diff --git a/Pull-SDLC.ai.Tests.ps1 b/Pull-SDLC.ai.Tests.ps1
index d16b581..962ce96 100644
--- a/Pull-SDLC.ai.Tests.ps1
+++ b/Pull-SDLC.ai.Tests.ps1
@@ -2713,8 +2713,43 @@ Describe 'Output stream assignment (issue #194)' {
         # Must be a genuine Write-Information record, NOT Write-Host (which tags PSHOST).
         $commitRec.Tags | Should -Not -Contain 'PSHOST'
 
-        $appliedRec = $streamInfo | Where-Object { "$($_.MessageData)" -match 'Applied 2 ops' } | Select-Object -First 1
-        $appliedRec | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
-        $appliedRec.Tags | Should -Not -Contain 'PSHOST'
-    }
+        $appliedRec = $streamInfo | Where-Object { "$($_.MessageData)" -match 'Applied 2 ops' } | Select-Object -First 1
+        $appliedRec | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+        $appliedRec.Tags | Should -Not -Contain 'PSHOST'
+    }
+
+    # --- Regression #196: blank-line separators dropped by the stream refactor ---
+
+    It 'emits a blank-line separator immediately before the -WhatIf footer' {
+        $fx = New-DiffReplayFixture -Root $script:streamRoot `
+            -Seed { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path .github/agents -Force | Out-Null; 'one' | Out-File -Encoding utf8 .github/agents/a.md -NoNewline } `
+            -Tweak { 'TWO' | Out-File -Encoding utf8 .github/agents/a.md -NoNewline }
+        Set-SdlcSyncState -RepoRoot $fx.Consumer -Remote 'sdlc.ai' -Ref 'main' -Commit $fx.AnchorSha
+        Push-Location $fx.Consumer
+        try { git add .sdlc-ai-sync.json; git commit -q -m 'seed state' } finally { Pop-Location }
+
+        $rc = Invoke-PullSDLC -RepoRoot $fx.Consumer -RemoteName 'sdlc.ai' -NoFetch -WhatIf -InformationVariable streamInfo 6>$null
+        $rc | Should -Be 0
+
+        $msgs = @($streamInfo | ForEach-Object { "$($_.MessageData)" })
+        $idx = [array]::IndexOf($msgs, '-WhatIf specified; no changes written.')
+        $idx | Should -BeGreaterThan 0
+        $msgs[$idx - 1] | Should -Be ''
+    }
+
+    It 'emits a blank-line separator immediately before the up-to-date footer' {
+        $fx = New-DiffReplayFixture -Root $script:streamRoot `
+            -Seed { 'same' | Out-File -Encoding utf8 CLAUDE.md -NoNewline }
+        Set-SdlcSyncState -RepoRoot $fx.Consumer -Remote 'sdlc.ai' -Ref 'main' -Commit $fx.UpstreamHead
+        Push-Location $fx.Consumer
+        try { git add .sdlc-ai-sync.json; git commit -q -m 'seed state' } finally { Pop-Location }
+
+        $rc = Invoke-PullSDLC -RepoRoot $fx.Consumer -RemoteName 'sdlc.ai' -NoFetch -InformationVariable streamInfo 6>$null
+        $rc | Should -Be 0
+
+        $msgs = @($streamInfo | ForEach-Object { "$($_.MessageData)" })
+        $idx = [array]::IndexOf($msgs, 'Already up to date.')
+        $idx | Should -BeGreaterThan 0
+        $msgs[$idx - 1] | Should -Be ''
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Pull-SDLC.ai.ps1 b/Pull-SDLC.ai.ps1
index 360a379..4e64c19 100644
--- a/Pull-SDLC.ai.ps1
+++ b/Pull-SDLC.ai.ps1
@@ -2107,11 +2107,13 @@ function Invoke-PullSDLC {
     Write-PlannedOpsPreview -Ops $ops -AnchorLabel $anchorLabel -UpstreamLabel $upstreamLabel
 
     if ($WhatIfPreference) {
+        Write-Information ''
         Write-Information '-WhatIf specified; no changes written.'
         return 0
     }
 
     if ($ops.Count -eq 0) {
+        Write-Information ''
         Write-Information 'Already up to date.'
     }
     else {