diff --git a/crates/stage0/src/main.rs b/crates/stage0/src/main.rs
index 16aecb5..acc6ba2 100644
--- a/crates/stage0/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/stage0/src/main.rs
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 use uefi::boot;
 use uefi::prelude::*;
 use uefi::proto::loaded_image::LoadedImage;
-use uefi::runtime::{self, ResetType};
-use uefi::CString16;
+use uefi::runtime::{self, ResetType, VariableVendor};
+use uefi::{CStr16, CString16};
 
 /// PCR extended with SHA-256 of the loaded payload (matches stage1's binary PCR).
 const PCR_BINARY: u8 = 14;
@@ -80,6 +80,14 @@ fn run() -> Result<(), Status> {
     timing::init();
     crate::slog!("stage0: version: {}", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"));
 
+    // Fail closed unless the platform is in the state the attestation model assumes: UEFI Secure
+    // Boot enabled AND Deployed Mode. Enforcing it here means "authentic stage0 ran" -- proven by
+    // stage0's pinned firmware measurement -- implies the SB/deployed state held, even on firmware
+    // that does not measure DeployedMode into PCR 7. State only: the release signing cert is
+    // ephemeral (unknown at build time), so key identity is bound by the per-provider/per-arch
+    // golden PCR set (PCR 7 == the db), not here.
+    require_secure_boot_deployed()?;
+
     // Bring the network up once (DHCP), then fetch metadata. Metadata and payload
     // both ride the raw-TCP4 HTTP client (http.rs).
     let (binary, digest, opts) = {
@@ -131,6 +139,30 @@ fn run() -> Result<(), Status> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Fail-closed gate: require UEFI Secure Boot enabled AND Deployed Mode, both read straight from
+/// the firmware variables (reliable here, pre-ExitBootServices -- unlike later in Linux). Rejects
+/// if either is not exactly 1, or the variable is absent (Setup/User/Audit mode, or firmware that
+/// does not implement Deployed Mode -- in which case the platform cannot make the guarantee).
+fn require_secure_boot_deployed() -> Result<(), Status> {
+    if global_var_u8(uefi::cstr16!("SecureBoot")) != Some(1) {
+        crate::slog!("stage0: refusing to boot: UEFI Secure Boot is not enabled");
+        return Err(Status::SECURITY_VIOLATION);
+    }
+    if global_var_u8(uefi::cstr16!("DeployedMode")) != Some(1) {
+        crate::slog!("stage0: refusing to boot: platform is not in UEFI Deployed Mode");
+        return Err(Status::SECURITY_VIOLATION);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Read a one-byte UEFI global variable (`SecureBoot` / `DeployedMode` are UINT8). `None` if absent.
+fn global_var_u8(name: &CStr16) -> Option<u8> {
+    let mut buf = [0u8; 1];
+    runtime::get_variable(name, &VariableVendor::GLOBAL_VARIABLE, &mut buf)
+        .ok()
+        .and_then(|(data, _)| data.first().copied())
+}
+
 /// Extend a PCR with `data` via the TCG2-backed TPM transport.
 fn measure(tpm: &mut vaportpm_attest::Tpm, pcr: u8, data: &[u8]) -> Result<(), Status> {
     use vaportpm_attest::PcrOps;