diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 501be1e7..28316280 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ docs/*
 !docs/rfcs/
 !docs/rfcs/**
 
+# Local-only AI assistant context — never committed even under docs/.
+docs/AGENTS.md
+docs/CLAUDE.md
+docs/.cursorrules
+docs/.windsurfrules
+
 # Local-only PR review harness: rendering drivers, sample bank, fixtures.
 # Used by Claude during deep reviews; never shared in the repo.
 .local-review/
diff --git a/tests/test_docs_gitignore_policy.py b/tests/test_docs_gitignore_policy.py
index b040aac5..a2729fae 100644
--- a/tests/test_docs_gitignore_policy.py
+++ b/tests/test_docs_gitignore_policy.py
@@ -23,3 +23,11 @@ def test_new_top_level_markdown_docs_are_trackable():
 def test_docs_scratch_files_remain_ignored():
     """The broad docs/* ignore rule should still keep arbitrary scratch files out."""
     assert _git_check_ignore("docs/local-scratch.tmp").returncode == 0
+
+
+def test_local_only_ai_context_files_remain_ignored_under_docs():
+    """Local AI assistant context files must stay out of commits under docs/."""
+    assert _git_check_ignore("docs/AGENTS.md").returncode == 0
+    assert _git_check_ignore("docs/CLAUDE.md").returncode == 0
+    assert _git_check_ignore("docs/.cursorrules").returncode == 0
+    assert _git_check_ignore("docs/.windsurfrules").returncode == 0