diff --git a/docs/HOST-MATRIX.md b/docs/HOST-MATRIX.md
index 4a7ef3e..c8040de 100644
--- a/docs/HOST-MATRIX.md
+++ b/docs/HOST-MATRIX.md
@@ -119,7 +119,9 @@ retired). Grounded in the actual code:
   entries, so it won't collide during validation.
 - **State home:** the app reads **`HERMES_HOME`** (`get_hermes_home()`). Do not set
   `AUTOLYCUS_HOME` for hermes-osa.
-- **Local validation home:** use the operator-owned default-compatible state directory first.
+- **Canonical first-validation state home: `HERMES_HOME=/home/clawdie/.hermes`** — _not_
+  `/home/clawdie/clawdie-ai` (an earlier target that is the old orphaned runtime; see below).
+  This value is authoritative; any agent planning a different path should align to it here first.
   For source-proof validation, run the checkout-local setup path, not the PyPI/system installer:
   ```sh
   cd /home/clawdie/ai/hermes-bsd