diff --git a/.kiro/specs/ha-config-bootstrap/manual-tests.md b/.kiro/specs/ha-config-bootstrap/manual-tests.md
index e5d04f9..1831100 100644
--- a/.kiro/specs/ha-config-bootstrap/manual-tests.md
+++ b/.kiro/specs/ha-config-bootstrap/manual-tests.md
@@ -117,6 +117,23 @@ printf "cluster.bin.${TAG}" > "${CONF_DIR}/current"
 > Nodes B and C need **no** config pre-installed — they will receive it from
 > the primary automatically after election completes.
 
+**Verify before starting (common mistake: wrong subdirectory):**
+
+```bash
+# The path MUST include the node name as a subdirectory:
+#   {workdir}/{myname}/conf/current  ✓  /tmp/xce-a/ctrl-a/conf/current
+#   {workdir}/conf/current           ✗  /tmp/xce-a/conf/current  ← WRONG
+
+ls -la /tmp/xce-a/ctrl-a/conf/
+# Must show: current  cluster.bin.<tag>
+```
+
+If you see the files at `/tmp/xce-a/conf/` instead, move them:
+```bash
+mkdir -p /tmp/xce-a/ctrl-a/conf
+mv /tmp/xce-a/conf/* /tmp/xce-a/ctrl-a/conf/
+```
+
 ### Start the 3-node cluster (3 terminals)
 
 **Terminal 1 — Node A (priority 0 = highest):**