effort_fallback="nearest")
+        async with self._capturing_client(captured, sources=[source]) as client:
+            await client.chat([{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}], reasoning_effort=Effort.MEDIUM)
+        assert captured[0]["reasoning_effort"] == "low"
+
+    async def test_error_fallback_refuses_the_same_request(self):
+        """默认 `error` 必须报错而不是映射: 一次静默的换档就是一笔没打招呼的账单。"""
+        captured = []
+        source = _source(provider="zhipu", model="glm-5.3")
+        async with self._capturing_client(captured, sources=[source]) as client:
+            with pytest.raises(RequestRejectedError, match="medium"):
+                await client.chat(
+                    [{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}], reasoning_effort=Effort.MEDIUM
+                )
+        assert captured == []  # 请求根本没发出去
+
+
 class TestRequestTierNormalization:
     """`chat(reasoning_effort=...)` 是公共入口,裸字符串必须在此归一(issue #20)。
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_config.py b/tests/unit/test_config.py
index 401e6a9..61af01c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_config.py
@@ -758,6 +758,24 @@ class TestCrossFieldInvariants:
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="register_provider"):
             GatewayClient.from_settings(settings, registry=register_provider(mystery))
 
+    def test_source_tier_the_model_cannot_satisfy_fails_at_assembly(self):
+        """守卫必须读**源级档位**,而不只是 `enable_thinking`(设计 §4.2 三层优先级)。
+
+        变异实测: 把 `_guard_thinking` 的 `source_effort=source.reasoning_effort`
+        改成 `None`,全套单测依然全绿(2026-09-05 独立验证查出)。文案里必须出现
+        可执行替代 `low`——glm-5.3 官方关不掉推理,只报"不行"会把人推回
+        `extra_body` 那条绕过治理的老路(issue #20 的成因)。
+        """
+        base = self._base()
+        src = dataclasses.replace(
+            base.sources[0], provider="zhipu", model="glm-5.3", reasoning_effort=Effort.NONE
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc:
+            GatewayClient.from_settings(dataclasses.replace(base, sources=(src,)))
+        message = str(exc.value)
+        assert "glm-5.3" in message
+        assert "low" in message
+
     def test_openai_segment_now_assembles_with_the_standard_field(self):
         # 行为变更(2026-09-04): reasoning_effort 是 OpenAI 官方字段而非厂商方言,
         # 经网关的兼容端点收得下,故兜底段不再把"关闭"判为形态未知