diff --git a/scripts/packverify.py b/scripts/packverify.py
index bcebd656..fe450dee 100644
--- a/scripts/packverify.py
+++ b/scripts/packverify.py
@@ -144,7 +144,11 @@ def verify_pack(
             if info.is_dir():
                 continue
             name = info.filename
-            if name.startswith(("INSTRUCTIONS_", "RENAMED_")) or name in (
+            # The builder writes its notes beside the slot they explain
+            # (bios/INSTRUCTIONS_x.txt, games/keen6/INSTRUCTIONS_y.txt), so
+            # they are told by their own name, not by a root prefix.
+            base = name.rsplit("/", 1)[-1]
+            if base.startswith(("INSTRUCTIONS_", "RENAMED_")) or name in (
                 "manifest.json",
                 "README.txt",
             ):
diff --git a/tests/test_e2e.py b/tests/test_e2e.py
index 5b545399..631d3c32 100644
--- a/tests/test_e2e.py
+++ b/tests/test_e2e.py
@@ -3734,7 +3734,7 @@ class TestE2E(unittest.TestCase):
             zip_names = {
                 n
                 for n in zf.namelist()
-                if not n.startswith(("INSTRUCTIONS_", "RENAMED_"))
+                if not n.rsplit("/", 1)[-1].startswith(("INSTRUCTIONS_", "RENAMED_"))
                 and n != "manifest.json"
                 and n != "README.txt"
             }