diff --git a/tests/integration/test_tcp_readback_contract.py b/tests/integration/test_tcp_readback_contract.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7233bb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/test_tcp_readback_contract.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""The TCP readbacks must not answer for a controller that did not reply.
+
+``[0, 0, 0]`` is a legitimate offset -- a tool deliberately cleared -- so a
+caller handed one as a not-answered sentinel cannot tell "the offset is zero"
+from "there is no controller", and a host that adopts the readback quietly
+erases the offset the user just set. The same holds for ``tcp_transform`` and
+an identity transform. waldoctl's ``RobotClient`` states both in as many words;
+par6 carries the guarantee (par6#80) and this is the parol6 side of it.
+"""
+
+import socket
+from math import isfinite
+
+import pytest
+
+from parol6 import RobotClient
+
+
+def _unserved_udp_port() -> int:
+    """A port nothing is listening on."""
+    with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM) as probe:
+        probe.bind(("127.0.0.1", 0))
+        return int(probe.getsockname()[1])
+
+
+def _apply_offset(client, x: float, y: float, z: float) -> None:
+    """Set the TCP offset and wait for it: SET_TCP_OFFSET lands in queue order."""
+    index = client.set_tcp_offset(x, y, z)
+    assert index >= 0, f"set_tcp_offset was not accepted (got {index})"
+    assert client.wait_command(index, timeout=10.0), "set_tcp_offset did not complete"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.integration
+def test_tcp_readbacks_separate_a_real_zero_from_a_silent_controller(client):
+    """A deliberate zero reads back as a value; an unanswered readback raises."""
+    _apply_offset(client, 0.0, 0.0, -25.0)
+    assert client.tcp_offset() == pytest.approx([0.0, 0.0, -25.0])
+
+    # Clearing back to zero answers a value, and the readback moved to prove it.
+    _apply_offset(client, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
+    assert client.tcp_offset() == pytest.approx([0.0, 0.0, 0.0])
+
+    transform = client.tcp_transform()
+    assert len(transform) == 6
+    assert all(isfinite(v) for v in transform)
+
+    with RobotClient(
+        host="127.0.0.1", port=_unserved_udp_port(), timeout=0.2, retries=1
+    ) as mute:
+        with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
+            mute.tcp_offset()
+        with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
+            mute.tcp_transform()