diff --git a/docs/CONTRACT.md b/docs/CONTRACT.md
index 79fc892..d4b5132 100644
--- a/docs/CONTRACT.md
+++ b/docs/CONTRACT.md
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ Every `--json` mutator (any command that changes iTerm2 state) emits a single JS
 
 **Read-only** commands (`status`, `overview`, `get-prompt`, `read`) MAY omit the envelope and return their payload directly — but they MUST still be valid JSON in `--json` mode.
 
+**Key stability across variants (#222).** Every documented key in a `--json` payload MUST be present on every code path, including failure / empty / null branches. Absent values are emitted as `null`; keys are never silently dropped. Consumers iterate keys, so omission is a breaking schema change.
+
 **`overview --json` is the canonical world model (#276).** It is the single read an agent should issue to answer "what exists right now":
 
 ```json
diff --git a/tests/test_issue_222.py b/tests/test_issue_222.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..425bf75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_issue_222.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""Regression: #222 — `focus --json` null path must include `session_name` key.
+
+CONTRACT §4 Key stability: every documented --json key is present on every
+code path; absent values are `null`, never omitted. Consumers iterate keys
+and must not hit KeyError on the "no focused window" branch.
+"""
+import json
+
+import pytest
+from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+from ita import _orientation
+from ita._core import cli
+
+
+FOCUS_KEYS = {'window_id', 'tab_id', 'session_id', 'session_name'}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.regression
+def test_issue_222_focus_json_null_path_includes_session_name(monkeypatch):
+	"""Null path (no focused window): all four keys present, all None."""
+	monkeypatch.setattr(_orientation, 'run_iterm', lambda _coro: None)
+	r = CliRunner().invoke(cli, ['focus', '--json'])
+	assert r.exit_code == 0, r.output
+	data = json.loads(r.output)
+	assert set(data.keys()) == FOCUS_KEYS
+	assert data['session_name'] is None
+	assert data['window_id'] is None
+	assert data['tab_id'] is None
+	assert data['session_id'] is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.regression
+def test_issue_222_focus_json_happy_path_includes_session_name(monkeypatch):
+	"""Happy path (focused session): same key set, populated values."""
+	fake = {
+		'window_id': 'W-UUID',
+		'tab_id': 'T-UUID',
+		'session_id': 'S-UUID',
+		'session_name': 'main',
+	}
+	monkeypatch.setattr(_orientation, 'run_iterm', lambda _coro: fake)
+	r = CliRunner().invoke(cli, ['focus', '--json'])
+	assert r.exit_code == 0, r.output
+	data = json.loads(r.output)
+	assert set(data.keys()) == FOCUS_KEYS
+	assert data['session_name'] == 'main'
diff --git a/tests/test_orientation.py b/tests/test_orientation.py
index e9a9c0e..1ad04db 100644
--- a/tests/test_orientation.py
+++ b/tests/test_orientation.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 FOCUS_SCHEMA = {
 	'type': 'object',
-	'required': ['window_id', 'tab_id', 'session_id'],
+	'required': ['window_id', 'tab_id', 'session_id', 'session_name'],
 	'properties': {
 		'window_id': {},
 		'tab_id': {},