diff --git a/src/artifacts/register-artifact.ts b/src/artifacts/register-artifact.ts
index 4609a383..08918fa4 100644
--- a/src/artifacts/register-artifact.ts
+++ b/src/artifacts/register-artifact.ts
@@ -339,12 +339,6 @@ export async function registerArtifact(
     }
   }
 
-  const metadataInitiativeId =
-    typeof metadata.initiative_id === "string" && metadata.initiative_id.trim().length > 0
-      ? metadata.initiative_id.trim()
-      : null;
-  const initiativeIdHint = input.entity_type === "initiative" ? input.entity_id : metadataInitiativeId;
-
   let entity: any = null;
   let created = false;
   let usedLegacyCreate = false;
@@ -363,7 +357,6 @@ export async function registerArtifact(
       preview_markdown: input.preview_markdown ?? undefined,
       status,
       metadata,
-      ...(initiativeIdHint ? { initiative_id: initiativeIdHint } : {}),
       ...createdBy,
     });
 
@@ -389,7 +382,6 @@ export async function registerArtifact(
         confidence_score: confidenceScore ?? undefined,
         entity_type: input.entity_type,
         entity_id: input.entity_id,
-        ...(initiativeIdHint ? { initiative_id: initiativeIdHint } : {}),
         artifact_url: artifactUrl,
         status,
         metadata,
@@ -410,7 +402,6 @@ export async function registerArtifact(
         confidence_score: confidenceScore ?? undefined,
         entity_type: input.entity_type,
         entity_id: input.entity_id,
-        ...(initiativeIdHint ? { initiative_id: initiativeIdHint } : {}),
         artifact_url: artifactUrl,
         status,
         metadata,
diff --git a/tests/artifacts/register-artifact-client-contract.test.mjs b/tests/artifacts/register-artifact-client-contract.test.mjs
index 5f235a28..2688125f 100644
--- a/tests/artifacts/register-artifact-client-contract.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/artifacts/register-artifact-client-contract.test.mjs
@@ -219,6 +219,58 @@ test("registerArtifact sends confidence_score via metadata for client contract c
   assert.equal(createCall.body.metadata.confidence_score, 0.67);
 });
 
+test("registerArtifact keeps initiative context in metadata and off the top-level artifact payload", async () => {
+  const artifactId = "12121212-1212-4212-8212-121212121212";
+  const entityId = "34343434-3434-4434-8434-343434343434";
+  const baseUrl = "https://www.useorgx.com";
+  const calls = [];
+
+  const client = {
+    getUserId: () => "",
+    rawRequest: async (method, path, body) => {
+      calls.push({ method, path, body });
+      if (method === "POST" && path === "/api/client/artifacts") {
+        return {
+          ok: true,
+          artifact: {
+            id: artifactId,
+            artifact_url: `${baseUrl}/artifacts/${artifactId}`,
+            entity_type: "initiative",
+            entity_id: entityId,
+          },
+        };
+      }
+      throw new Error(`Unexpected request: ${method} ${path}`);
+    },
+    createEntity: async () => {
+      throw new Error("createEntity should not be called");
+    },
+    updateEntity: async () => {
+      throw new Error("updateEntity should not be called");
+    },
+  };
+
+  const result = await registerArtifact(client, baseUrl, {
+    entity_type: "initiative",
+    entity_id: entityId,
+    name: "Initiative Scoped Artifact",
+    artifact_type: "shared.project_handbook",
+    description: "Ensure initiative scope stays in metadata only.",
+    external_url: "https://example.com/artifacts/init-scope",
+    metadata: {
+      initiative_id: entityId,
+      workstream_id: "ws-1",
+    },
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(result.ok, true);
+  const createCall = calls.find((call) => call.method === "POST" && call.path === "/api/client/artifacts");
+  assert.ok(createCall);
+  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(createCall.body, "initiative_id"), false);
+  assert.equal(createCall.body.metadata.initiative_id, entityId);
+  assert.equal(createCall.body.metadata.workstream_id, "ws-1");
+});
+
 test("validateRegisterArtifactInput rejects unknown entity_type values", () => {
   const errors = validateRegisterArtifactInput({
     entity_type: "artifact",
diff --git a/tests/http/autopilot-slice-lifecycle.test.mjs b/tests/http/autopilot-slice-lifecycle.test.mjs
index ac89d040..1f095bb4 100644
--- a/tests/http/autopilot-slice-lifecycle.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/http/autopilot-slice-lifecycle.test.mjs
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ test("autopilot slice lifecycle: success registers artifact and completes run",
   assert.ok(artifactCreate, "expected artifact.create");
   assert.equal(artifactCreate.payload?.entity_type, "initiative");
   assert.equal(artifactCreate.payload?.entity_id, "init-1");
-  assert.equal(artifactCreate.payload?.initiative_id, "init-1");
+  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(artifactCreate.payload ?? {}, "initiative_id"), false);
   assert.equal(artifactCreate.payload?.name, "Mock deliverable");
   assert.equal(artifactCreate.payload?.artifact_type, "document");
   assert.equal(artifactCreate.payload?.created_by_type, "human");