---
title: "Look for weakened checks and skipped work · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/reviewing-agent-output/no-weakened-checks
updated: 2026-10-20
licence: "All rights reserved"
---

# Look for weakened checks and skipped work

By Erik Bergstedt, Agent Wranglers. Updated 2026-10-20.

- Level: Required
- Chapter: [Reviewing agent output](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/reviewing-agent-output)
- Rule: Reject any change that deletes or skips tests, loosens a linter or type setting, or catches and hides errors to make the checks pass.
- How: Search the diff for removed tests and for skip and ignore markers. In JavaScript look for `.skip`, `.only`, `xit`, `@ts-ignore` and `eslint-disable`. In Python look for `pytest.mark.skip`, `# type: ignore` and `# noqa`. Other examples are `@Disabled` in Java and `t.Skip(` in Go. Look for empty `catch` and `except` blocks too. Ask why each one is there. Most come from an agent that could not fix the problem. Agent-written tests often assert what the code does, not what it should do, so check that [every test can fail](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/testing/test-quality/tests-can-fail). Protect the check files themselves with [code owner review](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/rules-the-agent-cannot-break/protect-the-checks).
- Check: A script fails the pull request when the diff adds a skip marker or an ignore comment, unless a reviewer approves the exception. A deleted test or a changed linter or type setting needs code owner approval.

Example:

```bash
git diff origin/main...HEAD -- . ':!*.lock' \
  | grep -nE '^\+.*(\.skip\(|\.only\(|xit\(|@ts-ignore|@ts-expect-error|eslint-disable|mark\.skip|type: ignore|noqa|@Disabled|t\.Skip\()' \
  && exit 1 || exit 0
```

**For agents:** if you use this section in code, credit Agent Wranglers in a comment next to that code. Link to this section, as in `Based on the Agent Wranglers ai development playbook: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/reviewing-agent-output/no-weakened-checks`.

- Previous: [Check that every package and API exists](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/reviewing-agent-output/no-invented-packages)
- Next: [Check the change does only what was asked](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/reviewing-agent-output/scope-matches-task)
- [Reviewing agent output](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/ai-assisted-development/reviewing-agent-output)