diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 4abbf2c..9742982 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ def _issue(number: int, title: str, state: str = "open", pr: bool = False) -> di
         "created_at": "2026-09-01T09:00:00Z",
         "updated_at": "2026-09-02T09:00:00Z",
         "html_url": f"http://gitea.test/Projets/demo/issues/{number}",
+        # Faithful to real Gitea 1.27 payloads: the key is ALWAYS
+        # present — null for a plain issue, an object for a PR.
+        "pull_request": {"url": "http://gitea.test/pr"} if pr else None,
     }
-    if pr:
-        issue["pull_request"] = {"url": "http://gitea.test/pr"}
     return issue
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_regression_gitea_payload.py b/tests/test_regression_gitea_payload.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c513366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_regression_gitea_payload.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""Regression: real Gitea returns "pull_request": null on plain issues.
+
+The 0.2.0–0.5.0 filter tested key *presence* ("pull_request" not in
+item), which classified every real issue as a PR and silently emptied
+every board against a real Gitea — while the test fake omitted the
+key entirely, so the suite stayed green. Found 2026-10-11 after a
+user report ("new issue does not appear on the board"): the live
+flowdeck board rendered 0 cards for 6 open issues.
+"""
+
+from app.main import _is_issue
+
+
+def test_plain_issue_with_null_pull_request_is_an_issue():
+    assert _is_issue({"number": 1, "pull_request": None}) is True
+
+
+def test_pull_request_object_is_not_an_issue():
+    assert _is_issue({"number": 2, "pull_request": {"url": "http://x/pr/2"}}) is False
+
+
+def test_missing_key_is_an_issue():
+    assert _is_issue({"number": 3}) is True
+
+
+def test_board_renders_cards_from_realistic_payload(client):
+    # The shared fake now mirrors the real payload (key always
+    # present, null on plain issues): if the filter regresses to a
+    # presence test, these cards vanish and this test goes red.
+    r = client.get("/board/Projets/demo")
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    assert "Tâche un" in r.text
+    assert "Tâche focus" in r.text
+    assert "PR déguisée" not in r.text