diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 58794ed..4be0be9 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -104,6 +104,15 @@ originating plan in `docs/plans/`, so the two files pair up 1:1. Create the file
section per step after that, in chronological order (bottom of the file), not
newest-first like `CHANGELOG.md`.
+**Status checklist.** The top of the file, above the first step's entry, is a markdown
+checklist with one line per step from the plan (`- [ ] Step 0 —
`), so a single
+glance shows what's done and what's left without reading prose or cross-referencing
+`git log`. Check a box in the same commit that adds that step's entry — never leave a
+completed step unchecked or a not-yet-done step checked. This checklist is the
+authoritative status record; an in-session todo list (e.g. `TodoWrite`) is ephemeral
+and does not substitute for it — a new session resuming this plan should be able to
+read this file alone and know exactly where to pick up.
+
Keep the prose light — a few sentences on what was done, plus anything genuinely
interesting or non-obvious about how it went (a judgment call made, a spec gap found,
something that didn't work as expected). This is not a duplicate of the plan or the
diff --git a/docs/plans-executions/2026-08-07-1747-proxy-operator.md b/docs/plans-executions/2026-08-07-1747-proxy-operator.md
index d5c8174..3659a04 100644
--- a/docs/plans-executions/2026-08-07-1747-proxy-operator.md
+++ b/docs/plans-executions/2026-08-07-1747-proxy-operator.md
@@ -2,6 +2,22 @@
Pairs with [docs/plans/2026-08-07-1747-proxy-operator.md](../plans/2026-08-07-1747-proxy-operator.md).
+## Status
+
+- [x] Step 0 — Branch and scaffold
+- [ ] Step 1 — API types (`api/v1alpha1/proxy_types.go`)
+- [ ] Step 2 — Provider contract (`internal/provider/`)
+- [ ] Step 3 — Mock provider (`internal/provider/mock/`)
+- [ ] Step 4 — Reconciler (`internal/controller/`)
+- [ ] Step 5 — Health engine (`internal/health/`)
+- [ ] Step 6 — Lease store (`internal/lease/`)
+- [ ] Step 7 — Discovery API (`internal/discovery/`)
+- [ ] Step 8 — GCP provider (`internal/provider/gcp/`)
+- [ ] Step 9 — Orphan GC + metrics
+- [ ] Step 10 — Wiring, config, docs
+- [ ] Step 11 — Tests
+- [ ] Verification (vet/test/kind e2e) + commit, push, open MR
+
## Step 0 — Branch and scaffold
Branched off the unborn `main`: