diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 2db6dd3..00de221 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 Package: pkgops
 Type: Package
 Title: Unprivileged Issuer for 'APT' Package-State Mutations
-Version: 0.0.1.10
-Date: 2026-08-20
+Version: 0.0.1.12
+Date: 2026-09-19
 Authors@R: c(
     person("Troy", "Hernandez", role = c("aut", "cre"), email = "troy@cornball.ai",
            comment = c(ORCID = "0009-0005-4248-604X")),
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index ca63db4..816b741 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+# pkgops 0.0.1.12
+
+* Transaction and configure verification now match dpkg's `Architecture: all`
+  packages to libapt's concrete architecture records. Durable observations keep
+  the plan's package identity and capture the actual installed or broken state.
+* Other concrete architectures remain distinct. Duplicate or ambiguous installed
+  rows fail verification and mark the observation unavailable.
+
+# pkgops 0.0.1.11
+
+* Known commit failures now capture observed package state before writing the
+  durable outcome and raising the original condition. A `dpkg_broken` outcome
+  records the half-configured package state, verification verdict, and observed
+  transition while preserving the helper's status and `effect_issued` boolean.
+* Failed state reads are recorded as unavailable. Unknown effects still leave
+  their intent open without a fabricated outcome.
+
 # pkgops 0.0.1.10
 
 Commit lifecycle (slice 3b): the **exported per-verb `apt_<verb>()` commit API**
diff --git a/R/commit.R b/R/commit.R
index 4afa907..82de4dd 100644
--- a/R/commit.R
+++ b/R/commit.R
@@ -454,14 +454,13 @@
     }
 
     ## step 6 -- pkgstate VERIFICATION + post-state capture (contract 4.7 / VM-gate
-    ## plan 2.2-2.4). Only on the success path (is.null(condition): an ok/no_op that
-    ## will be RETURNED, not signaled): cross-check the committed preview against
-    ## native ground truth and capture the verdict + the observed post-state + the
-    ## pre/post diff onto the outcome. A known failure carries its own condition and
-    ## a left-open effect is unknown, so neither has a trustworthy post-state. This
-    ## is observational -- never raises, never changes close/open -- so the outcome
-    ## is still written below and the outcome-before-signal order holds.
-    if (is.null(decided$condition)) {
+    ## plan 2.2-2.4). Observe every known result before closing its outcome,
+    ## including partial failures: the boundary contract requires broken package
+    ## state in the durable record. A trustworthy helper failure does not make
+    ## a fresh pkgstate read untrustworthy. Keep the helper's status and effect
+    ## boolean unchanged; observation never raises or changes close/open. Unknown
+    ## effects still leave their intent open without fabricating an outcome.
+    if (!decided$leave_open) {
         decided$outcome <- .capture_post(decided$outcome, preview, before)
     }
 
diff --git a/R/verify.R b/R/verify.R
index 65cee5b..ba7ae8e 100644
--- a/R/verify.R
+++ b/R/verify.R
@@ -135,6 +135,20 @@ set_pkgstate_reader <- .pkgops_pkgstate_reader$set_pkgstate_reader
     invisible(df)
 }
 
+## libapt P.Arch() names the cache architecture, including the native slot for
+## Architecture: all packages. dpkg retains "all" in its Architecture column.
+## Match that architecture-independent row without accepting a different concrete
+## architecture. Ambiguous ground truth fails closed rather than choosing a row.
+.installed_row <- function(inst, package, architecture) {
+    row <- inst[!is.na(inst$package) & inst$package == package &
+        !is.na(inst$architecture) &
+        inst$architecture %in% c(architecture, "all"), , drop = FALSE]
+    if (nrow(row) > 1L) {
+        stop(sprintf("ambiguous installed state for %s:%s", package, architecture))
+    }
+    row
+}
+
 ## Fold per-record failure messages into a (verified, detail) verdict: any
 ## failure -> verified FALSE with the joined reasons; none -> verified TRUE.
 .verify_result <- function(fails) {
@@ -215,9 +229,7 @@ set_pkgstate_reader <- .pkgops_pkgstate_reader$set_pkgstate_reader
             fails <- c(fails, "malformed transaction record")
             next
         }
-        row <- inst[!is.na(inst$package) & inst$package == pkg &
-            !is.na(inst$architecture) &
-            inst$architecture == arch,, drop = FALSE]
+        row <- .installed_row(inst, pkg, arch)
         why <- .check_txn_state(action, to_version, row)
         if (!is.na(why)) {
             fails <- c(fails, sprintf("%s: %s", pkg, why))
@@ -241,9 +253,7 @@ set_pkgstate_reader <- .pkgops_pkgstate_reader$set_pkgstate_reader
             fails <- c(fails, "malformed configure record")
             next
         }
-        row <- inst[!is.na(inst$package) & inst$package == pkg &
-            !is.na(inst$architecture) &
-            inst$architecture == arch,, drop = FALSE]
+        row <- .installed_row(inst, pkg, arch)
         if (nrow(row) > 0L) {
             status <- as.character(row$status[1L])
         } else {
@@ -359,7 +369,9 @@ set_pkgstate_reader <- .pkgops_pkgstate_reader$set_pkgstate_reader
 }
 
 ## The observed installed state (txn + configure): {status, version} per record,
-## keyed by `package:arch`. An absent package reads back as not-installed/"" so the
+## keyed by the PLAN's `package:arch`, also when dpkg reports Architecture: all.
+## Keeping the plan identity gives pre/post observations stable keys. An absent
+## package reads back as not-installed/"" so the
 ## key is still present (documenting what was checked). A malformed record (no
 ## package/arch) is skipped -- .verify already fails it; the observation only
 ## records what it can read.
@@ -375,9 +387,7 @@ set_pkgstate_reader <- .pkgops_pkgstate_reader$set_pkgstate_reader
             next
         }
         key <- paste0(pkg, ":", arch)
-        row <- inst[!is.na(inst$package) & inst$package == pkg &
-            !is.na(inst$architecture) &
-            inst$architecture == arch,, drop = FALSE]
+        row <- .installed_row(inst, pkg, arch)
         if (nrow(row) > 0L) {
             state[[key]] <- list(status = as.character(row$status[1L]),
                                  version = as.character(row$version[1L]))
diff --git a/inst/tinytest/test_architecture_all.R b/inst/tinytest/test_architecture_all.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ce7f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inst/tinytest/test_architecture_all.R
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# libapt's P.Arch() identifies the native cache slot for Architecture: all.
+# dpkg's Architecture field remains "all". These independently specified frames
+# reproduce the real canary mismatch without consulting or changing live dpkg.
+local({
+    verify <- pkgops:::.verify
+    observe <- pkgops:::.observe
+    reads <- 0L
+    frame <- function(arch = "all", status = "installed", version = "1.1",
+                      package = "canary-fixture") {
+        data.frame(package = package, architecture = arch, status = status,
+                   version = version, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
+    }
+    reader <- function(df) list(installed = function() {
+        reads <<- reads + 1L
+        df
+    })
+    preview <- function(action, arch = "amd64") {
+        list(verb = if (action == "configure") "apt.configure" else "apt.install",
+             records = list(list(package = "canary-fixture", architecture = arch,
+                 action = action, from_version = "1.0", to_version = "1.1",
+                 current_version = "1.0", state = "half-configured")))
+    }
+    installed <- frame()
+    absent <- installed[FALSE, ]
+    for (action in c("install", "upgrade", "downgrade", "configure")) {
+        p <- preview(action)
+        expect_true(verify(p, reader(installed))$verified)
+        got <- observe(p, reader(installed))
+        expect_identical(got$state, list("canary-fixture:amd64" =
+            list(status = "installed", version = "1.1")))
+        expect_false(got$read_failed)
+        expect_false(verify(p, reader(frame(status = "half-configured")))$verified)
+        expect_false(verify(p, reader(frame(arch = "i386")))$verified)
+        expect_false(verify(p, reader(frame(package = "another-fixture")))$verified)
+    }
+    p <- preview("install")
+    expect_false(verify(p, reader(frame(version = "1.0")))$verified)
+    expect_true(verify(preview("install", "all"), reader(installed))$verified)
+    expect_false(verify(preview("install", "all"), reader(frame(arch = "amd64")))$verified)
+    # Concrete multiarch rows remain distinct: i386's version cannot satisfy amd64.
+    multi <- rbind(frame("amd64", version = "1.0"), frame("i386"))
+    expect_false(verify(p, reader(multi))$verified)
+    expect_true(verify(preview("install", "i386"), reader(multi))$verified)
+    for (action in c("remove", "purge")) {
+        p <- preview(action)
+        expect_false(verify(p, reader(installed))$verified)
+        expect_true(verify(p, reader(absent))$verified)
+        before <- observe(p, reader(installed))
+        after <- observe(p, reader(absent))
+        expect_true(pkgops:::.state_changed(before, after))
+    }
+    expect_true(verify(preview("remove"), reader(frame(status = "config-files")))$verified)
+    expect_false(verify(preview("purge"), reader(frame(status = "config-files")))$verified)
+    # Never silently choose one row from contradictory or duplicate ground truth.
+    for (df in list(rbind(installed, frame("amd64")), rbind(installed, installed))) {
+        for (action in c("install", "configure")) {
+            p <- preview(action)
+            expect_false(verify(p, reader(df))$verified)
+            got <- observe(p, reader(df))
+            expect_true(got$read_failed)
+            expect_null(got$state)
+        }
+    }
+    expect_true(reads > 0L)
+})
diff --git a/inst/tinytest/test_commit.R b/inst/tinytest/test_commit.R
index 1482b21..7dc7430 100644
--- a/inst/tinytest/test_commit.R
+++ b/inst/tinytest/test_commit.R
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # The commit-session orchestrator (R/commit.R): capability -> open -> commit ->
-# classify -> [verify deferred] -> write_outcome -> signal, with the outcome
+# classify -> observe known result -> write_outcome -> signal, with the outcome
 # ALWAYS written before the condition is signaled (contract 4.8). Hermetic: the
 # four runix effect-session calls are replaced through the session-ops seam
 # (R/session_ops.R), so nothing reaches a broker, a pkexec entrypoint, or dpkg.
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ expect_equal(lg$seq, c("capability", "refuse"))
 ## ============================================================================
 ## step 6 -- pkgstate verification (contract 4.7). The verdict is CAPTURED onto
 ## the outcome, NEVER raised; the outcome is still written, in order; and
-## verification runs ONLY on the success path (an ok/no_op that is returned).
+## verification runs for every known result, including a signaled failure.
 ## ============================================================================
 
 ## A committable install preview carrying one resolved txn record, and a fake
@@ -506,20 +506,20 @@ expect_inherits(r, "pkgops_outcome")
 expect_true(is.na(r$verified))
 expect_equal(cr_untouched$n, 0L)                         # short-circuits, no read
 
-## a KNOWN FAILURE is not verified: verification does not run (a failure path has
-## no trustworthy post-state), and the mapped condition is still signaled after
-## the outcome was written.
+## A known failure still has observable post-state. A matching read does not
+## replace the helper's failure: the error outcome is written before signaling.
 cr_fail <- counting_reader(status = "installed", version = "1.2")  # would verify TRUE
 lg <- newlog()
 r <- run_commit(ops_for(lg, cr("ok", "operation_failed", TRUE)), preview = prev1,
                 reader = cr_fail$reader)
 expect_inherits(r, "runix_operation_failed")
-## only the pre-commit snapshot reads on a failure path; the verdict + post-state
-## observation are success-path only, so no post-commit read happens
-expect_equal(cr_fail$n, 1L)
+expect_equal(cr_fail$n, 2L)                             # pre + shared post-read
+expect_identical(lg$record$changed, TRUE)               # matches despite helper failure
+expect_identical(lg$record$state_changed, FALSE)        # same observed state before/after
+expect_identical(lg$record$outcome, "error")
 expect_true("write_outcome" %in% lg$seq)                 # known close still written
 
-## a LEFT-OPEN effect_unknown is not verified either (the effect is unknown) and
+## A left-open effect_unknown is not verified (the effect is unknown) and
 ## the intent stays open (no write_outcome).
 cr_open <- counting_reader(status = "installed", version = "1.2")
 lg <- newlog()
@@ -627,4 +627,5 @@ r <- run_commit(ops_for(lg, cr("ok", "operation_failed", TRUE)), preview = prev1
                 reader = counting_reader()$reader)
 expect_inherits(r, "runix_operation_failed")
 expect_equal(lg$record$authorized_via, "pkcheck")        # authorized before it failed
-expect_false("changed" %in% names(lg$record))            # not verified on a failure
+expect_identical(lg$record$changed, TRUE)               # independent post-state verdict
+expect_identical(lg$record$outcome, "error")             # helper failure preserved
diff --git a/inst/tinytest/test_failure_audit.R b/inst/tinytest/test_failure_audit.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..509efff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inst/tinytest/test_failure_audit.R
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+# Known failures must record independently observed state before signaling.
+# All external operations are fakes; the public commit API drives the lifecycle.
+local({
+    set_ops <- pkgops:::set_session_ops
+    set_pkcheck <- pkgops:::set_pkcheck
+    set_reader <- pkgops:::set_pkgstate_reader
+    cid <- "20260919000000000000-0123456789abcdef"
+    state <- function(status) {
+        data.frame(package = "canary-fixture", architecture = "all",
+                   version = "1.0", status = status, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
+    }
+    absent <- state("not-installed")[FALSE, ]
+    broken <- state("half-configured")
+
+    exercise <- function(verb = "install", effect = TRUE, before = absent,
+                         after = broken, read_fail = FALSE, persist_fail = FALSE,
+                         unknown = FALSE) {
+        events <- character()
+        committed <- FALSE
+        record <- NULL
+        old_ops <- set_ops(list(
+            capability = function(...) events <<- c(events, "capability"),
+            open = function(...) {
+                events <<- c(events, "open")
+                list(correlation_id = cid)
+            },
+            commit = function(...) {
+                events <<- c(events, "commit")
+                committed <<- TRUE
+                list(session_status = if (unknown) "effect_unknown" else "ok",
+                     status = "dpkg_broken", effect_issued = if (unknown) NA else effect,
+                     correlation_id = cid, detail = "synthetic failure")
+            },
+            write_outcome = function(session, record, ...) {
+                events <<- c(events, "write_outcome")
+                assign("record", record, envir = parent.env(environment()))
+                list(status = if (persist_fail) "persist_failed" else "ok")
+            },
+            refuse = function(...) stop("unexpected refusal path")))
+        on.exit(set_ops(old_ops), add = TRUE)
+        old_pk <- set_pkcheck(function(action) {
+            events <<- c(events, "pkcheck")
+            0L
+        })
+        on.exit(set_pkcheck(old_pk), add = TRUE)
+        old_reader <- set_reader(list(
+            installed = function() {
+                events <<- c(events, if (committed) "post-read" else "pre-read")
+                if (committed && read_fail) stop("synthetic read failure")
+                if (committed) after else before
+            },
+            selections = function(...) stop("unexpected selection read")))
+        on.exit(set_reader(old_reader), add = TRUE)
+        preview <- structure(list(verb = paste0("apt.", verb),
+            resource = if (verb == "configure") "" else "canary-fixture",
+            packages = if (verb == "configure") character() else "canary-fixture",
+            plan_schema = 1L, plan_hash = strrep("b", 64L), advisory_verdict = "ok",
+            records = list(list(package = "canary-fixture", architecture = "amd64",
+                action = "install", to_version = "1.0", state = "half-configured"))),
+            class = "pkgops_preview")
+        commit <- if (verb == "configure") pkgops::apt_configure else pkgops::apt_install
+        result <- tryCatch(commit(preview, interactive = FALSE), error = function(e) {
+            events <<- c(events, "signal")
+            e
+        })
+        list(result = result, record = record, events = events)
+    }
+
+    # G6: package installation touched dpkg and left a half-configured package.
+    x <- exercise()
+    expect_inherits(x$result, "runix_dpkg_broken")
+    expect_identical(x$result$effect_issued, TRUE)
+    expect_identical(x$result$correlation_id, cid)
+    expect_identical(x$events, c("capability", "pkcheck", "open", "pre-read",
+                                "commit", "post-read", "write_outcome", "signal"))
+    expect_identical(x$record$outcome, "error")
+    expect_identical(x$record$effect_issued, TRUE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$authorized_via, "pkcheck")
+    expect_identical(x$record$observed,
+                     list("canary-fixture:amd64" = list(status = "half-configured", version = "1.0")))
+    expect_identical(x$record$changed, FALSE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$state_changed, TRUE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$observed_failed, FALSE)
+
+    # G7: configure ran but the package is still broken; no observed transition.
+    x <- exercise(verb = "configure", before = broken)
+    expect_inherits(x$result, "runix_dpkg_broken")
+    expect_identical(x$record$operation, "apt.configure")
+    expect_identical(x$record$observed[["canary-fixture:amd64"]]$status, "half-configured")
+    expect_identical(x$record$changed, FALSE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$state_changed, FALSE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$effect_issued, TRUE)
+    expect_identical(tail(x$events, 3L), c("post-read", "write_outcome", "signal"))
+
+    # The same status can be a pre-effect refusal; never infer effect from status.
+    x <- exercise(effect = FALSE, before = broken)
+    expect_inherits(x$result, "runix_dpkg_broken")
+    expect_identical(x$result$effect_issued, FALSE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$effect_issued, FALSE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$state_changed, FALSE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$observed[["canary-fixture:amd64"]]$status, "half-configured")
+
+    # A read failure cannot replace the helper failure or invent observed state.
+    x <- exercise(read_fail = TRUE)
+    expect_inherits(x$result, "runix_dpkg_broken")
+    expect_identical(x$record$outcome, "error")
+    expect_identical(x$record$effect_issued, TRUE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$observed_failed, TRUE)
+    expect_false(any(c("observed", "changed", "state_changed") %in% names(x$record)))
+    expect_identical(tail(x$events, 3L), c("post-read", "write_outcome", "signal"))
+
+    # Audit persistence failure still supersedes the known helper failure.
+    x <- exercise(persist_fail = TRUE)
+    expect_inherits(x$result, "runix_broker_error")
+    expect_identical(x$result$persist_status, "persist_failed")
+    expect_identical(x$result$effect_issued, TRUE)
+    expect_identical(x$record$observed[["canary-fixture:amd64"]]$status, "half-configured")
+    expect_identical(tail(x$events, 3L), c("post-read", "write_outcome", "signal"))
+
+    # Unknown effect: no post-read and no fabricated outcome closes the intent.
+    x <- exercise(unknown = TRUE)
+    expect_inherits(x$result, "runix_helper_bad_result")
+    expect_identical(x$result$effect_issued, NA)
+    expect_identical(x$result$correlation_id, cid)
+    expect_identical(x$record, NULL)
+    expect_identical(x$events, c("capability", "pkcheck", "open", "pre-read", "commit", "signal"))
+})