diff --git a/capiscio_sdk/__init__.py b/capiscio_sdk/__init__.py
index 3f1d190..474f809 100644
--- a/capiscio_sdk/__init__.py
+++ b/capiscio_sdk/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     >>> result = validate_agent_card(card_dict)  # Uses Go core
 """
 
-__version__ = "2.7.1"
+__version__ = "2.7.2"
 
 # Core exports
 from .executor import CapiscioSecurityExecutor, secure, secure_agent
diff --git a/capiscio_sdk/connect.py b/capiscio_sdk/connect.py
index 69edec2..e9a35d5 100644
--- a/capiscio_sdk/connect.py
+++ b/capiscio_sdk/connect.py
@@ -212,6 +212,24 @@ class AgentIdentity:
     _keeper: Any = field(default=None, repr=False)
     _emitter: Any = field(default=None, repr=False)
     
+    @property
+    def guard(self) -> "SimpleGuard":
+        """Access the SimpleGuard instance for signing/verifying.
+        
+        Reuses the identity's keys_dir and DID so the guard operates
+        with the same key material that connect() provisioned.
+        """
+        if self._guard is None:
+            from .simple_guard import SimpleGuard
+            self._guard = SimpleGuard(
+                agent_id=self.did or self.agent_id,
+                base_dir=str(self.keys_dir),
+                signing_kid=self.did,
+                badge_token=self.badge_jws,
+                keys_preloaded=True,
+            )
+        return self._guard
+    
     def emit(self, event_type: str, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
         """Emit an event to the registry."""
         if not self._emitter:
diff --git a/capiscio_sdk/simple_guard.py b/capiscio_sdk/simple_guard.py
index d23908b..63ae4e3 100644
--- a/capiscio_sdk/simple_guard.py
+++ b/capiscio_sdk/simple_guard.py
@@ -213,13 +213,13 @@ def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb) -> None:
     def _resolve_project_root(self, base_dir: Optional[Union[str, Path]]) -> Path:
         """Resolve the project root directory.
         
-        When agent_id is provided explicitly, uses base_dir (or cwd) directly
-        without walking up the tree looking for agent-card.json.
+        When agent_id is provided explicitly or dev_mode is True, uses base_dir
+        (or cwd) directly without walking up the tree looking for agent-card.json.
         """
         current = Path(base_dir or os.getcwd()).resolve()
         
-        # When identity params are provided, don't walk looking for agent-card.json
-        if self._explicit_agent_id:
+        # When identity params are provided or in dev_mode, don't walk looking for agent-card.json
+        if self._explicit_agent_id or self.dev_mode:
             return current
         
         search_path = current
@@ -246,7 +246,16 @@ def _resolve_identity(self) -> None:
             logger.info(f"Using explicit agent_id: {self.agent_id}")
             return
         
-        # Case 3: Legacy agent-card.json (deprecated path)
+        # Case 3: Dev mode — placeholder until key generation
+        # (checked before legacy agent-card.json so dev_mode isn't
+        #  broken by an A2A agent-card.json that lacks public_keys)
+        if self.dev_mode:
+            logger.info("Dev Mode: Will generate did:key identity from keypair")
+            self.agent_id = "local-dev-agent"
+            self.signing_kid = "local-dev-key"
+            return
+        
+        # Case 4: Legacy agent-card.json (deprecated path)
         agent_card_path = self.project_root / "agent-card.json"
         if agent_card_path.exists():
             logger.warning(
@@ -269,13 +278,6 @@ def _resolve_identity(self) -> None:
             except Exception as e:
                 raise ConfigurationError(f"Failed to load agent-card.json: {e}")
             return
-            
-        # Case 4: Dev mode — placeholder until key generation
-        if self.dev_mode:
-            logger.info("Dev Mode: Will generate did:key identity from keypair")
-            self.agent_id = "local-dev-agent"
-            self.signing_kid = "local-dev-key"
-            return
         
         raise ConfigurationError(
             "No agent identity configured. Either:\n"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 292899c..782b2e2 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "capiscio-sdk"
-version = "2.7.1"
+version = "2.7.2"
 description = "Runtime security middleware for A2A agents"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"