diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a43e8ef53..00c580d7e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -377,8 +377,11 @@ jobs:
           fi
           case "$GAMES" in
             none)
-              test "$SMOKE" = "skipped"
-              echo "skipped: smoke and frame gates ($REASON)"
+              # A path the map calls no game surface can still trip a smoke job (a script under
+              # scripts/ is in the heavy set), and a smoke that ran and passed is more evidence
+              # than a skip, not a contradiction. Only a failure is wrong here.
+              [ "$SMOKE" = "skipped" ] || [ "$SMOKE" = "success" ]
+              echo "ran: smoke and frame gates ($REASON)"
               ;;
             surface)
               test "$SMOKE" = "success"
diff --git a/changes/lane-credits-pane.md b/changes/lane-credits-pane.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..218b0d958
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/lane-credits-pane.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+### Fixed
+
+- `check-game-front-end` counts `CreditsPane` as a game's credits surface. 0.38.4's games pin reported `Games/deepward - no credits` for a game that renders the credits in the `GameMenu` the engine ships (`CreditsPane` in a detail slot), because the pattern only knew `CreditsScreen`, `CreditsPanel` and the generated asset credits. Harbor Heat's baselined `#credits` entry no longer applies at the current pin, so the baseline shrinks from 8 entries to 7; Brightway Park's stays until the games pin that ships its menu.
+
+### Fixed (CI)
+
+- The ci aggregate job accepts a smoke run that actually ran and passed when the path map says no game surface changed. A script under scripts/** is in the heavy set but not in the game map, so GAMES=none with SMOKE=success is a real combination; the job asserted on skipped and failed an otherwise green run, which is what blocked this PR.
diff --git a/scripts/game-front-end-baseline.json b/scripts/game-front-end-baseline.json
index 23e687fc4..51b95ba5e 100644
--- a/scripts/game-front-end-baseline.json
+++ b/scripts/game-front-end-baseline.json
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   "brightway-park#credits",
   "brightway-park#settings",
   "ember-command#settings",
-  "harbor-heat#credits",
   "harbor-heat#settings",
   "odd-orbit#settings",
   "scrap-signal#credits",
diff --git a/scripts/gameFrontEnd.test.ts b/scripts/gameFrontEnd.test.ts
index 6a209565d..467e4d86b 100644
--- a/scripts/gameFrontEnd.test.ts
+++ b/scripts/gameFrontEnd.test.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,15 @@ describe("findFrontEndGaps", () => {
     ).toEqual(["probe#settings"]);
   });
 
+  test("a GameMenu credits pane clears it - the menu the engine ships carries credits", () => {
+    expect(
+      scan({
+        "Games/probe/src/ui/menu/ProbeMenu.tsx":
+          'import { CreditsPane } from "@jgengine/react/gameMenuSaves";\nconst verbs = [{ id: "credits", label: "Credits" }];\n',
+      }),
+    ).toEqual(["probe#settings"]);
+  });
+
   test("generated asset credits also clear it", () => {
     expect(
       scan({ "Games/probe/src/ui.tsx": 'import { creditsForSourceIds } from "@jgengine/assets/credits";\n' }),
diff --git a/scripts/gameFrontEnd.ts b/scripts/gameFrontEnd.ts
index 59a14e769..f4fa6da1c 100644
--- a/scripts/gameFrontEnd.ts
+++ b/scripts/gameFrontEnd.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ const REQUIREMENTS = [
   },
   {
     id: "credits",
-    pattern: /CreditsScreen|CreditsPanel|creditsFor(?:Source|Asset)Ids|creditsForSources|<Credits\b/,
-    fix: "add a credits screen — `creditsForSourceIds(ids)` generates the asset attribution, `CreditsScreen` renders it; see `Games/wreckway`",
+    // `CreditsPane` is the game menu's own detail pane (#2317). A game that puts credits in the menu
+    // the engine ships has shipped credits, and 0.38.4's pin saw Deepward reported as having none.
+    pattern: /CreditsScreen|CreditsPanel|CreditsPane|creditsFor(?:Source|Asset)Ids|creditsForSources|<Credits\b/,
+    fix: "add a credits screen - `creditsForSourceIds(ids)` generates the asset attribution, `CreditsPane` in a `GameMenu` detail slot or `CreditsScreen` renders it; see `Games/wreckway`",
   },
 ] as const;