diff --git a/reflection/modules/sync.nu b/reflection/modules/sync.nu
index 8858c57..1b661d8 100644
--- a/reflection/modules/sync.nu
+++ b/reflection/modules/sync.nu
@@ -1363,10 +1363,9 @@ def find-unclaimed-artifacts [scan: record, root: string, node_paths: list<strin
   }
 
   for m in ($scan.modes? | default []) {
-    # mode.path may be absolute — normalize to relative for comparison
-    let mode_rel = if ($m.path | str starts-with $root) {
-      $m.path | path relative-to $root
-    } else { $m.path }
+    # Skip global framework modes (live under ONTOREF_ROOT, not project root)
+    if not ($m.path | str starts-with $root) { continue }
+    let mode_rel = $m.path | path relative-to $root
     let claimed = ($node_paths | any { |np| $mode_rel starts-with $np or $np starts-with $mode_rel })
     if not $claimed {
       $unclaimed = ($unclaimed | append { id: $"mode-($m.name)", path: $mode_rel, kind: "mode" })