diff --git a/reviewer.test.ts b/reviewer.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bbec3fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/reviewer.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import { parseVerdict, cleanReviewText, isLgtmResult } from "./reviewer";
+
+describe("reviewer verdict parsing", () => {
+  it("parseVerdict extracts LGTM", () => {
+    expect(parseVerdict("some text <verdict>LGTM</verdict> more")).toBe("lgtm");
+  });
+
+  it("parseVerdict extracts ISSUES_FOUND", () => {
+    expect(parseVerdict("<verdict>ISSUES_FOUND</verdict>")).toBe("issues");
+  });
+
+  it("parseVerdict returns null when no tag", () => {
+    expect(parseVerdict("no verdict here")).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("isLgtmResult returns true for empty text", () => {
+    expect(isLgtmResult("")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isLgtmResult("  ")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("isLgtmResult returns false when severity markers present", () => {
+    expect(isLgtmResult("- **High:** something bad")).toBe(false);
+    expect(isLgtmResult("- **Medium:** fix this")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("isLgtmResult returns true for explicit LGTM text", () => {
+    expect(isLgtmResult("LGTM — looks good")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("cleanReviewText strips verdict tags", () => {
+    const raw = "Some findings\n<verdict>ISSUES_FOUND</verdict>";
+    expect(cleanReviewText(raw)).toBe("Some findings");
+  });
+
+  it("empty cleanedText with ISSUES_FOUND verdict should be treated as LGTM", () => {
+    // This tests the bug where model returns <verdict>ISSUES_FOUND</verdict>
+    // with no actual findings text — resulting in confusing "found potential issues:" + nothing
+    const raw = "<verdict>ISSUES_FOUND</verdict>";
+    const cleaned = cleanReviewText(raw);
+    expect(cleaned).toBe("");
+    // The fix: verdict=issues + empty cleaned = treat as LGTM
+    // (tested at integration level in reviewer.ts line ~395)
+    expect(isLgtmResult(cleaned)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/reviewer.ts b/reviewer.ts
index 45cbe88..72d5f74 100644
--- a/reviewer.ts
+++ b/reviewer.ts
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ export async function runReviewSession(prompt: string, opts: ReviewOptions): Pro
   }
 
   const cleanedText = cleanReviewText(reviewText);
-  const isLgtm = verdict === "lgtm";
+  // If model said ISSUES_FOUND but produced no actual findings text, treat as LGTM
+  const isLgtm = verdict === "lgtm" || (verdict === "issues" && !cleanedText.trim());
   const durationMs = Date.now() - startTime;
 
   rlog(