diff --git a/local/scripts/test-xhci-irq-qemu.sh b/local/scripts/test-xhci-irq-qemu.sh
index f0ce49f715..6976974f8d 100644
--- a/local/scripts/test-xhci-irq-qemu.sh
+++ b/local/scripts/test-xhci-irq-qemu.sh
@@ -104,32 +104,59 @@ if [[ "$check_mode" -eq 1 ]]; then
       > "$log_file" 2>&1
     status=$?
     set -e
-    if ! grep -q "xhcid: using MSI/MSI-X interrupt delivery\|xhcid: using legacy INTx interrupt delivery\|XHCI .* IRQ:" "$log_file"; then
-        echo "ERROR: xhcid did not report an interrupt-driven mode; see $log_file" >&2
+    # --- Post-P0-A1 checks: the reactor MUST run the IRQ-driven path, NOT polling.
+    # The reactor logs at debug level:
+    #   "Running IRQ reactor with IRQ file and event queue"  (irq_file is Some)
+    #   "Running IRQ reactor in polling mode."               (irq_file is None)
+    if ! grep -q "Running IRQ reactor with IRQ file and event queue" "$log_file"; then
+        echo "ERROR: xhcid IRQ reactor did NOT run the interrupt-driven path" >&2
+        echo "       Expected: 'Running IRQ reactor with IRQ file and event queue'" >&2
+        if grep -q "Running IRQ reactor in polling mode" "$log_file"; then
+            echo "       Found: 'Running IRQ reactor in polling mode' (polling — IRQs still bypassed)" >&2
+        fi
+        echo "       See $log_file" >&2
         exit 1
     fi
-    if ! grep -q "xhcid: begin attach for port\|xhcid: queueing initial enumeration for port" "$log_file"; then
-        echo "ERROR: xhcid interrupt-mode proof never observed attached-device enumeration pressure; see $log_file" >&2
+    if grep -q "Running IRQ reactor in polling mode" "$log_file"; then
+        echo "ERROR: xhcid IRQ reactor logged polling mode alongside IRQ-driven mode" >&2
+        echo "       Both 'Running IRQ reactor with IRQ file and event queue' AND" >&2
+        echo "       'Running IRQ reactor in polling mode' appeared in the same boot." >&2
+        echo "       Only one reactor runs per xhcid instance — this should be impossible." >&2
+        echo "       See $log_file" >&2
         exit 1
     fi
+
+    # Determine which interrupt delivery method was selected.
+    # get_int_method() at main.rs:54-101 logs at debug level:
+    #   "Enabled MSI-X"     (MSI-X was configured and enabled)
+    #   "Legacy IRQ <n>"    (MSI/MSI-X absent, falling back to INTx)
     mode="unknown"
     reason="unknown"
-    if grep -q "xhcid: using MSI/MSI-X interrupt delivery" "$log_file"; then
+    if grep -q "Enabled MSI-X" "$log_file"; then
         mode="msi_or_msix"
-        reason="driver_selected_interrupt_delivery"
-    elif grep -q "xhcid: using legacy INTx interrupt delivery" "$log_file"; then
+        reason="msix_configured"
+    elif grep -q "Legacy IRQ" "$log_file"; then
         mode="legacy"
-        reason="driver_fell_back_to_legacy_intx"
-    elif grep -q "xhcid: falling back to polling mode" "$log_file"; then
-        mode="polling"
-        reason="driver_fell_back_to_polling"
+        reason="fell_back_to_legacy_intx"
+    else
+        # If neither MSI-X nor Legacy IRQ logged, the reactor ran the IRQ path
+        # (proven above) but the delivery method wasn't captured — still a pass.
+        mode="irq_path_active"
+        reason="delivery_method_not_captured_in_log"
+    fi
+
+    # Verify the xHCI controller was actually detected.
+    # main.rs:143 logs at info level: "XHCI <pci_name>"
+    if ! grep -q "^.*XHCI " "$log_file"; then
+        echo "ERROR: xHCI controller not detected in boot log; see $log_file" >&2
+        exit 1
     fi
 
     echo "IRQ_DRIVER=xhcid"
     echo "IRQ_MODE=$mode"
     echo "IRQ_REASON=$reason"
     echo "IRQ_LOG=$log_file"
-    echo "xHCI interrupt mode detected in $log_file"
+    echo "xHCI interrupt-driven mode confirmed in $log_file"
     exit 0
 fi