diff --git a/scripts/governance-drift-check.py b/scripts/governance-drift-check.py
index 738fc29..1189d5c 100755
--- a/scripts/governance-drift-check.py
+++ b/scripts/governance-drift-check.py
@@ -18,11 +18,17 @@ report, not a gate.
 import json
 import os
 import re
-import subprocess
+import signal
 import sys
 from datetime import date
 from pathlib import Path
 
+# Report cleanly when the reader closes early (`| head`), rather than tracebacking.
+try:
+    signal.signal(signal.SIGPIPE, signal.SIG_DFL)
+except (AttributeError, ValueError):  # not POSIX, or not on the main thread
+    pass
+
 HOME = Path.home()
 CLAUDE_MD = HOME / "dotfiles" / "CLAUDE.md"
 MONTHS = ("january february march april may june july august september "