diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs
index 9780d0630..4973f6831 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs
@@ -4407,19 +4407,8 @@ pub(crate) enum PoolMetaBootstrapAuthority {
 }
 
 impl PoolMetaBootstrapAuthority {
-    /// Merge per-pool format-load proofs into one cluster bootstrap proof.
-    ///
-    /// `None` means this pool did not prove bootstrap itself: it loaded an
-    /// already-written `format.json`, usually formatted by that pool's first-disk
-    /// peer. That must not cancel a `Fresh` or `LegacyAdoption` proof from another
-    /// pool. Two different proven authorities still collapse to `None`.
     pub(crate) fn combine_across_pools(self, other: Self) -> Self {
-        match (self, other) {
-            (Self::None, proven) | (proven, Self::None) => proven,
-            (Self::Fresh, Self::Fresh) => Self::Fresh,
-            (Self::LegacyAdoption, Self::LegacyAdoption) => Self::LegacyAdoption,
-            (Self::Fresh, Self::LegacyAdoption) | (Self::LegacyAdoption, Self::Fresh) => Self::None,
-        }
+        if self == other { self } else { Self::None }
     }
 
     fn is_proven(self) -> bool {
@@ -4427,23 +4416,6 @@ impl PoolMetaBootstrapAuthority {
     }
 }
 
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod bootstrap_authority_combine_tests {
-    use super::PoolMetaBootstrapAuthority::*;
-
-    #[test]
-    fn none_does_not_cancel_a_proven_pool() {
-        assert_eq!(Fresh.combine_across_pools(None), Fresh);
-        assert_eq!(None.combine_across_pools(Fresh), Fresh);
-        assert_eq!(LegacyAdoption.combine_across_pools(None), LegacyAdoption);
-        assert_eq!(None.combine_across_pools(LegacyAdoption), LegacyAdoption);
-        assert_eq!(Fresh.combine_across_pools(Fresh), Fresh);
-        assert_eq!(None.combine_across_pools(None), None);
-        assert_eq!(Fresh.combine_across_pools(LegacyAdoption), None);
-        assert_eq!(LegacyAdoption.combine_across_pools(Fresh), None);
-    }
-}
-
 impl PoolMetaWriteState {
     #[cfg(test)]
     pub(crate) fn for_startup(cluster_id: uuid::Uuid, fresh_bootstrap_proven: bool) -> Self {
diff --git a/docs/testing/distributed-e2e.md b/docs/testing/distributed-e2e.md
index cdced9f25..d1fe05a1a 100644
--- a/docs/testing/distributed-e2e.md
+++ b/docs/testing/distributed-e2e.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ The in-tree harness runs every node on `127.0.0.1` with a distinct port. That ma
 
 A pool striped across several localhost ports is not expressible (`RUSTFS_VOLUMES` host ellipses would collide on disk paths). Multi-host striped pools remain the hardware functional-chain / backlog #1313 / #1314 lane.
 
-Decommission and rebalance POST currently 500 on localhost DistErasure multi-pool when pool.bin writes are fenced (`pool metadata writes remain blocked` / missing fleet capability proof). Those cases still assert object bytes and SHA-256; when the API starts they wait for completion and assert post-move integrity. They do not treat the fence as a successful move.
+Decommission and rebalance POST currently 500 on localhost DistErasure multi-pool when pool.bin writes are fenced (`pool metadata writes remain blocked` / missing fleet capability proof). Those cases still assert object bytes and SHA-256; when the API starts they wait for completion and assert post-move integrity. They do not treat the fence as a successful move. This lane does not change production pool-meta bootstrap or write-fence logic; it only observes the current server behavior.
 
 ## What this lane covers