diff --git a/.kiro/specs/xce-test-e2e-primitives/tasks.md b/.kiro/specs/xce-test-e2e-primitives/tasks.md
index 6bccea73..86f04ef9 100644
--- a/.kiro/specs/xce-test-e2e-primitives/tasks.md
+++ b/.kiro/specs/xce-test-e2e-primitives/tasks.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
   - _Requirements: 3.4_
   - _Boundary: JoblistCount_
   - _Depends: 1.1, 3.1_
-- [ ] 5.2 `expect-jobs N` assertion
+- [x] 5.2 `expect-jobs N` assertion
   - Add `cmd_expect_jobs`: pass when the current job count equals `N`; otherwise print expected vs actual and return `<0`.
   - Observable: `expect-jobs <correct>` succeeds; `expect-jobs <wrong>` fails the session and prints expected/actual.
   - _Requirements: 5.1, 5.2_
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test.c
index 064502c9..fa5cd816 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test.c
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ extern int cmd_runtasks(int, char*[]);
 extern int cmd_setpend(int, char*[]);
 extern int cmd_jobinfo(int, char*[]);
 extern int cmd_echo(int, char*[]);
+extern int cmd_expect_jobs(int, char*[]);
 static int worker_house_keeping(void*);
 
 /* Session verdict / loop state (xce-test-e2e-primitives task 1.1).
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ static command_t client_commands[] = {
     { "workerlist", cmd_workerlist,   "list workers"                },
     { "qctrl",      cmd_qctrl,        "queue control"               },
     { "joblist",    cmd_joblist,      "list jobs"                   },
+    { "expect-jobs", cmd_expect_jobs, "assert current job count"    },
     { "shutdown",   cmd_shutdown,     "shutdown xce controller"     },
     { "jobrun",     cmd_jobrun,       "run a job"                   },
     { "jobsub",     cmd_jobsub,       "submit a job"                },
@@ -965,6 +967,60 @@ int cmd_joblist(int argc, char* argv[])
     return 0;
 }
 
+/* `expect-jobs N` assertion (xce-test-e2e-primitives task 5.2, Req 5.1/5.2,
+ * design.md:116-117).
+ *
+ * Passes (returns 0) when the current job count equals N; otherwise prints the
+ * expected vs actual count and returns a negative errno-style value so
+ * preprocess_and_run records the session as failed (Req 1.1).
+ *
+ * A malformed argument (missing or non-numeric N) is itself an assertion
+ * failure, not a no-op. A failed joblist query is treated as a failure too: we
+ * cannot determine the count, so we never silently equate "query failed" with
+ * "zero jobs" (Req 5.2 reports actual; a failed query has no trustworthy
+ * actual). */
+int cmd_expect_jobs(int argc, char* argv[])
+{
+    long  expected;
+    char* end;
+    int   count;
+
+    if (argc != 2) {
+        printf("expect-jobs <N>\n");
+        return -EINVAL;
+    }
+
+    errno    = 0;
+    expected = strtol(argv[1], &end, 10);
+
+    if ((errno != 0) || (end == argv[1]) || (*end != '\0') || (expected < 0)) {
+        printf("expect-jobs: invalid count '%s' (expected a non-negative "
+               "integer)\n",
+               argv[1]);
+        return -EINVAL;
+    }
+
+    /* Print-free count via the shared helper. A negative rc means the query
+     * itself failed (e.g. no reachable master) — that is an assertion failure,
+     * not "0 jobs". */
+    count = joblist_query(NULL, NULL, 0);
+
+    if (count < 0) {
+        printf("expect-jobs: could not determine job count (joblist query "
+               "failed)\n");
+        return count;
+    }
+
+    if (count != (int)expected) {
+        printf("expect-jobs: expected %ld, actual %d\n", expected, count);
+        return -EINVAL;
+    }
+
+    printf("expect-jobs: ok (%d)\n", count);
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
 static void print_jobinfo(xce_job_t* job)
 {
     char idstring[128];