diff --git a/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py b/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py
index 36aaee0..b51b88c 100644
--- a/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py
+++ b/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 
 import sys
 import os
+import json
+import pytest
+import urllib.request
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__) or ".")
 
 # Import from sibling
@@ -25,8 +28,7 @@ This is the background info.
 
 ## What to build
 
-Some description.
-"""
+Some description."""
     result = parse_issue_body(body, title="Test (#42)", labels=["bug"])
     assert result["title"] == "Test (#42)"
     assert result["labels"] == ["bug"]
@@ -44,8 +46,7 @@ def test_numbered_criteria():
 
 1. First item
 2. Second item
-3. Third item
-"""
+3. Third item"""
     result = parse_issue_body(body)
     assert len(result["criteria"]) == 3
     assert result["criteria"][0]["text"] == "First item"
@@ -85,8 +86,7 @@ Do this instead.
 
 ## Notes
 
-Additional info.
-"""
+Additional info."""
     result = parse_issue_body(body)
     assert "problem" in result["sections"]
     assert "fix" in result["sections"]
@@ -95,6 +95,51 @@ Additional info.
     print("PASS: test_multiple_sections")
 
 
+def test_real_issues_api():
+    """Integration test: parse 20 real Gitea issues and verify all fields extracted."""
+    token_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.config/gitea/token")
+    if not os.path.exists(token_path):
+        pytest.skip("Gitea token not available — skip integration test")
+    
+    token = open(token_path).read().strip()
+    base = "https://forge.alexanderwhitestone.com/api/v1"
+    owner, repo = "Timmy_Foundation", "compounding-intelligence"
+    
+    # Fetch up to 20 recent issues
+    url = f"{base}/repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues?state=all&limit=20&sort=created&direction=desc"
+    req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={
+        "Authorization": f"token {token}",
+        "Accept": "application/json"
+    })
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as resp:
+        issues = json.loads(resp.read())
+    
+    assert len(issues) >= 1, "Need at least 1 issue to validate"
+    
+    for issue in issues:
+        body = issue.get("body", "") or ""
+        title = issue.get("title", "")
+        labels = [l["name"] for l in issue.get("labels", [])]
+        
+        result = parse_issue_body(body, title=title, labels=labels)
+        
+        # Required keys present
+        for key in ("title", "context", "criteria", "labels", "epic_ref"):
+            assert key in result, f"Missing {{{key}}} for issue #{issue['number']}"
+        
+        # Sanity checks
+        assert result["title"] == title, f"Title mismatch issue #{issue['number']}"
+        assert result["labels"] == labels, f"Labels mismatch issue #{issue['number']}"
+        assert isinstance(result["context"], str)
+        assert isinstance(result["criteria"], list)
+        for c in result["criteria"]:
+            assert "text" in c and "checked" in c
+        
+        print(f"  Issue #{issue['number']}: criteria={len(result['criteria'])}, labels={labels}")
+    
+    print(f"  All {len(issues)} issues parsed successfully!")
+
+
 def run_all():
     test_basic_parsing()
     test_numbered_criteria()
@@ -102,7 +147,8 @@ def run_all():
     test_empty_body()
     test_no_sections()
     test_multiple_sections()
-    print("\nAll 6 tests passed!")
+    test_real_issues_api()
+    print("\nAll tests passed!")
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":