diff --git a/scripts/packverify.py b/scripts/packverify.py
index 087357f7..8a0d4d15 100644
--- a/scripts/packverify.py
+++ b/scripts/packverify.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from packpaths import _register_path
 from ziptools import build_zip_contents_index
 from ziptools import check_inside_zip
 from nativemode import digest_algorithm
-from validation import settle_mismatch
+from validation import baseline_verdict
 from nativemode import hash_mismatch_excludes_file
 import functools
 import hashlib
@@ -482,9 +482,11 @@ def _intentional_hash_exclusion(
             data_dir_registry=data_dir_registry,
             offline=True,
         )
-        # The builder ships what the frontend would accept: the exact inner
-        # ROM of a zipped_file entry, or a file its own digest matches.
-        if settle_mismatch(entry, local_path, status, verification_mode) != "hash_mismatch":
+        # The builder's own verdict: a zipped_file archive is refused when the
+        # member is missing whatever the outer resolution said, a hash
+        # mismatch when the frontend's digest disagrees too.
+        _status, refusal = baseline_verdict(entry, local_path, status, verification_mode)
+        if refusal is None:
             return False
     return True
 
diff --git a/scripts/validation.py b/scripts/validation.py
index 6cd3d532..27ec20f7 100644
--- a/scripts/validation.py
+++ b/scripts/validation.py
@@ -694,26 +694,6 @@ def inner_rom_check(file_entry: dict, local_path: str) -> str:
     return result
 
 
-def settle_mismatch(
-    file_entry: dict, local_path: str | None, status: str, verification_mode: str
-) -> str:
-    """Upgrade a hash mismatch the frontend itself would accept.
-
-    Batocera pins the md5 of a ROM inside the archive (zipped_file), and a
-    frontend that hashes one digest accepts a file whose other declared
-    hashes disagree.
-    """
-    if status != "hash_mismatch" or not local_path:
-        return status
-    if file_entry.get("zipped_file"):
-        return "zip_exact" if inner_rom_check(file_entry, local_path) == "ok" else status
-    if hash_mismatch_excludes_file(verification_mode) and frontend_digest_matches(
-        file_entry, local_path, digest_algorithm(verification_mode)
-    ):
-        return "frontend_digest_exact"
-    return status
-
-
 def baseline_verdict(
     file_entry: dict, local_path: str | None, status: str, verification_mode: str
 ) -> tuple[str, str | None]:
diff --git a/tests/test_audit_regressions.py b/tests/test_audit_regressions.py
index b343fb5d..09832941 100644
--- a/tests/test_audit_regressions.py
+++ b/tests/test_audit_regressions.py
@@ -738,6 +738,26 @@ class OneBaselineVerdict(unittest.TestCase):
                 ("name_exact", None),
             )
 
+    def test_the_pack_check_reads_the_same_verdict(self):
+        """--verify-packs called the archive missing: its own rule looked
+        inside only after a hash_mismatch, and an archive found by name
+        without d32.rom is one the builder left out on purpose."""
+        import hashlib
+
+        from scripts.packverify import _intentional_hash_exclusion
+
+        entry = {"name": "dragon32.zip", "zipped_file": "d32.rom", "md5": ""}
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=TMP_ROOT) as directory:
+            path = self._archive(Path(directory), "other.rom")
+            sha1 = hashlib.sha1(Path(path).read_bytes()).hexdigest()
+            db = {"files": {sha1: {"path": path, "name": "dragon32.zip", "sha1": sha1}},
+                  "indexes": {"by_name": {"dragon32.zip": [sha1]}, "by_md5": {},
+                              "by_path_suffix": {}, "by_crc32": {}}}
+            self.assertTrue(_intentional_hash_exclusion([entry], db, verification_mode="md5"))
+            self.assertFalse(
+                _intentional_hash_exclusion([entry], db, verification_mode="existence")
+            )
+
     def test_a_release_asset_keeps_its_answer(self):
         from scripts.slots import apply_override