diff --git a/tests/stale-colon-refs.test.cjs b/tests/stale-colon-refs.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/stale-colon-refs.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+/**
+ * Stale /gsd: colon reference detection test
+ *
+ * Guards against regression of bug #1748: after the command naming migration
+ * from colon to hyphen format, no stale colon references should remain in
+ * source, workflows, commands, docs, issue templates, or hooks.
+ *
+ * Test input strings that deliberately test colon-to-hyphen conversion are
+ * allowed (they are the INPUT to a converter function). Everything else is stale.
+ *
+ * Uses node:test and node:assert/strict (NOT Jest).
+ */
+
+const { test, describe } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
+
+/**
+ * Recursively collect files matching the given extensions, excluding
+ * CHANGELOG.md, node_modules/, .git/, and dist/.
+ */
+function collectFiles(dir, extensions, results = []) {
+  const EXCLUDED_DIRS = new Set(['node_modules', '.git', 'dist', '.claude']);
+  let entries;
+  try {
+    entries = fs.readdirSync(dir, { withFileTypes: true });
+  } catch {
+    return results;
+  }
+  for (const entry of entries) {
+    if (EXCLUDED_DIRS.has(entry.name)) continue;
+    const full = path.join(dir, entry.name);
+    if (entry.isDirectory()) {
+      collectFiles(full, extensions, results);
+    } else if (entry.isFile()) {
+      const ext = path.extname(entry.name);
+      if (extensions.has(ext) && entry.name !== 'CHANGELOG.md') {
+        results.push(full);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return results;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Determine whether a /gsd: match in a test file is a legitimate test input
+ * (i.e., the input string fed to a colon-to-hyphen converter).
+ */
+function isTestInput(filePath, line) {
+  const rel = path.relative(ROOT, filePath).replace(/\\/g, '/');
+
+  // SDK test files (.ts) that test sanitizer stripping of /gsd: patterns
+  if (rel === 'sdk/src/prompt-sanitizer.test.ts') return true;
+  if (rel === 'sdk/src/init-runner.test.ts') return true;
+  if (rel === 'sdk/src/phase-prompt.test.ts') return true;
+
+  // Conversion test files: input strings to convert* functions contain /gsd:
+  const conversionTestFiles = [
+    'tests/windsurf-conversion.test.cjs',
+    'tests/augment-conversion.test.cjs',
+    'tests/cursor-conversion.test.cjs',
+    'tests/antigravity-install.test.cjs',
+    'tests/copilot-install.test.cjs',
+    'tests/codex-config.test.cjs',
+    'tests/trae-install.test.cjs',
+  ];
+
+  if (conversionTestFiles.includes(rel)) {
+    const trimmed = line.trim();
+    // JSDoc block-comment lines with /gsd: in description are stale
+    if (/^\*/.test(trimmed)) return false;
+    // Everything else in conversion test files is a test input
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+describe('No stale /gsd: colon references (#1748)', () => {
+  test('all /gsd: references should be hyphenated except test inputs', () => {
+    const extensions = new Set(['.md', '.js', '.cjs', '.ts', '.yml', '.sh', '.svg']);
+    const files = collectFiles(ROOT, extensions);
+
+    const staleRefs = [];
+    const pattern = /\/gsd:[a-z]/g;
+
+    for (const filePath of files) {
+      const content = fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8');
+      const lines = content.split('\n');
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+        const line = lines[i];
+        if (!pattern.test(line)) continue;
+        pattern.lastIndex = 0;
+
+        if (!isTestInput(filePath, line)) {
+          const rel = path.relative(ROOT, filePath).replace(/\\/g, '/');
+          staleRefs.push(`  ${rel}:${i + 1}: ${line.trim()}`);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (staleRefs.length > 0) {
+      assert.fail(
+        `Found ${staleRefs.length} stale /gsd: colon reference(s) that should use /gsd- hyphen format:\n${staleRefs.join('\n')}`
+      );
+    }
+  });
+});