diff --git a/crates/videre-sdk/src/adapter.rs b/crates/videre-sdk/src/adapter.rs
index 0e6f3edb..f48067fe 100644
--- a/crates/videre-sdk/src/adapter.rs
+++ b/crates/videre-sdk/src/adapter.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,16 @@
 
 use crate::{Config, Fault, IntentHeader, IntentStatus, Quotation, SubmitOutcome, VenueError};
 
+/// Reject an empty receipt as `invalid-body` before it reaches an
+/// adapter. Called by the export shim ahead of `status` and `cancel`.
+#[doc(hidden)]
+pub fn guard_receipt(receipt: &[u8]) -> Result<(), VenueError> {
+    if receipt.is_empty() {
+        return Err(VenueError::InvalidBody("empty receipt".into()));
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// One venue's protocol speaker: the guest-side face of the
 /// `venue-adapter` world. Implement it on a unit struct and apply
 /// [`#[videre_sdk::venue]`](crate::venue) to the impl; bodies and
@@ -45,12 +55,15 @@ pub trait VenueAdapter {
     /// the host must sign and send before the intent exists.
     fn submit(body: Vec<u8>) -> Result<SubmitOutcome, VenueError>;
 
-    /// Report where a previously submitted intent is in its life.
+    /// Report where a previously submitted intent is in its life. The
+    /// export shim rejects an empty receipt as `invalid-body` before
+    /// dispatch.
     fn status(receipt: Vec<u8>) -> Result<IntentStatus, VenueError>;
 
     /// Ask the venue to withdraw an intent. Success means the venue
     /// accepted the cancellation, not that an in-flight settlement can
-    /// no longer win the race.
+    /// no longer win the race. The export shim rejects an empty receipt
+    /// as `invalid-body` before dispatch.
     fn cancel(receipt: Vec<u8>) -> Result<(), VenueError>;
 }
 
@@ -101,12 +114,14 @@ macro_rules! __export_venue_adapter {
             fn status(
                 receipt: ::std::vec::Vec<u8>,
             ) -> ::core::result::Result<$crate::IntentStatus, $crate::VenueError> {
+                $crate::adapter::guard_receipt(&receipt)?;
                 <$adapter as $crate::VenueAdapter>::status(receipt)
             }
 
             fn cancel(
                 receipt: ::std::vec::Vec<u8>,
             ) -> ::core::result::Result<(), $crate::VenueError> {
+                $crate::adapter::guard_receipt(&receipt)?;
                 <$adapter as $crate::VenueAdapter>::cancel(receipt)
             }
         }
@@ -114,3 +129,17 @@ macro_rules! __export_venue_adapter {
         export!(__VidereVenueAdapterExport);
     };
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_receipt_is_rejected_as_invalid_body() {
+        match guard_receipt(&[]).unwrap_err() {
+            VenueError::InvalidBody(detail) => assert_eq!(detail, "empty receipt"),
+            other => panic!("expected invalid-body, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+        guard_receipt(&[1]).unwrap();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/videre-sdk/src/client.rs b/crates/videre-sdk/src/client.rs
index f3384d44..bbc8cc0c 100644
--- a/crates/videre-sdk/src/client.rs
+++ b/crates/videre-sdk/src/client.rs
@@ -290,12 +290,16 @@ impl<V: Venue, T: VenueTransport> VenueClient<V, T> {
     }
 
     /// Report where a previously submitted intent is in its life.
+    /// Rejects an empty receipt as `invalid-body` before the wire.
     pub async fn status(&self, receipt: &[u8]) -> Result<IntentStatus, ClientError> {
+        crate::adapter::guard_receipt(receipt).map_err(VenueFault::from)?;
         Ok(self.transport.status(&V::ID, receipt).await?)
     }
 
-    /// Ask the bound venue to withdraw an intent.
+    /// Ask the bound venue to withdraw an intent. Rejects an empty
+    /// receipt as `invalid-body` before the wire.
     pub async fn cancel(&self, receipt: &[u8]) -> Result<(), ClientError> {
+        crate::adapter::guard_receipt(receipt).map_err(VenueFault::from)?;
         Ok(self.transport.cancel(&V::ID, receipt).await?)
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/videre-sdk/tests/adapter.rs b/crates/videre-sdk/tests/adapter.rs
index d43cd252..fd324f0d 100644
--- a/crates/videre-sdk/tests/adapter.rs
+++ b/crates/videre-sdk/tests/adapter.rs
@@ -307,6 +307,21 @@ fn quote_typestate_prices_then_submits_the_quoted_body() {
     assert!(matches!(outcome, SubmitOutcome::Accepted(r) if r == RECEIPT.to_vec()));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn empty_receipt_is_rejected_before_the_transport() {
+    // The unbound venue would report unknown-venue, so invalid-body
+    // proves the guard fires before the transport is consulted.
+    let client = VenueClient::<NowhereVenue, _>::with_transport(InProcessClient);
+    assert!(matches!(
+        run(client.status(&[])).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientError::Venue(VenueFault::InvalidBody(detail)) if detail == "empty receipt"
+    ));
+    assert!(matches!(
+        run(client.cancel(&[])).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientError::Venue(VenueFault::InvalidBody(detail)) if detail == "empty receipt"
+    ));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn unbound_venue_is_unknown_at_the_client() {
     let client = VenueClient::<NowhereVenue, _>::with_transport(InProcessClient);