diff --git a/scripts/run_text_only.py b/scripts/run_text_only.py
index 8c3cb720..01102b59 100644
--- a/scripts/run_text_only.py
+++ b/scripts/run_text_only.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+print("EVA_BRANCH marker: hello from custom branch", flush=True)
 """Text-only test flow for EVA.
 
 Runs records through the agent/user-simulator loop using pure text