diff --git a/cmd/releasekit/recovery.go b/cmd/releasekit/recovery.go
index ebba622..55b9cfc 100644
--- a/cmd/releasekit/recovery.go
+++ b/cmd/releasekit/recovery.go
@@ -102,14 +102,17 @@ func runRecovery(ctx context.Context, invocation cli.Invocation, stdout, stderr
 		for _, item := range listed.Diagnostics {
 			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, diagnostic(item))
 		}
-		writeJSON(stdout, attemptsDocument{
+		if writeErr := writeJSON(stdout, attemptsDocument{
 			SchemaVersion: 1,
 			Command:       "publication-attempts",
 			RecordDir:     git.DisplayDiagnostic(listed.RecordDir),
 			Attempts:      attempts,
 			Diagnostics:   diagnostics,
 			Diagnostic:    diagnostic(err),
-		})
+		}); writeErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "write recovery output: %v\n", git.DisplayError(writeErr))
+			return 1
+		}
 	} else {
 		fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "publication records in %s\n", git.DisplayDiagnostic(listed.RecordDir))
 		for _, item := range listed.Attempts {
@@ -149,7 +152,10 @@ func runReconcile(ctx context.Context, invocation cli.Invocation, stdout, stderr
 			dto.ObservedCommit = result.ObservedCommit
 		}
 		dto.Diagnostic = diagnostic(err)
-		writeJSON(stdout, dto)
+		if writeErr := writeJSON(stdout, dto); writeErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "write recovery output: %v\n", git.DisplayError(writeErr))
+			return 1
+		}
 	} else if err == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "reconciled %s module=%s tag=%s state=%s\n", git.DisplayDiagnostic(invocation.RecordPath), git.DisplayDiagnostic(evidence.ModulePath), git.DisplayDiagnostic(evidence.Tag), result.State)
 		if result.State == releasekit.PublicationConflict {
@@ -243,7 +249,7 @@ func humanDiagnostic(err error) string {
 	return git.DisplayError(err).Error()
 }
 
-func writeJSON(writer io.Writer, value any) {
+func writeJSON(writer io.Writer, value any) error {
 	encoder := json.NewEncoder(writer)
-	_ = encoder.Encode(value)
+	return encoder.Encode(value)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/releasekit/recovery_test.go b/cmd/releasekit/recovery_test.go
index 44b0757..ef60df7 100644
--- a/cmd/releasekit/recovery_test.go
+++ b/cmd/releasekit/recovery_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -14,6 +15,41 @@ import (
 	"go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit/internal/publish"
 )
 
+type failingRecoveryWriter struct{ err error }
+
+func (writer failingRecoveryWriter) Write([]byte) (int, error) { return 0, writer.err }
+
+func TestRecoveryCommandsReportJSONWriteFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	repo := newCLIRepository(t)
+	cliGitRun(t, repo, "tag", "-a", "v1.2.3", "-m", "Release")
+	store := t.TempDir()
+	path, err := publish.SaveEvidence(t.Context(), repo, store, publish.Evidence{
+		RepositoryDir: repo, Endpoint: repo, Tag: "v1.2.3",
+		CandidateCommit: cliGitOutput(t, repo, "rev-parse", "HEAD"),
+		TagObject:       cliGitOutput(t, repo, "rev-parse", "v1.2.3"),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	failure := errors.New("output unavailable: https://user:audit-secret@example.invalid/output")
+	for _, args := range [][]string{{"reconcile", "--record", path, "--json"}, {"publication-attempts", "--record-dir", store, "--json"}} {
+		var normal, stderr bytes.Buffer
+		if status := run(t.Context(), args, &normal, &stderr); status != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("normal output status=%d: %s", status, &stderr)
+		}
+		stderr.Reset()
+		if status := run(t.Context(), args, failingRecoveryWriter{failure}, &stderr); status != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("failed output status=%d: %s", status, &stderr)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "output unavailable") || strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "audit-secret") {
+			t.Fatalf("output diagnostic: %s", &stderr)
+		}
+		if args[0] == "reconcile" && !strings.Contains(normal.String(), `"state":"published"`) {
+			t.Fatalf("observation changed: %s", &normal)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRecoveryDisplaysRedactCredentialPathsAndMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	secret := "audit-secret"
 	raw := "https://audit-user:" + secret + "@example.invalid/attempt.json"
diff --git a/docs/cli.md b/docs/cli.md
index f8bde05..b915ebe 100644
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ using current supported transport settings for its recorded remote name.
 | Discovery completes without record diagnostics, including an existing empty store | 0 |
 | Discovery is incomplete or fails, including cancellation | 1 |
 | Discovery argument or usage error | 2 |
+| Either command cannot write its JSON output | 1 |
+
+A JSON write failure reports a local output diagnostic on standard error. This
+status describes reporting failure and leaves the observed publication state
+unchanged.
 
 The CLI JSON schema and safe evidence fields are documented in the
 [publication record format](integrations/publication-records.md). Recovery
diff --git a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
index d1c4209..db0e964 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
@@ -210,6 +210,11 @@ endpoint-only case. No new credential-storage policy is needed.
 
 ## R06: Propagate structured-output write failures — P2
 
+**Completed:** Both recovery commands now report JSON encoder failures on
+standard error and return status 1. Failing-writer regressions passed alongside
+ordinary recovery status tests; observed publication state remains unchanged.
+The CLI reference records the reporting-failure status.
+
 **Relevant code:** `cmd/releasekit/recovery.go:242` and its two `writeJSON`
 call sites.