diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 411964b..1692f90 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ Ranker's continuation job is narrow:
 
 `Snapshot / Concept Map → candidate feature/action set → Rank-ready build order`
 
-`POST /api/rank-feedback` accepts a `prioritix-feature-set-v1`-style payload from Scattermind and returns ranked items plus `buildOrder.doFirst / validateNext / defer / park`. It accepts candidate arrays as `features`, `actions`, `nextMoves`, or `candidates` either at the top level or under `featureSet`, and it can consume a nested `conceptMap.nextActions / nextMoves` artifact directly, so Scattermind can hand off Concept Map next actions without renaming them into fake software features. It also returns a `brief` with source, next-48-hour actions, carried-forward assumptions/constraints/non-goals, and `whatWouldChangeRanking` checks, plus a `handoff` object (`rank-feedback-result-v1`) with source provenance, item trace rows, and contract warnings for missing artifact IDs, source sections, original prompt provenance, or evidence on active items. Keep this contract action-first; do not use it as a reason to add generic dashboard, auth, billing, or workspace layers before the bridge has proof.
+`POST /api/rank-feedback` accepts a `prioritix-feature-set-v1`-style payload from Scattermind and returns ranked items plus `buildOrder.doFirst / validateNext / defer / park`. It accepts candidate arrays as `features`, `actions`, `nextMoves`, or `candidates` either at the top level or under `featureSet`, and it can consume a nested `conceptMap.nextActions / nextMoves` artifact directly, so Scattermind can hand off Concept Map next actions without renaming them into fake software features. Empty wrapper arrays are ignored rather than allowed to shadow a real nested Concept Map action set, which keeps partially-normalized Scattermind exports rankable. It also returns a `brief` with source, next-48-hour actions, carried-forward assumptions/constraints/non-goals, and `whatWouldChangeRanking` checks, plus a `handoff` object (`rank-feedback-result-v1`) with source provenance, item trace rows, and contract warnings for missing artifact IDs, source sections, original prompt provenance, or evidence on active items. Keep this contract action-first; do not use it as a reason to add generic dashboard, auth, billing, or workspace layers before the bridge has proof.
 
 Candidate items may include optional 1–10 `rankerHints` (`value`, `effort`, `confidence`, `urgency`, `revenue`, `novelty`, `risk`). Ranker blends those explicit Scattermind hints with text heuristics; `effort` is inverted into feasibility. Hints improve the defended order, but `recommendedLane: "defer"` or `"park"` remains a safety rail so dashboard-swamp items do not get promoted by flashy wording. For clean bridge handoff, Scattermind should send `sourceSection` and `evidenceNeeded` on each active next move. Scattermind can also send `targetAudience`, `constraints`, `assumptions`, and `nonGoals` / `avoid` at the top level, in `featureSet`, or inside `conceptMap.context`; Ranker returns that decision context in `input.decisionContext` and `handoff.decisionContext`, and penalizes candidates that conflict with source non-goals (for example saved workspaces/auth/billing before the continuation proof). If Scattermind sends duplicate candidate IDs, Ranker keeps the first ID, suffixes later duplicates (`preview-2`), and reports the normalization in `handoff.warnings` / `handoff.itemTrace` so downstream build-order references remain addressable.
 
diff --git a/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs b/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs
index 63b0a7c..338fc79 100644
--- a/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs
+++ b/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs
@@ -171,6 +171,33 @@ try {
   assert.equal(nestedConcept.ranked.find(item => item.id === 'lesson-library').lane.id, 'park');
   assert.deepEqual(nestedConcept.handoff.warnings, []);
 
+  const emptyWrapperResponse = await fetch(`${base}/api/rank-feedback`, {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      sourceName: 'Scattermind',
+      artifactId: 'concept_map_empty_wrappers',
+      originalPrompt: 'The export includes empty feature arrays plus real Concept Map next actions.',
+      idea: 'Ranker should ignore empty wrapper arrays and rank the real nested action set.',
+      mode: 'mvp',
+      features: [],
+      featureSet: { features: [], actions: [] },
+      conceptMap: {
+        nextActions: [
+          { id: 'source-action-proof', action: 'Source action proof', why: 'Use the Concept Map next action directly to defend the first move.', evidence: 'Can this action become a build-order preview?', suggestedLane: 'do-first' },
+          { id: 'source-action-export', action: 'Copyable action brief', why: 'Keep the handoff artifact-shaped for a tired user.', evidence: 'Can the brief be pasted into notes?', suggestedLane: 'validate-next' },
+          { id: 'empty-shadow-dashboard', action: 'Saved dashboard after empty import', why: 'Auth workspace dashboard that should not win.', suggestedLane: 'park' },
+        ],
+      },
+    }),
+  });
+  assert.equal(emptyWrapperResponse.status, 200);
+  const emptyWrapper = await emptyWrapperResponse.json();
+  assert.equal(emptyWrapper.input.optionCount, 3);
+  assert.equal(emptyWrapper.ranked[0].id, 'source-action-proof', 'empty top-level arrays must not shadow nested Concept Map actions');
+  assert.equal(emptyWrapper.ranked.find(item => item.id === 'source-action-proof').provenance.sourceSection, 'concept-map.nextActions');
+  assert.deepEqual(emptyWrapper.handoff.warnings, []);
+
   const nonGoalResponse = await fetch(`${base}/api/rank-feedback`, {
     method: 'POST',
     headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 77f3bdb..1d1622b 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ function normalizeOptionIds(options = []) {
 }
 
 function candidateArrayFrom(...entries) {
-  return entries.find(entry => Array.isArray(entry?.items)) || null;
+  return entries.find(entry => Array.isArray(entry?.items) && entry.items.length > 0) || null;
 }
 
 function optionsFromBody(body = {}) {