diff --git a/.changeset/tidy-lynx-run.md b/.changeset/tidy-lynx-run.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9ee906fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tidy-lynx-run.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+type: Fixed
+pr: 2982
+---
+**MemPalace capture no longer silently disables itself when `capture_artifacts` is unset** — the skill gate used `!== true` (treating absent as disabled), but the capability schema defaults to enabled. Fixed to `=== false` (disabled only on explicit false). (#2641)
diff --git a/commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md b/commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md
index 218d13aeb..eaa656b28 100644
--- a/commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md
+++ b/commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Then proceed to Step 1.
 Check whether the MemPalace capability is enabled by reading `.planning/config.json` directly with the Read tool.
 
 1. Read `.planning/config.json` with the Read tool.
-2. If the file does not exist, or `config.mempalace` is absent, or `config.mempalace.enabled !== true`, or `config.mempalace.capture_artifacts !== true`: display the disabled message and **STOP**.
+2. If the file does not exist, or `config.mempalace` is absent, or `config.mempalace.enabled !== true`, or `config.mempalace.capture_artifacts === false`: display the disabled message and **STOP**.
 3. Otherwise proceed to Step 2.
 
 **Disabled message:**
diff --git a/skills/gsd-mempalace-capture/SKILL.md b/skills/gsd-mempalace-capture/SKILL.md
index 37a3a7f10..f7e984b54 100644
--- a/skills/gsd-mempalace-capture/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/gsd-mempalace-capture/SKILL.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Then proceed to Step 1.
 Check whether the MemPalace capability is enabled by reading `.planning/config.json` directly with the Read tool.
 
 1. Read `.planning/config.json` with the Read tool.
-2. If the file does not exist, or `config.mempalace` is absent, or `config.mempalace.enabled !== true`, or `config.mempalace.capture_artifacts !== true`: display the disabled message and **STOP**.
+2. If the file does not exist, or `config.mempalace` is absent, or `config.mempalace.enabled !== true`, or `config.mempalace.capture_artifacts === false`: display the disabled message and **STOP**.
 3. Otherwise proceed to Step 2.
 
 **Disabled message:**
diff --git a/tests/mempalace-capture-gate-default.test.cjs b/tests/mempalace-capture-gate-default.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c581b250
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/mempalace-capture-gate-default.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+// allow-test-rule: source-text-is-the-product (see #2641)
+// The mempalace-capture skill gates on config.mempalace.capture_artifacts.
+// The capability registry declares this key with default: true, so an absent
+// key must be treated as enabled. The skill previously used `!== true` which
+// treated absent (undefined) as disabled — inverted from the schema default.
+// The fix changes it to `=== false` (disabled only on explicit false).
+
+'use strict';
+
+const { describe, test } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+const SKILL = path.join(__dirname, '..', 'skills', 'gsd-mempalace-capture', 'SKILL.md');
+const COMMAND = path.join(__dirname, '..', 'commands', 'gsd', 'mempalace-capture.md');
+
+describe('#2641 — mempalace-capture gate treats absent capture_artifacts as enabled', () => {
+  test('SKILL.md uses === false (disabled only on explicit false), not !== true', () => {
+    const text = fs.readFileSync(SKILL, 'utf8');
+    assert.ok(
+      text.includes('capture_artifacts === false'),
+      'SKILL.md must use capture_artifacts === false (defaults to enabled when absent, matching the schema) — not !== true (#2641)',
+    );
+    assert.ok(
+      !text.includes('capture_artifacts !== true'),
+      'SKILL.md must NOT use the inverted capture_artifacts !== true check (#2641)',
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md uses === false, not !== true', () => {
+    const text = fs.readFileSync(COMMAND, 'utf8');
+    assert.ok(
+      text.includes('capture_artifacts === false'),
+      'commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md must use capture_artifacts === false (#2641)',
+    );
+    assert.ok(
+      !text.includes('capture_artifacts !== true'),
+      'commands/gsd/mempalace-capture.md must NOT use the inverted check (#2641)',
+    );
+  });
+});