diff --git a/prototype/episode-readiness-edit-focus.test.js b/prototype/episode-readiness-edit-focus.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53d58c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prototype/episode-readiness-edit-focus.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+"use strict";
+
+// Guards the connected episode-readiness editor from dropping focus on summary-only edits.
+// Run with: `node prototype/episode-readiness-edit-focus.test.js`
+
+const fs = require("fs");
+const vm = require("vm");
+const path = require("path");
+const assert = require("assert");
+
+const html = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, "episode-readiness.html"), "utf8");
+const script = html.match(/<script>([\s\S]*?)<\/script>/)[1];
+
+function makeNode(tag = "div") {
+  let className = "";
+  const node = {
+    tagName: tag,
+    id: "",
+    dataset: {},
+    style: {},
+    hidden: false,
+    disabled: false,
+    selected: false,
+    checked: false,
+    textContent: "",
+    value: "",
+    href: "",
+    type: "",
+    min: "",
+    placeholder: "",
+    _attrs: {},
+    _children: [],
+    _replaceCount: 0,
+    _listeners: {},
+    set className(value) { className = value; },
+    get className() { return className; },
+    setAttribute(name, value) {
+      this._attrs[name] = String(value);
+      if (name === "href") this.href = String(value);
+    },
+    getAttribute(name) {
+      return this._attrs[name] || null;
+    },
+    removeAttribute(name) {
+      delete this._attrs[name];
+      if (name === "href") this.href = "";
+    },
+    addEventListener(type, handler) {
+      this._listeners[type] = handler;
+    },
+    append(...children) {
+      this._children.push(...children);
+    },
+    appendChild(child) {
+      this._children.push(child);
+      return child;
+    },
+    replaceChildren(...children) {
+      this._children = children;
+      this._replaceCount += 1;
+    },
+    querySelector() {
+      return makeNode();
+    },
+    querySelectorAll() {
+      return [];
+    },
+  };
+  return node;
+}
+
+const roots = {};
+[
+  "#tracks",
+  "#status",
+  "#issues",
+  "#continue",
+  "#continueNote",
+  "#addGuest",
+  "#reset",
+  "#layout-handoff",
+].forEach((selector) => {
+  roots[selector] = makeNode("div");
+});
+
+const documentStub = {
+  createElement: (tag) => makeNode(tag),
+  createTextNode: (text) => ({ textContent: text }),
+  querySelector: (selector) => roots[selector] || makeNode(),
+};
+
+const sandbox = {
+  document: documentStub,
+  window: { location: { search: "" }, sessionStorage: undefined },
+  structuredClone: globalThis.structuredClone,
+  console,
+};
+
+vm.createContext(sandbox);
+vm.runInContext(script, sandbox);
+
+assert.strictEqual(typeof sandbox.updateTrack, "function", "episode readiness exposes updateTrack()");
+
+function summaryTexts() {
+  return roots["#issues"]._children
+    .map((node) => (node._children && node._children[0] ? node._children[0].textContent : node.textContent))
+    .filter(Boolean);
+}
+
+const tracksReplaceCount = roots["#tracks"]._replaceCount;
+assert.ok(
+  summaryTexts().some((text) => text.includes("Guest 1 still needs a speaker name")),
+  "sample readiness starts with a missing speaker-name issue",
+);
+
+sandbox.updateTrack({ target: { dataset: { field: "name" }, value: "Remote guest" } }, 1);
+
+assert.strictEqual(
+  roots["#tracks"]._replaceCount,
+  tracksReplaceCount,
+  "typing a bucket name refreshes readiness copy without rebuilding track rows",
+);
+assert.ok(
+  summaryTexts().some((text) => text.includes("Remote guest still needs a speaker name")),
+  "readiness issue titles pick up the edited bucket name",
+);
+
+sandbox.updateTrack({ target: { dataset: { field: "speakerName" }, value: "Marcus Lee" } }, 1);
+
+assert.strictEqual(
+  roots["#tracks"]._replaceCount,
+  tracksReplaceCount,
+  "typing a speaker name keeps the track list stable",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(roots["#status"].textContent, "Ready for preset styling", "resolving the name issue updates readiness");
+assert.strictEqual(roots["#continue"].href, "speaker-role-mapping.html", "summary-only edits can unlock Continue");
+
+sandbox.updateTrack({ target: { dataset: { field: "audioKey" }, value: "host-audio" } }, 1);
+
+assert.ok(
+  roots["#tracks"]._replaceCount > tracksReplaceCount,
+  "changing the recording still rebuilds track rows when row controls can change",
+);
+assert.ok(
+  summaryTexts().some((text) => text.includes("Host and Remote guest appear to share audio")),
+  "recording changes still refresh duplicate-audio readiness issues",
+);
+
+console.log("episode readiness: summary-only edits preserve track rows while recording changes rerender");
diff --git a/prototype/episode-readiness.html b/prototype/episode-readiness.html
index 9f65450..6e03042 100644
--- a/prototype/episode-readiness.html
+++ b/prototype/episode-readiness.html
@@ -515,9 +515,7 @@ <h2>Readiness summary</h2>
         return { status, issues, unresolved: unresolved.length };
       }
 
-      function render() {
-        tracksElement.replaceChildren(...tracks.map(renderTrack));
-        const readiness = evaluateReadiness();
+      function renderSummary(readiness) {
         statusElement.className = `status ${readiness.status}`;
         statusElement.textContent = readiness.status === "ready"
           ? "Ready for preset styling"
@@ -534,6 +532,16 @@ <h2>Readiness summary</h2>
         updateContinueLink(readiness);
       }
 
+      function renderTracks() {
+        tracksElement.replaceChildren(...tracks.map(renderTrack));
+      }
+
+      function render() {
+        const readiness = evaluateReadiness();
+        renderTracks();
+        renderSummary(readiness);
+      }
+
       function updateContinueLink(readiness) {
         const ready = readiness.status === "ready";
         continueLink.setAttribute("aria-disabled", String(!ready));
@@ -660,6 +668,13 @@ <h2>Readiness summary</h2>
           : field === "duration"
             ? Number(event.target.value) * 60
             : event.target.value;
+
+        // Recording changes can alter the select's "Current speaker recording" option.
+        // Other edits only change readiness copy, so keep the focused row alive.
+        if (field !== "audioKey") {
+          renderSummary(evaluateReadiness());
+          return;
+        }
         render();
       }