diff --git a/src/timmy/thinking.py b/src/timmy/thinking.py
index 9a872653..e71ba501 100644
--- a/src/timmy/thinking.py
+++ b/src/timmy/thinking.py
@@ -628,6 +628,35 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
         except Exception as exc:
             logger.warning("Memory status check failed: %s", exc)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _references_real_files(text: str) -> bool:
+        """Check that all source-file paths mentioned in *text* actually exist.
+
+        Extracts paths that look like Python/config source references
+        (e.g. ``src/timmy/session.py``, ``config/foo.yaml``) and verifies
+        each one on disk relative to the project root.  Returns ``True``
+        only when **every** referenced path resolves to a real file — or
+        when no paths are referenced at all (pure prose is fine).
+        """
+        # Match paths like  src/thing.py  swarm/init.py  config/x.yaml
+        # Requires at least one slash and a file extension.
+        path_pattern = re.compile(
+            r"(?<![/\w])"  # not preceded by path chars (avoid partial matches)
+            r"((?:src|tests|config|scripts|data|swarm|timmy)"
+            r"(?:/[\w./-]+\.(?:py|yaml|yml|json|toml|md|txt|cfg|ini)))"
+        )
+        paths = path_pattern.findall(text)
+        if not paths:
+            return True  # No file refs → nothing to validate
+
+        # Project root: two levels up from this file (src/timmy/thinking.py)
+        project_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent
+        for p in paths:
+            if not (project_root / p).is_file():
+                logger.info("Phantom file reference blocked: %s (not in %s)", p, project_root)
+                return False
+        return True
+
     async def _maybe_file_issues(self) -> None:
         """Every N thoughts, classify recent thoughts and file Gitea issues.
 
@@ -639,6 +668,9 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
         - Gitea is enabled and configured
         - Thought count is divisible by thinking_issue_every
         - LLM extracts at least one actionable item
+
+        Safety: every generated issue is validated to ensure referenced
+        file paths actually exist on disk, preventing phantom-bug reports.
         """
         try:
             interval = settings.thinking_issue_every
@@ -666,7 +698,10 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
                 "Rules:\n"
                 "- Only include things that could become a real code fix or feature\n"
                 "- Skip vague reflections, philosophical musings, or repeated themes\n"
-                "- Category must be one of: bug, feature, suggestion, maintenance\n\n"
+                "- Category must be one of: bug, feature, suggestion, maintenance\n"
+                "- ONLY reference files that you are CERTAIN exist in the project\n"
+                "- Do NOT invent or guess file paths — if unsure, describe the "
+                "area of concern without naming specific files\n\n"
                 "For each item, write an ENGINEER-QUALITY issue:\n"
                 '- "title": A clear, specific title (e.g. "[Memory] MEMORY.md timestamp not updating")\n'
                 '- "body": A detailed body with these sections:\n'
@@ -707,6 +742,15 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
                 if not title or len(title) < 10:
                     continue
 
+                # Validate all referenced file paths exist on disk
+                combined = f"{title}\n{body}"
+                if not self._references_real_files(combined):
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Skipped phantom issue: %s (references non-existent files)",
+                        title[:60],
+                    )
+                    continue
+
                 label = category if category in ("bug", "feature") else ""
                 result = await create_gitea_issue_via_mcp(title=title, body=body, labels=label)
                 logger.info("Thought→Issue: %s → %s", title[:60], result[:80])
diff --git a/tests/timmy/test_thinking.py b/tests/timmy/test_thinking.py
index 28b25b8a..70c8449d 100644
--- a/tests/timmy/test_thinking.py
+++ b/tests/timmy/test_thinking.py
@@ -1140,3 +1140,51 @@ def test_maybe_check_memory_graceful_on_error(tmp_path):
         mock_settings.thinking_memory_check_every = 50
         # Should not raise
         engine._maybe_check_memory()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Phantom file validation (_references_real_files)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_references_real_files_passes_existing_file(tmp_path):
+    """Existing source files should pass validation."""
+    from timmy.thinking import ThinkingEngine
+
+    # src/timmy/thinking.py definitely exists in the project
+    text = "The bug is in src/timmy/thinking.py where the loop crashes."
+    assert ThinkingEngine._references_real_files(text) is True
+
+
+def test_references_real_files_blocks_phantom_file(tmp_path):
+    """Non-existent files should be blocked."""
+    from timmy.thinking import ThinkingEngine
+
+    # A completely fabricated module path
+    text = "The bug is in src/timmy/quantum_brain.py where sessions aren't tracked."
+    assert ThinkingEngine._references_real_files(text) is False
+
+
+def test_references_real_files_blocks_phantom_swarm(tmp_path):
+    """Non-existent swarm files should be blocked."""
+    from timmy.thinking import ThinkingEngine
+
+    text = "swarm/initialization.py needs to be fixed for proper startup."
+    assert ThinkingEngine._references_real_files(text) is False
+
+
+def test_references_real_files_allows_no_paths(tmp_path):
+    """Text with no file references should pass (pure prose is fine)."""
+    from timmy.thinking import ThinkingEngine
+
+    text = "The memory system should persist across restarts."
+    assert ThinkingEngine._references_real_files(text) is True
+
+
+def test_references_real_files_blocks_mixed(tmp_path):
+    """If any referenced file is phantom, the whole text fails."""
+    from timmy.thinking import ThinkingEngine
+
+    # Mix of real and fake files — should fail because of the fake one
+    text = "Fix src/timmy/thinking.py and also src/timmy/nonexistent_module.py for the memory leak."
+    assert ThinkingEngine._references_real_files(text) is False