diff --git a/docs/guides/managed/managed-code-analysis.md b/docs/guides/managed/managed-code-analysis.md
index 9df1841082..9b42ffdf21 100644
--- a/docs/guides/managed/managed-code-analysis.md
+++ b/docs/guides/managed/managed-code-analysis.md
@@ -388,7 +388,11 @@ name can select different nested owners. Such disjoint selected owners cannot
 establish a member pair or added/removed status even when both inventories are
 complete. Missing nominal identities cannot establish selected membership.
 Incomplete selected inventories or missing identities leave aggregate agreement
-unknown and coverage partial; known observed member pairs remain available.
+unknown, and the comparison's `coverage.status` is then `unknown`; known
+observed member pairs remain available. A side whose member inspection is
+`unavailable` also makes the comparison `unknown`, even beside a known gap on
+the other side. `partial` is reserved for known gaps such as a different
+selected scope or an unequal method-row page.
 Complete empty selected inventories agree even if their unmatched request names
 differ. Whole-assembly and selected
 inventories remain distinct scopes, and each source retains its exact request.
@@ -686,7 +690,9 @@ Windows name decorations are static inferred candidates;
 exact spelling still suppresses decoration and no runtime binding is proven.
 The mapping follows [Microsoft's charset guidance](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/native-interop/charset).
 Partial input coverage records a residual question even when no unresolved
-individual boundary was produced. Selected literal inventories likewise remain
+individual boundary was produced. An unavailable boundary inspection read no
+P/Invoke declarations, so the verification's `coverage.status` is `unknown`,
+even beside non-exhaustive native exports. Selected literal inventories likewise remain
 partial when unknown MethodDef ownership can hide a selected body.
 
 Metadata tokens are not native addresses. Native body mapping for C++/CLI,
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts
index ef429a00fb..1a8c9911f0 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts
@@ -214,7 +214,11 @@ export const managedMemberComparisonResultSchema = z.strictObject({
   methods: z.array(methodComparisonItemSchema),
   fields: z.array(fieldComparisonItemSchema),
   coverage: z.strictObject({
-    status: z.enum(["complete-within-inputs", "partial"]),
+    status: z
+      .enum(["complete-within-inputs", "partial", "unknown"])
+      .describe(
+        "complete-within-inputs only when both observations are complete over the same selected scope and method rows; unknown when a side is unavailable or the selected scope agreement cannot be established.",
+      ),
     left_status: z.enum(["complete", "partial", "unavailable"]),
     right_status: z.enum(["complete", "partial", "unavailable"]),
   }),
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparisonCoverage.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparisonCoverage.ts
index d039e012ec..f5f961886a 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparisonCoverage.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparisonCoverage.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { joinCoverageStatus, type CoverageStatus } from "../coverage.js";
 import type {
   ManagedMemberComparisonResult,
   ManagedMemberComparisonSide,
@@ -17,23 +18,34 @@ export const buildComparisonCoverage = ({
   right,
   selectionAgreement,
 }: ComparisonCoverageInput): ManagedMemberComparisonResult["coverage"] => {
-  const leftStatus = sideCoverageStatus(left);
-  const rightStatus = sideCoverageStatus(right);
-  const unknownInput =
-    left.coverage.state !== "complete" ||
-    right.coverage.state !== "complete" ||
-    selectionAgreement !== "same" ||
-    !sameMethodRows(left, right);
+  // An unavailable side examined nothing, and an unknown selection agreement
+  // cannot tell whether both sides cover the same types: either makes the
+  // comparison unknown, even beside a known gap.
+  const joined = joinCoverageStatus([
+    sideCoverageKnowledge(left),
+    sideCoverageKnowledge(right),
+    selectionAgreement === "unknown"
+      ? "unknown"
+      : selectionAgreement === "different" || !sameMethodRows(left, right)
+        ? "partial"
+        : "complete",
+  ]);
   return {
-    status:
-      !unknownInput && leftStatus === "complete" && rightStatus === "complete"
-        ? "complete-within-inputs"
-        : "partial",
-    left_status: leftStatus,
-    right_status: rightStatus,
+    status: joined === "complete" ? "complete-within-inputs" : joined,
+    left_status: sideCoverageStatus(left),
+    right_status: sideCoverageStatus(right),
   };
 };
 
+const sideCoverageKnowledge = (
+  result: ManagedMemberInspection,
+): CoverageStatus =>
+  result.coverage.state === "unavailable"
+    ? "unknown"
+    : result.coverage.state === "complete"
+      ? "complete"
+      : "partial";
+
 /** Full MethodDef coverage is required before inferring cross-build absence. */
 export const hasCompleteMethodRows = (
   result: ManagedMemberInspection,
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationMatch.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationMatch.ts
index 063c5a067e..150dd0433b 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationMatch.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationMatch.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { digestCanonicalValue } from "../canonicalDigest.js";
+import { joinCoverageStatus } from "../coverage.js";
 import type { Evidence } from "../evidence.js";
 import { machoRuntimeSymbolName } from "../native/machoSymbolName.js";
 import type {
@@ -566,13 +567,19 @@ export const buildVerificationResult = ({
     ({ boundary_kind: kind }) =>
       kind !== "pinvoke" && kind !== "runtime-provided",
   ).length;
-  const coverage: ManagedNativeVerificationResult["coverage"] = {
-    status:
-      managed.coverage.state === "complete" &&
-      native.unsupported === 0 &&
-      !native.partialExports
-        ? "complete-within-inputs"
+  // An unavailable boundary inspection read no P/Invoke declarations, so the
+  // verification cannot tell what it would cover: unknown wins beside the
+  // known gaps of skipped native Evidence or non-exhaustive exports.
+  const status = joinCoverageStatus([
+    managed.coverage.state === "unavailable"
+      ? "unknown"
+      : managed.coverage.state === "complete"
+        ? "complete"
         : "partial",
+    native.unsupported === 0 && !native.partialExports ? "complete" : "partial",
+  ]);
+  const coverage: ManagedNativeVerificationResult["coverage"] = {
+    status: status === "complete" ? "complete-within-inputs" : status,
   };
   return {
     algorithm: {
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts
index ddbf4bad5d..05622092fb 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts
@@ -143,7 +143,11 @@ export const managedNativeVerificationRequestSchema = z
   .superRefine(distinctNativeSources);
 
 const verificationCoverageSchema = z.strictObject({
-  status: z.enum(["complete-within-inputs", "partial"]),
+  status: z
+    .enum(["complete-within-inputs", "partial", "unknown"])
+    .describe(
+      "unknown when the managed boundary inspection is unavailable; partial for a partial inspection, unsupported native Evidence or non-exhaustive exports.",
+    ),
 });
 
 /** Provider-neutral managed/native verification result. */
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/managedMetadataDelta.test.ts b/tests/acceptance/managedMetadataDelta.test.ts
index 832834a6e1..a02245e147 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/managedMetadataDelta.test.ts
+++ b/tests/acceptance/managedMetadataDelta.test.ts
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@ cliTest(
     const report = managedMemberComparisonResultSchema.parse(
       parseEvidence(compared.structuredContent).normalized_result,
     );
-    expect(report.coverage.status).toBe("partial");
+    // The delta's baseline-dependent selection cannot establish its scope, so
+    // the comparison's coverage is unknown rather than a known gap.
+    expect(report.coverage.status).toBe("unknown");
     expect(report.summary).toMatchObject({ added: 0, removed: 0, unknown: 2 });
     expect(report.evidence_links).toEqual(
       sources.map(({ evidence_id }) => evidence_id),
diff --git a/tests/boundary/providers/managed/managedMemberComparisonFromMetadata.test.ts b/tests/boundary/providers/managed/managedMemberComparisonFromMetadata.test.ts
index 6f0a620485..a9e8292de2 100644
--- a/tests/boundary/providers/managed/managedMemberComparisonFromMetadata.test.ts
+++ b/tests/boundary/providers/managed/managedMemberComparisonFromMetadata.test.ts
@@ -93,7 +93,9 @@ describe("managed comparison selected nominal membership", () => {
       ...source,
       result: partial,
     });
-    expect(comparison.coverage.status).toBe("partial");
+    // The partial side cannot establish its selected scope, so scope
+    // agreement and the comparison's coverage are unknown.
+    expect(comparison.coverage.status).toBe("unknown");
     expect(comparison.summary).toEqual({
       added: 0,
       removed: 0,
@@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ describe("managed comparison selected nominal membership", () => {
         unchanged: 0,
       });
       expect(comparison.matching.unmatched).toBe(4);
-      expect(comparison.coverage.status).toBe("partial");
+      expect(comparison.coverage.status).toBe("unknown");
     },
   );
 
@@ -255,7 +257,9 @@ describe("managed comparison selected scope agreement", () => {
         ...source,
         result: limited,
       });
-      expect(comparison.coverage.status).toBe("partial");
+      // Scope agreement that cannot be established makes the comparison
+      // unknown, not a known partial gap.
+      expect(comparison.coverage.status).toBe("unknown");
       expect(comparison.limitations).toContainEqual(
         expect.stringContaining(
           "Selected declaring-type scope agreement is unknown",
@@ -267,6 +271,27 @@ describe("managed comparison selected scope agreement", () => {
     },
   );
 
+  it("reports a whole-assembly comparison unknown when one side examined no metadata", () => {
+    const source = inspect(buildManagedPeFixture(), "/fixture/whole.dll");
+    const unavailable = structuredClone(source.result);
+    unavailable.metadata.status = "malformed";
+    unavailable.coverage.state = "unavailable";
+    unavailable.types = [];
+    unavailable.methods = [];
+    unavailable.fields = [];
+    unavailable.method_rows = null;
+    const sides = [source, { ...source, result: unavailable }] as const;
+    // Both selections are whole-assembly, so only the unavailable side, not
+    // scope agreement, makes the result unknown; it wins beside the partial
+    // method-row inventory, and in either order.
+    for (const [left, right] of [sides, [sides[1], sides[0]]] as const)
+      expect(compareManagedMembers(left, right).coverage).toEqual({
+        status: "unknown",
+        left_status: left === source ? "complete" : "unavailable",
+        right_status: right === source ? "complete" : "unavailable",
+      });
+  });
+
   it("recognizes complete empty selected scopes despite different unmatched requests", () => {
     const bytes = buildManagedPeFixture();
     const left = inspect(bytes, "/fixture/empty-left.dll", ["Absent.Left"]);
diff --git a/tests/conformance/providers/managed/managedNativeVerification.test.ts b/tests/conformance/providers/managed/managedNativeVerification.test.ts
index bd15f689bf..ee8e9b475e 100644
--- a/tests/conformance/providers/managed/managedNativeVerification.test.ts
+++ b/tests/conformance/providers/managed/managedNativeVerification.test.ts
@@ -912,6 +912,66 @@ it("retains every observed native candidate", () => {
   expect(result.pinvoke_imports[0]?.candidates).toHaveLength(2);
 });
 
+it("reports coverage unknown when the managed boundary inspection is unavailable", () => {
+  const withManagedCoverage = (
+    state: "partial" | "unavailable",
+    nativeObservations: ReturnType<typeof nativeEvidenceWithExports>[],
+  ) => {
+    const input = exampleInput();
+    const managed = input.managed_boundaries;
+    const normalized = managedNativeBoundaryInspectionSchema.parse(
+      managed.normalized_result,
+    );
+    return verifyManagedNativeVerificationSource(
+      readFixtureSource({
+        ...input,
+        managed_boundaries: createEvidence(undefined, managed.provider, {
+          operation: managed.operation,
+          parameters: managed.parameters,
+          result: {
+            ...normalized,
+            ...(state === "unavailable"
+              ? { module_refs: [], pinvoke_imports: [] }
+              : {}),
+            coverage: { ...normalized.coverage, state },
+          },
+          rawResult: null,
+        }),
+        native_observations: nativeObservations,
+      }),
+    );
+  };
+  const exhaustive = nativeEvidenceWithExports(["open_native"]);
+  const macho = inspectMachoSchema.parse(exhaustive.normalized_result);
+  const partialExports = createEvidence(
+    exhaustive.subject === null
+      ? undefined
+      : {
+          path: exhaustive.subject.local_path,
+          sha256: exhaustive.subject.digest.sha256,
+          format: exhaustive.subject.format,
+        },
+    exhaustive.provider,
+    {
+      operation: exhaustive.operation,
+      parameters: exhaustive.parameters,
+      result: { ...macho, exports: { ...macho.exports, exhaustive: false } },
+      rawResult: null,
+    },
+  );
+
+  // Nothing was read on the managed side, so the result is unknown, and
+  // unknown wins beside the known gap of non-exhaustive native exports.
+  for (const native of [exhaustive, partialExports])
+    expect(withManagedCoverage("unavailable", [native]).coverage).toEqual({
+      status: "unknown",
+    });
+  // A partial inspection is a known gap.
+  expect(withManagedCoverage("partial", [exhaustive]).coverage).toEqual({
+    status: "partial",
+  });
+});
+
 describe("managed/native verification result algebra", () => {
   it("rejects states without their required native match", () => {
     const result = verifyManagedNativeVerificationSource(