diff --git a/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs b/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs
index 3177754..dc50978 100644
--- a/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs
+++ b/scripts/check-rank-feedback.mjs
@@ -583,7 +583,33 @@ try {
   assert.ok(embeddedJson.input.decisionContext.nonGoals.includes('Avoid saved workspaces before one copyable result lands'));
   assert.deepEqual(embeddedJson.handoff.warnings, []);
 
-  console.log(JSON.stringify({ ok: true, top: data.ranked[0].id, hintedTop: hinted.ranked[0].id, actionTop: actions.ranked[0].id, nestedConceptTop: nestedConcept.ranked[0].id, nonGoalTop: nonGoal.ranked[0].id, structuredContextTop: structuredContext.ranked[0].id, lensOnlyTop: lensOnly.ranked[0].id, scattermindPaidShapeTop: scattermindPaidShape.ranked[0].id, mergedContextTop: mergedContext.ranked[0].id, embeddedJsonTop: embeddedJson.ranked[0].id, duplicateIds: duplicateIds.ranked.map(item => item.id), provenance: data.input.provenance, buildOrder: data.buildOrder }, null, 2));
+  const fencedJsonResponse = await fetch(`${base}/api/rank-feedback`, {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      optionsText: `Here is the Scattermind export I copied:\n\n\`\`\`json\n${JSON.stringify({
+        reference_code: 'SM-FENCE1',
+        working_name: 'Fenced pasted Concept Map',
+        ideaText: 'The user copied a fenced Scattermind JSON export plus surrounding prose.',
+        lenses: {
+          risk: 'Avoid saved workspaces and account dashboard before the first manual proof.',
+          channel: 'Build first: Fenced JSON handoff - detect the pasted Concept Map and defend the first move. Test manually: Copy the ranked brief into notes and ask one user what they would do next. Probably noise: Account dashboard with saved workspaces and collaboration.',
+        },
+      })}\n\`\`\`\n\nPlease rank this.`,
+      mode: 'mvp',
+    }),
+  });
+  assert.equal(fencedJsonResponse.status, 200);
+  const fencedJson = await fencedJsonResponse.json();
+  assert.equal(fencedJson.input.embeddedPayloadSource, 'optionsText');
+  assert.equal(fencedJson.input.provenance.artifactId, 'SM-FENCE1');
+  assert.equal(fencedJson.input.optionCount, 3);
+  assert.equal(fencedJson.ranked[0].id, 'build-order-1');
+  assert.equal(fencedJson.ranked.find(item => item.id === 'build-order-3').lane.id, 'park');
+  assert.ok(fencedJson.input.decisionContext.nonGoals.includes('Avoid saved workspaces and account dashboard before the first manual proof'));
+  assert.deepEqual(fencedJson.handoff.warnings, []);
+
+  console.log(JSON.stringify({ ok: true, top: data.ranked[0].id, hintedTop: hinted.ranked[0].id, actionTop: actions.ranked[0].id, nestedConceptTop: nestedConcept.ranked[0].id, nonGoalTop: nonGoal.ranked[0].id, structuredContextTop: structuredContext.ranked[0].id, lensOnlyTop: lensOnly.ranked[0].id, scattermindPaidShapeTop: scattermindPaidShape.ranked[0].id, mergedContextTop: mergedContext.ranked[0].id, embeddedJsonTop: embeddedJson.ranked[0].id, fencedJsonTop: fencedJson.ranked[0].id, duplicateIds: duplicateIds.ranked.map(item => item.id), provenance: data.input.provenance, buildOrder: data.buildOrder }, null, 2));
 } finally {
   server.kill('SIGTERM');
 }
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 588dedd..bd6f14a 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -486,11 +486,45 @@ function looksLikeRankPayload(value = {}) {
   );
 }
 
+function extractFirstJsonObject(text = '') {
+  const start = text.indexOf('{');
+  if (start < 0) return '';
+  let depth = 0;
+  let inString = false;
+  let escaped = false;
+  for (let index = start; index < text.length; index += 1) {
+    const char = text[index];
+    if (escaped) {
+      escaped = false;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (char === '\\' && inString) {
+      escaped = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (char === '"') {
+      inString = !inString;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (inString) continue;
+    if (char === '{') depth += 1;
+    if (char === '}') {
+      depth -= 1;
+      if (depth === 0) return text.slice(start, index + 1);
+    }
+  }
+  return '';
+}
+
 function parseEmbeddedRankPayload(value = '') {
-  const text = cleanMultiline(value, 12000);
-  if (!text.startsWith('{') || !text.endsWith('}')) return null;
+  const text = cleanMultiline(value, 12000)
+    .replace(/^```(?:json)?\s*/i, '')
+    .replace(/```$/i, '')
+    .trim();
+  const jsonText = text.startsWith('{') && text.endsWith('}') ? text : extractFirstJsonObject(text);
+  if (!jsonText) return null;
   try {
-    const parsed = JSON.parse(text);
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(jsonText);
     return looksLikeRankPayload(parsed) ? parsed : null;
   } catch {
     return null;