diff --git a/HeadySystems_v13/scripts/docs/check_drift.py b/HeadySystems_v13/scripts/docs/check_drift.py
index aade3d2f..b3cf4964 100644
--- a/HeadySystems_v13/scripts/docs/check_drift.py
+++ b/HeadySystems_v13/scripts/docs/check_drift.py
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ def main() -> int:
         return 1
 
     changed = [line.strip() for line in diff.splitlines() if line.strip()]
-    watched_changes = [path for path in changed if any(path.startswith(prefix) for prefix in WATCH_PATHS)]
-    if watched_changes and "docs/" not in " ".join(changed):
+    watched_prefixes = tuple(WATCH_PATHS)
+    watched_changes = [path for path in changed if path.startswith(watched_prefixes)]
+    if watched_changes and not any("docs/" in path for path in changed):
         print("Docs drift detected: operational changes without docs updates.")
         return 1