diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
index 7b4d3b19..57c0fb8c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ on:
         required: false
         type: boolean
         default: false
+      with-mfc:
+        required: false
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -145,9 +149,16 @@ jobs:
           else
             ACE_FLAG="-DNO_ACE=ON"
           fi
+          # Default MSVC cells suppress MFC discovery (keeps non-MFC cells lean).
+          # **with-mfc** cells leave FindMFC enabled so **MFCSTL** tests build.
+          if [ "${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" = "cl" ] && [ "${{ inputs.with-mfc }}" != "true" ]; then
+            MFC_FLAG="-DCMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_MFC=TRUE"
+          else
+            MFC_FLAG=""
+          fi
           if [ "${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" = "cl" ]; then
             cmake -B build -S . \
-              -DCMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_MFC=TRUE \
+              $MFC_FLAG \
               -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${RUNNER_TEMP}/sis-deps" \
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=ON \
               -DBUILD_TESTING=ON \
@@ -196,6 +207,42 @@ jobs:
           echo "ACE_LIBRARY=${ACE_LIB}"
           echo "ACE_INCLUDE_DIR=${ACE_INC}"
 
+      - name: Verify MFC discovered
+        if: inputs.with-mfc
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          MFC_HAVE="$(grep -E '^MFC_HAVE_MFC:INTERNAL=' build/CMakeCache.txt | head -1 | cut -d= -f2- || true)"
+          MFC_FOUND="$(grep -E '^MFC_FOUND:(BOOL|INTERNAL|STRING)=' build/CMakeCache.txt | head -1 | cut -d= -f2- || true)"
+          if [ "${MFC_HAVE}" != "1" ] && [ "${MFC_FOUND}" != "YES" ] && [ "${MFC_FOUND}" != "TRUE" ] && [ "${MFC_FOUND}" != "ON" ]; then
+            echo "with-mfc requested but MFC was not found:" >&2
+            grep -i '^MFC_' build/CMakeCache.txt || true
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "MFC_HAVE_MFC=${MFC_HAVE}"
+          echo "MFC_FOUND=${MFC_FOUND}"
+          grep -E '^CMAKE_MFC_FLAG:' build/CMakeCache.txt || true
+
+      - name: Verify ACE discovered
+        if: inputs.with-ace
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          ACE_LIB="$(grep -E '^ACE_LIBRARY:(FILEPATH|PATH)=' build/CMakeCache.txt | head -1 | cut -d= -f2-)"
+          ACE_INC="$(grep -E '^ACE_INCLUDE_DIR:(FILEPATH|PATH)=' build/CMakeCache.txt | head -1 | cut -d= -f2-)"
+          if [ -z "${ACE_LIB}" ] || [[ "${ACE_LIB}" == *NOTFOUND* ]]; then
+            echo "with-ace requested but ACE_LIBRARY was not found:" >&2
+            grep -i '^ACE_' build/CMakeCache.txt || true
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          if [ -z "${ACE_INC}" ] || [[ "${ACE_INC}" == *NOTFOUND* ]]; then
+            echo "with-ace requested but ACE_INCLUDE_DIR was not found:" >&2
+            grep -i '^ACE_' build/CMakeCache.txt || true
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "ACE_LIBRARY=${ACE_LIB}"
+          echo "ACE_INCLUDE_DIR=${ACE_INC}"
+
       - name: Build
         shell: bash
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 86b76b3f..75493e90 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ jobs:
       cpp-compiler: ${{ matrix.cpp_compiler }}
       build-type: Release
       with-ace: false
+      with-mfc: false
     secrets: inherit
 
   cell-ace:
@@ -83,6 +84,28 @@ jobs:
       cpp-compiler: ${{ matrix.cpp_compiler }}
       build-type: Release
       with-ace: true
+      with-mfc: false
+    secrets: inherit
+
+  cell-mfc:
+    name: CI MFC (${{ matrix.id }})
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include:
+          - id: windows-cl-mfc
+            os: windows-latest
+            c_compiler: cl
+            cpp_compiler: cl
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
+    with:
+      cell-id: ${{ matrix.id }}
+      os: ${{ matrix.os }}
+      c-compiler: ${{ matrix.c_compiler }}
+      cpp-compiler: ${{ matrix.cpp_compiler }}
+      build-type: Release
+      with-ace: false
+      with-mfc: true
     secrets: inherit
 
   install-smoke:
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 51ee7adf..a79785a4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -100,9 +100,30 @@ endif(WIN32)
 
 if(MFC_FOUND)
 
-	add_compile_definitions(STLSOFT_HAS_MFC)
+	# Shared MFC (/MD + _AFXDLL) unless the project is configured for the
+	# static CRT (**MSVC_USE_MT**), in which case static MFC is required.
+	#
+	# **CMAKE_MFC_FLAG** / **_AFXDLL** are applied only to MFC-consuming
+	# targets (see **test/unit/mfcstl** and **test.unit.versions**). Setting
+	# them project-wide would force every subsequent MSVC executable to link
+	# MFC. Without them on those targets, `find_package(MFC)` can succeed
+	# while mfcstl tests fail to link — the historical GHA failure mode.
+
+	if(MSVC_USE_MT)
+
+		set(STLSOFT_MFC_FLAG 1)
+		set(STLSOFT_MFC_SHARED OFF)
+
+		message("-- using Microsoft Foundation Classes (static; MSVC_USE_MT)")
+	else(MSVC_USE_MT)
 
-	message("-- using Microsoft Foundation Classes")
+		set(STLSOFT_MFC_FLAG 2)
+		set(STLSOFT_MFC_SHARED ON)
+
+		message("-- using Microsoft Foundation Classes (shared)")
+	endif(MSVC_USE_MT)
+
+	add_compile_definitions(STLSOFT_HAS_MFC)
 endif(MFC_FOUND)
 
 
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 6b929679..0d8affee 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 * [ ] Remove **WTL**;
 * [x] ~~~ACESTL: implement `invoke_ACE_OS_snprintf` in terms of `stlsoft_C_snprintf()`~~~ - ✅;
-* [ ] CI: exercise **MFCSTL** on a Windows cell (drop / gate `CMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_MFC`; confirm MSVC+MFC on the runner);
+* [x] ~~~CI: exercise **MFCSTL** on a Windows cell (drop / gate `CMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_MFC`; confirm MSVC+MFC on the runner)~~~ - ✅;
 * [ ] Resolve finally the structure and semantics of the top-level execution scripts (**run_all_unit_tests.sh**, **run_all_scratch_tests.sh**, **run_all_examples.sh**, **execute_performance_tests.sh**, and Windows `.cmd` counterparts) on all platforms — discovery globs, execute-bit / artifact restore, zero-match failure, verbosity, and CI wiring;
 
 
diff --git a/cmake/TargetMacros.cmake b/cmake/TargetMacros.cmake
index 5f2b320c..07dc987a 100644
--- a/cmake/TargetMacros.cmake
+++ b/cmake/TargetMacros.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,28 @@
 
 
+
+# Apply MFC link settings for targets created in the current directory
+# scope. Call before define_automated_test_program /
+# define_example_program when the target includes MFC headers.
+# **CMAKE_MFC_FLAG** is read at add_executable() time (Visual Studio
+# generators); **_AFXDLL** is required for shared MFC on Make/Ninja+cl
+# as well.
+macro(stlsoft_prepare_mfc_target)
+
+	if(NOT MFC_FOUND)
+
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "stlsoft_prepare_mfc_target() requires MFC_FOUND")
+	endif()
+
+	set(CMAKE_MFC_FLAG ${STLSOFT_MFC_FLAG})
+
+	if(STLSOFT_MFC_SHARED)
+
+		add_compile_definitions(_AFXDLL)
+	endif()
+endmacro(stlsoft_prepare_mfc_target)
+
+
 function(define_automated_test_program program_name entry_point_source_name)
 
 	add_executable(${program_name}
diff --git a/test/unit/mfcstl/CMakeLists.txt b/test/unit/mfcstl/CMakeLists.txt
index 99c39215..c0b88ac7 100644
--- a/test/unit/mfcstl/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/unit/mfcstl/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,12 @@
-# SIS:AUTO_GENERATED: Remove this line if you edit the file, otherwise it will be overwritten
+# MFC link settings must be in scope before leaf targets call
+# define_automated_test_program() (see stlsoft_prepare_mfc_target).
+# **CMAKE_MFC_FLAG** is a normal variable and would otherwise leak to later
+# sibling directories after this **add_subdirectory** returns.
+set(_stlsoft_cmake_mfc_flag_save "${CMAKE_MFC_FLAG}")
+
+stlsoft_prepare_mfc_target()
+
 add_subdirectory(memory)
+
+set(CMAKE_MFC_FLAG "${_stlsoft_cmake_mfc_flag_save}")
+unset(_stlsoft_cmake_mfc_flag_save)
diff --git a/test/unit/mfcstl/memory/test.unit.mfcstl.memory.afx_allocator/CMakeLists.txt b/test/unit/mfcstl/memory/test.unit.mfcstl.memory.afx_allocator/CMakeLists.txt
index 7e92a536..87050360 100644
--- a/test/unit/mfcstl/memory/test.unit.mfcstl.memory.afx_allocator/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/unit/mfcstl/memory/test.unit.mfcstl.memory.afx_allocator/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-# SIS:AUTO_GENERATED: Remove this line if you edit the file, otherwise it will be overwritten
 define_automated_test_program(test.unit.mfcstl.memory.afx_allocator entry.cpp)
diff --git a/test/unit/test.unit.versions/CMakeLists.txt b/test/unit/test.unit.versions/CMakeLists.txt
index 9ee86a0b..b17a7d22 100644
--- a/test/unit/test.unit.versions/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/unit/test.unit.versions/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
+if(MFC_FOUND)
+
+	# **test.unit.versions** includes <mfcstl/mfcstl.hpp> when
+	# **STLSOFT_HAS_MFC**. Save/restore **CMAKE_MFC_FLAG** so later
+	# directories are unaffected.
+	set(_stlsoft_cmake_mfc_flag_save "${CMAKE_MFC_FLAG}")
+
+	stlsoft_prepare_mfc_target()
+endif(MFC_FOUND)
+
 define_automated_test_program(test.unit.versions entry.cpp)
 
+if(MFC_FOUND)
+
+	set(CMAKE_MFC_FLAG "${_stlsoft_cmake_mfc_flag_save}")
+	unset(_stlsoft_cmake_mfc_flag_save)
+endif(MFC_FOUND)
+
 if(HAS_ACE)
 
 	target_link_libraries(test.unit.versions
diff --git a/test/unit/test.unit.versions/entry.cpp b/test/unit/test.unit.versions/entry.cpp
index fd615684..4b43cf80 100644
--- a/test/unit/test.unit.versions/entry.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/test.unit.versions/entry.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ static void TEST__WINSTL_VER()
 
 static void TEST__MFCSTL_VER()
 {
-    TEST_INT_EQ(_MFCSTL_VER_1_6_1, MFCSTL_VER);
+    TEST_INT_EQ(_MFCSTL_VER_1_6_1, _MFCSTL_VER);
 }
 #endif