diff --git a/.github/workflows/compliance-audit.yaml b/.github/workflows/compliance-audit.yaml
index 7ee18e6..dff1e85 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/compliance-audit.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/compliance-audit.yaml
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ jobs:
           path: .engineering-handbook
 
       - name: Run compliance audit
+        id: audit
         uses: anthropics/claude-code-action@v1
         with:
           anthropic_api_key: ${{ secrets.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY }}
@@ -87,12 +88,20 @@ jobs:
             - **SAM layout:** template.yaml at root, samconfig.toml gitignored with .example committed, src/ directory structure
             - **Project hygiene:** README describes architecture, .gitignore covers .env/.aws-sam/__pycache__, CloudFormation outputs include ARNs and URLs
 
-            Output a concise markdown report with pass/fail per item. Only flag actual violations — skip items that don't apply to this repo (e.g., skip Lambda checks if no Lambdas exist).
+            Return structured output with:
+            - `has_violations`: true only when one or more actual compliance violations are found.
+            - `report`: a concise markdown report with pass/fail per applicable item.
+
+            Only flag actual violations — skip items that don't apply to this repo (e.g., skip Lambda checks if no Lambdas exist).
+            Do not create or modify files, issues, pull requests, or comments.
+          claude_args: |
+            --json-schema '{"type":"object","properties":{"has_violations":{"type":"boolean","description":"True when one or more actual compliance violations are found."},"report":{"type":"string","description":"Concise markdown report with pass/fail per applicable compliance item."}},"required":["has_violations","report"],"additionalProperties":false}'
 
       - name: Create issue if violations found
-        if: failure()
+        if: ${{ fromJSON(steps.audit.outputs.structured_output).has_violations == true }}
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ steps.app-token.outputs.token }}
+          AUDIT_RESULT: ${{ steps.audit.outputs.structured_output }}
         run: |
           gh label create compliance \
             --repo "Sea-Haven-Industries/${{ matrix.repo }}" \
@@ -105,9 +114,20 @@ jobs:
             --json number \
             --jq 'length')
           if [ "$existing" -eq 0 ]; then
+            report=$(jq -r '.report' <<< "$AUDIT_RESULT")
+            body_file=$(mktemp)
+            {
+              echo "The weekly compliance audit found violations in this repo."
+              echo
+              echo "## Audit report"
+              echo
+              printf '%s\n' "$report"
+              echo
+              echo "Check the [latest audit run](https://github.com/Sea-Haven-Industries/.github/actions/workflows/compliance-audit.yaml) for details."
+            } > "$body_file"
             gh issue create \
               --repo "Sea-Haven-Industries/${{ matrix.repo }}" \
               --title "Compliance audit: violations found" \
-              --body "The weekly compliance audit found violations in this repo. Check the [latest audit run](https://github.com/Sea-Haven-Industries/.github/actions/workflows/compliance-audit.yaml) for details." \
+              --body-file "$body_file" \
               --label "compliance"
           fi