diff --git a/crates/kebab-cli/tests/wire_search_score_kind.rs b/crates/kebab-cli/tests/wire_search_score_kind.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f90c177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/kebab-cli/tests/wire_search_score_kind.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+//! p9-fb-38: integration tests for `search_hit.v1.score_kind`.
+
+mod common;
+
+use serde_json::Value;
+use std::fs;
+
+fn doc_with_term(workspace: &std::path::Path) {
+    fs::write(workspace.join("doc1.md"), "# Title\n\nrust async hello\n").unwrap();
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn lexical_mode_hits_carry_bm25_score_kind() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let (cfg, workspace, _data) = common::write_config(dir.path(), 0);
+    doc_with_term(&workspace);
+    common::ingest(&cfg, &workspace);
+
+    let (stdout, _stderr) = common::run_search_with_args(
+        &cfg,
+        &["--mode", "lexical", "--json", "rust"],
+    );
+    let v: Value = serde_json::from_str(stdout.trim()).expect("valid JSON");
+    let hits = v["hits"].as_array().expect("hits array");
+    assert!(!hits.is_empty(), "expected at least 1 hit");
+    for h in hits {
+        assert_eq!(h["score_kind"], "bm25");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn old_wire_reader_compat_score_kind_optional_field() {
+    // The wire schema marks `score_kind` as additive (not required).
+    // We can't easily simulate an old reader from inside Rust, but we
+    // can confirm the JSON includes the field — old readers that
+    // ignore unknown fields are unaffected. This test just ensures
+    // the field is always present in fb-38+ output.
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let (cfg, workspace, _data) = common::write_config(dir.path(), 0);
+    doc_with_term(&workspace);
+    common::ingest(&cfg, &workspace);
+
+    let (stdout, _stderr) = common::run_search_with_args(
+        &cfg,
+        &["--mode", "lexical", "--json", "rust"],
+    );
+    let v: Value = serde_json::from_str(stdout.trim()).unwrap();
+    let hit = &v["hits"][0];
+    assert!(hit.get("score_kind").is_some(), "score_kind always emitted");
+}