diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback.js b/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback.js
index 0ea323500..7cfe3cbec 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback.js
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback.js
@@ -56,8 +56,14 @@ const SELF_FEEDBACK_HEADER =
 	"durable source of truth is `.sf/sf.db`.\n\n" +
 	"Blocking entries (severity high+) remain active until an sf fix explicitly\n" +
 	"marks them resolved with evidence.\n\n";
-const JSONL_GENERATED_COMMENT =
-	"# generated from .sf/sf.db — do not edit directly; use the resolve_issue tool or sf headless triage --apply";
+// JSONL marker is a valid JSON object so strict JSONL parsers (e.g. the
+// doctor's syntax check) accept line 1. The _meta sentinel keeps the
+// "do not hand-edit" intent visible to anyone opening the file.
+const JSONL_GENERATED_COMMENT = JSON.stringify({
+	_meta: "generated from .sf/sf.db",
+	_warning:
+		"do not edit directly; use the resolve_issue tool or sf headless triage --apply",
+});
 const RECENT_RESOLVED_MARKDOWN_LIMIT = 20;
 const MARKDOWN_DETAIL_CHAR_LIMIT = 2_000;
 const SELF_FEEDBACK_SCHEMA_VERSION = 1;
@@ -225,7 +231,12 @@ function readJsonl(path) {
 		for (const line of readFileSync(path, "utf-8").split("\n")) {
 			if (!line.trim()) continue;
 			try {
-				out.push(JSON.parse(line));
+				const parsed = JSON.parse(line);
+				// Skip meta header lines emitted by regenerateSelfFeedbackJsonl
+				// — those are generator metadata, not self-feedback entries.
+				// Entries always carry an `id` string; meta lines have `_meta`.
+				if (parsed && typeof parsed === "object" && parsed._meta) continue;
+				out.push(parsed);
 			} catch {
 				/* skip malformed lines */
 			}
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/self-feedback-db.test.mjs b/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/self-feedback-db.test.mjs
index 198f91352..e1596b48f 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/self-feedback-db.test.mjs
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/self-feedback-db.test.mjs
@@ -780,8 +780,10 @@ test("markResolved_regenerates_jsonl_from_db_with_resolved_state", () => {
 	)
 		.split("\n")
 		.filter((l) => l.trim());
-	// First non-empty line is the generated comment (starts with #)
-	assert.ok(lines[0].startsWith("#"), "expected generated comment header");
+	// First non-empty line is the generated meta marker (valid JSON object so
+	// strict JSONL parsers like the doctor accept it; carries _meta sentinel).
+	const meta = JSON.parse(lines[0]);
+	assert.ok(meta._meta, "expected JSONL meta header on line 1");
 	// Second line is the resolved entry
 	const entry = JSON.parse(lines[1]);
 	assert.equal(entry.id, result.entry.id);
@@ -982,16 +984,16 @@ test("markResolved_db_only_entry_populates_jsonl_and_markdown_after_resolution",
 		join(project, ".sf", "self-feedback.jsonl"),
 		"utf-8",
 	);
-	// Comment header must be present
+	// Generated meta marker must be present on line 1 (JSON object with _meta key)
 	assert.ok(
-		jsonlContent.includes("# generated from .sf/sf.db"),
-		"JSONL must have generated comment header",
+		jsonlContent.includes('"_meta":"generated from .sf/sf.db"'),
+		"JSONL must have generated meta header",
 	);
-	// Entry must appear as resolved
+	// Entry must appear as resolved — filter out the _meta header line
 	const jsonlLines = jsonlContent.split("\n").filter((l) => {
 		try {
-			JSON.parse(l);
-			return true;
+			const parsed = JSON.parse(l);
+			return parsed && typeof parsed === "object" && !parsed._meta;
 		} catch {
 			return false;
 		}
@@ -1045,9 +1047,14 @@ test("backfillSelfFeedbackJsonl_makes_jsonl_equal_to_db_render", () => {
 		join(project, ".sf", "self-feedback.jsonl"),
 		"utf-8",
 	);
-	const firstEntryLines = firstContent
-		.split("\n")
-		.filter((l) => { try { JSON.parse(l); return true; } catch { return false; } });
+	const firstEntryLines = firstContent.split("\n").filter((l) => {
+		try {
+			const parsed = JSON.parse(l);
+			return parsed && typeof parsed === "object" && !parsed._meta;
+		} catch {
+			return false;
+		}
+	});
 	assert.equal(firstEntryLines.length, 2, "JSONL must have both DB entries");
 
 	// Second backfill is idempotent — exact same content
@@ -1064,8 +1071,9 @@ test("backfillSelfFeedbackJsonl_makes_jsonl_equal_to_db_render", () => {
 });
 
 test("regenerateSelfFeedbackJsonl_includes_generated_comment_header", () => {
-	// The JSONL file must start with a # comment line marking it as generated.
-	// readJsonl already skips non-JSON lines (the comment) gracefully.
+	// The JSONL file must start with a JSON-valid meta marker (so strict
+	// JSONL parsers like the doctor accept the file). readJsonl skips entries
+	// carrying the _meta sentinel so consumers don't see them as records.
 	const project = makeForgeProject();
 	recordSelfFeedback(
 		{ kind: "gap:header-test", severity: "low", summary: "header check" },
@@ -1080,13 +1088,11 @@ test("regenerateSelfFeedbackJsonl_includes_generated_comment_header", () => {
 		"utf-8",
 	);
 	const firstLine = content.split("\n")[0];
+	const meta = JSON.parse(firstLine);
+	assert.ok(meta._meta, "JSONL first line must be a JSON object with _meta key");
 	assert.ok(
-		firstLine.startsWith("#"),
-		"JSONL first line must be a # comment (generated header)",
-	);
-	assert.ok(
-		firstLine.includes("generated from .sf/sf.db"),
-		"generated header must mention sf.db",
+		meta._meta.includes("generated from .sf/sf.db"),
+		"_meta must mention sf.db",
 	);
 	assert.ok(
 		firstLine.includes("resolve_issue"),