diff --git a/crates/aura-cli/src/research_docs.rs b/crates/aura-cli/src/research_docs.rs
index 44b4912..8b4cb02 100644
--- a/crates/aura-cli/src/research_docs.rs
+++ b/crates/aura-cli/src/research_docs.rs
@@ -250,6 +250,15 @@ fn validate_process_file(file: &PathBuf) -> Result<(), String> {
 }
 
 fn register_process(file: &PathBuf, env: &Env) -> Result<(), String> {
+    if env.provenance().is_none() {
+        let cwd = std::env::current_dir()
+            .map(|d| d.display().to_string())
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        return Err(format!(
+            "process register needs a project: the document store lives under the \
+             project store root (no Aura.toml found up from {cwd})"
+        ));
+    }
     let doc = parse_valid_process(file)
         .map_err(|m| format!("refusing to register: {m}"))?;
     let canonical = process_to_json(&doc);
@@ -580,6 +589,15 @@ fn validate_campaign_file(file: &PathBuf, env: &Env) -> Result<(), String> {
 }
 
 fn register_campaign(file: &PathBuf, env: &Env) -> Result<(), String> {
+    if env.provenance().is_none() {
+        let cwd = std::env::current_dir()
+            .map(|d| d.display().to_string())
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        return Err(format!(
+            "campaign register needs a project: the document store lives under the \
+             project store root (no Aura.toml found up from {cwd})"
+        ));
+    }
     let doc = parse_valid_campaign(file)
         .map_err(|m| format!("refusing to register: {m}"))?;
     let canonical = campaign_to_json(&doc);
diff --git a/crates/aura-cli/tests/research_docs.rs b/crates/aura-cli/tests/research_docs.rs
index 7b4ef46..a251532 100644
--- a/crates/aura-cli/tests/research_docs.rs
+++ b/crates/aura-cli/tests/research_docs.rs
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ fn process_introspect_metrics_plus_another_mode_is_usage_exit_2() {
 
 #[test]
 fn process_register_stores_content_addressed_under_runs_root() {
-    let dir = temp_cwd("process-register");
+    // #305: register needs a project (the show/runs guard family).
+    let (dir, _fixture) = fresh_project();
     write_doc(&dir, "p.process.json", PROCESS_DOC);
     let (out, code) = run_code_in(&dir, &["process", "register", "p.process.json"]);
     assert_eq!(code, Some(0), "stdout/stderr: {out}");
@@ -1067,7 +1068,8 @@ fn campaign_introspect_content_id_prints_hash() {
 
 #[test]
 fn campaign_register_stores_content_addressed_under_runs_root() {
-    let dir = temp_cwd("campaign-register");
+    // #305: register needs a project (the show/runs guard family).
+    let (dir, _fixture) = fresh_project();
     write_doc(&dir, "c.campaign.json", CAMPAIGN_DOC);
     let (out, code) = run_code_in(&dir, &["campaign", "register", "c.campaign.json"]);
     assert_eq!(code, Some(0), "stdout/stderr: {out}");
@@ -1202,7 +1204,8 @@ fn wrong_kind_refusal_names_the_kind_key() {
 /// have already made.
 #[test]
 fn campaign_register_refuses_invalid_document_and_writes_nothing() {
-    let dir = temp_cwd("campaign-register-invalid");
+    // #305: register needs a project (the show/runs guard family).
+    let (dir, _fixture) = fresh_project();
     let bad = CAMPAIGN_DOC.replacen(r#""values": [8]"#, r#""values": []"#, 1);
     write_doc(&dir, "bad.campaign.json", &bad);
     let (out, code) = run_code_in(&dir, &["campaign", "register", "bad.campaign.json"]);
@@ -1223,7 +1226,8 @@ fn campaign_register_refuses_invalid_document_and_writes_nothing() {
 /// would silently persist an unenforceable risk regime.
 #[test]
 fn campaign_register_refuses_invalid_risk_section_and_writes_nothing() {
-    let dir = temp_cwd("campaign-register-invalid-risk");
+    // #305: register needs a project (the show/runs guard family).
+    let (dir, _fixture) = fresh_project();
     let bad = CAMPAIGN_DOC.replacen(
         "\"seed\": 1,",
         "\"seed\": 1,\n  \"risk\": [ { \"vol\": { \"length\": 0, \"k\": 2.0 } } ],",
@@ -1250,7 +1254,8 @@ fn campaign_register_refuses_invalid_risk_section_and_writes_nothing() {
 /// precedent).
 #[test]
 fn campaign_register_refuses_invalid_cost_section_and_writes_nothing() {
-    let dir = temp_cwd("campaign-register-invalid-cost");
+    // #305: register needs a project (the show/runs guard family).
+    let (dir, _fixture) = fresh_project();
     let bad = CAMPAIGN_DOC.replacen(
         "\"seed\": 1,",
         "\"seed\": 1,\n  \"cost\": [ { \"constant\": { \"cost_per_trade\": -2.0 } } ],",