diff --git a/sdk/python/tests/test_artifact_workflow_and_binaries.py b/sdk/python/tests/test_artifact_workflow_and_binaries.py
index 49287a02b3..dbb9cfb44a 100644
--- a/sdk/python/tests/test_artifact_workflow_and_binaries.py
+++ b/sdk/python/tests/test_artifact_workflow_and_binaries.py
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ def test_root_fmt_recipe_formats_rust_and_python_sdk() -> None:
         if lines[index] and not lines[index].startswith((" ", "\t", "#"))
     )
     fmt_recipe = lines[fmt_index:next_recipe_index]
-
-    assert {
+    actual = {
         "working_directory": lines[0],
         "previous_attribute": lines[fmt_index - 1],
-        "commands": [line.strip() for line in fmt_recipe[1:]],
-    } == {
+        "commands": [line.strip() for line in fmt_recipe[1:] if line.strip()],
+    }
+    expected = {
         "working_directory": 'set working-directory := "codex-rs"',
         "previous_attribute": "# Format Rust and Python SDK code.",
         "commands": [
@@ -71,6 +71,16 @@ def test_root_fmt_recipe_formats_rust_and_python_sdk() -> None:
         ],
     }
 
+    assert actual == expected, (
+        "Python SDK lint/format recipe guard failed. `just fmt` should keep formatting "
+        "Rust and running Ruff for `../sdk/python` from the root justfile's default "
+        "`codex-rs` working directory, so it works from `codex/`, `codex-rs/`, and "
+        "`sdk/python/`. Fix the root `justfile` fmt recipe, then run `just fmt` from "
+        "the repo root or `sdk/python` to verify.\n"
+        f"Expected: {json.dumps(expected, indent=2)}\n"
+        f"Actual: {json.dumps(actual, indent=2)}"
+    )
+
 
 def test_generate_types_wires_all_generation_steps() -> None:
     """The type generation command should refresh every schema-derived artifact."""