diff --git a/scripts/cross_reference.py b/scripts/cross_reference.py
index 0a0e36c6f..71ac29ed9 100644
--- a/scripts/cross_reference.py
+++ b/scripts/cross_reference.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ from common import (
     select_emulator_profiles,
 )
 from hashing import parse_hash_list
+from launchers import LauncherLayer, declared_destinations, held_record
 from validation import (
     case_folded_slots,
     declaration_settles,
@@ -692,6 +693,7 @@ SET_ASIDE = {
     "other_versions": "other versions of a slot",
     "not_read": "not read on this platform",
     "outside_scope": "outside the pack",
+    "launcher": "filled by the platform's launcher",
 }
 
 
@@ -923,6 +925,19 @@ def _cross_reference_profile(
         }
         if save_root:
             entry["root"] = "save"
+        elif index.get("launcher_candidates") is not None:
+            # What verify hands the launcher layer for the same entry.
+            probe = {
+                **f,
+                "profile": emu_name,
+                "emulator": profile.get("emulator", emu_name),
+                "path": effective_path,
+                "in_repo": in_repo,
+                "bundled": entry["bundled"],
+            }
+            index["launcher_candidates"].append(
+                (emu_name, is_standalone, f, probe, entry)
+            )
         gaps.append(entry)
 
     for ag in sorted(archive_gaps.values(), key=lambda e: e["name"]):
@@ -934,12 +949,7 @@ def _cross_reference_profile(
         "systems": systems,
         "total_files": len(emu_files),
         "platform_covered": len(covered),
-        "gaps": len(gaps),
-        "gap_in_repo": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["in_repo"]),
-        "gap_missing": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "missing"),
-        "gap_bios": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "bios"),
-        "gap_data": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "data"),
-        "gap_large_file": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "large_file"),
+        **_gap_counts(gaps),
         "gap_details": gaps,
         "unsourceable": unsourceable_list,
         # Entries, not rows: an archive's members are one gap row.
@@ -950,6 +960,61 @@ def _cross_reference_profile(
     }
 
 
+def _gap_counts(gaps: list[dict]) -> dict[str, int]:
+    """The per-source tallies of a profile's gap rows."""
+    return {
+        "gaps": len(gaps),
+        "gap_in_repo": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["in_repo"]),
+        "gap_missing": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "missing"),
+        "gap_bios": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "bios"),
+        "gap_data": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "data"),
+        "gap_large_file": sum(1 for g in gaps if g["source"] == "large_file"),
+    }
+
+
+def _settle_launcher_places(
+    report: dict,
+    candidates: list[tuple[str, bool, dict, dict, dict]],
+    layer: LauncherLayer,
+    db: dict,
+) -> None:
+    """Apply the platform's launcher places as find_undeclared_files does.
+
+    Batocera's DuckStation generator fills the PAL slot with scph5502.bin,
+    yet the report listed duckstation's scph1002a.bin as a file the pack
+    carries, which neither the pack nor the manifest does.
+    """
+    added, settled = layer.settle(
+        [(emu, standalone, f, probe) for emu, standalone, f, probe, _ in candidates],
+        lambda probe: held_record(probe, db),
+    )
+    for emu, _standalone, _f, probe, gap in candidates:
+        if id(probe) not in settled:
+            continue
+        data = report[emu]
+        data["gap_details"] = [g for g in data["gap_details"] if g is not gap]
+        data["undeclared_files"] -= 1
+        data["set_aside"]["launcher"] += 1
+    for entry in added:
+        data = report[entry["profile"]]
+        data["gap_details"].append({
+            "name": entry["name"],
+            "path": entry["path"],
+            "required": entry.get("required", False),
+            "bundled": False,
+            "note": "",
+            "source_ref": "",
+            "in_platform": False,
+            "in_repo": True,
+            "source": "bios",
+            "identity": entry.get("sha1") or "",
+            "launcher": entry["launcher"],
+            "launcher_of": entry["launcher_of"],
+        })
+    for data in report.values():
+        data.update(_gap_counts(data["gap_details"]))
+
+
 def cross_reference(
     profiles: dict[str, dict],
     declared: dict[str, set[str]],
@@ -960,6 +1025,7 @@ def cross_reference(
     standalone_cores: set[str] | None = None,
     folded_slots: frozenset[str] = frozenset(),
     platform: str = "",
+    launcher_layer: LauncherLayer | None = None,
 ) -> dict:
     """Compare emulator profiles against platform declarations.
 
@@ -998,12 +1064,15 @@ def cross_reference(
         "all_declared": all_declared,
         "folded_slots": folded_slots,
         "bios_dir": db.get("bios_dir"),
+        "launcher_candidates": [] if launcher_layer else None,
     }
     for emu_name, profile in profiles.items():
         _cross_reference_profile(
             emu_name, profile, declared, report, index, standalone_cores,
             platform,
         )
+    if launcher_layer:
+        _settle_launcher_places(report, index["launcher_candidates"], launcher_layer, db)
 
     return report
 
@@ -1195,6 +1264,10 @@ def main() -> None:
         standalone_cores=standalone_cores,
         folded_slots=folded_declared_slots(args.platforms_dir, selected, db),
         platform=config.get("_key", args.platform) if args.platform else "",
+        # What the platform's launchers open, as verify and the builder read it.
+        launcher_layer=LauncherLayer(
+            config, profiles, relevant, db, declared_destinations(config)
+        ) if args.platform else None,
     )
 
     if args.json:
diff --git a/scripts/launchers.py b/scripts/launchers.py
index d3147b35a..1f9ce1d56 100644
--- a/scripts/launchers.py
+++ b/scripts/launchers.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import re
 from collections.abc import Callable, Iterable
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
-from common import declared_root, name_match_size_ok, sanitize_pack_path
+from common import declared_root, name_match_size_ok, resolve_local_file, sanitize_pack_path
 
 # The kinds whose names say which file the launcher opens. A link of a named
 # file is one too: ROCKNIX links /storage/roms/bios/nds_bios_arm9.bin into
@@ -330,6 +330,17 @@ def standalone_root(
     return next(iter(folders)) if len(folders) == 1 else None
 
 
+def held_record(report: dict, db: dict) -> dict | None:
+    """The database record of the file the collection holds for a report entry."""
+    local, status = resolve_local_file(report, db, dest_hint=report.get("path") or "")
+    if local is None or status in ("not_found", "hash_mismatch"):
+        return None
+    for record in db.get("files", {}).values():
+        if record.get("path") == local:
+            return record
+    return None
+
+
 def declared_destinations(config: dict) -> set[str]:
     """Each destination the platform declares, relative to the core file directory.
 
diff --git a/scripts/verify.py b/scripts/verify.py
index 147a8f80d..260131e97 100644
--- a/scripts/verify.py
+++ b/scripts/verify.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ from common import (
 
 yaml = require_yaml()
 from exporter.candidates import BIOS, EntryCategories
-from launchers import LauncherLayer, declared_destinations
+from launchers import LauncherLayer, declared_destinations, held_record
 from nativemode import (
     SIZE_AND_ANY_HASH,
     digest_algorithm,
@@ -489,17 +489,6 @@ def _identity_of(entry: dict) -> dict:
     }
 
 
-def _held_record(report: dict, db: dict) -> dict | None:
-    """The database record of the file the collection holds for a report entry."""
-    local, status = resolve_local_file(report, db, dest_hint=report.get("path") or "")
-    if local is None or status in ("not_found", "hash_mismatch"):
-        return None
-    for record in db.get("files", {}).values():
-        if record.get("path") == local:
-            return record
-    return None
-
-
 def find_undeclared_files(
     config: dict,
     emulators_dir: str,
@@ -778,7 +767,7 @@ def find_undeclared_files(
 
     if launcher_layer:
         added, settled = launcher_layer.settle(
-            launcher_candidates, lambda report: _held_record(report, db)
+            launcher_candidates, lambda report: held_record(report, db)
         )
         undeclared = [u for u in undeclared if id(u) not in settled]
         undeclared.extend(added)
diff --git a/tests/test_launcher_layer.py b/tests/test_launcher_layer.py
index bb3069a88..e765fe27e 100644
--- a/tests/test_launcher_layer.py
+++ b/tests/test_launcher_layer.py
@@ -318,6 +318,32 @@ class LauncherLayerTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertNotIn("a.bin", names)
         self.assertEqual(result["packed_extras"]["bios"], len(names - {"plain.bin"}))
 
+    def test_the_gap_report_reads_the_launcher_too(self) -> None:
+        """cross_reference --platform batocera listed duckstation's
+        scph1002a.bin as packed while the PAL slot was filled by the
+        launcher's scph5502.bin, which verify and the builder both knew."""
+        from cross_reference import cross_reference, declared_names, load_platform_files
+        from launchers import declared_destinations
+
+        selected = ["launchertest"]
+        declared, data_dirs = load_platform_files(self.platforms_dir, selected)
+        layer = LauncherLayer(
+            self.config, self.profiles, self.profiles, self.db,
+            declared_destinations(self.config),
+        )
+        report = cross_reference(
+            self.profiles, declared, self.db, data_dirs, set(),
+            all_declared=declared_names(self.platforms_dir, selected, self.db),
+            standalone_cores={"psxemu", "fixemu"},
+            platform="launchertest", launcher_layer=layer,
+        )
+        gaps = sorted(
+            g["path"] for data in report.values() for g in data["gap_details"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(gaps, sorted(u["path"] for u in self._report()))
+        self.assertNotIn("core.bin", gaps)
+        self.assertEqual(report["fixemu"]["set_aside"]["launcher"], 1)
+
     def test_one_decision_for_verify_and_pack(self) -> None:
         """The layer is applied once, in the report both sides read."""
         import generate_pack