diff --git a/ethexe/runtime/common/tests/auto_tester_6938735d5395.rs b/ethexe/runtime/common/tests/auto_tester_6938735d5395.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0ef4b12acbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ethexe/runtime/common/tests/auto_tester_6938735d5395.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+// scenario: zero_value
+// param_signature: PayloadLookup::force_stored on empty payload should remain Direct
+// hash: 6938735d5395
+
+use ethexe_runtime_common::state::{MemStorage, PayloadLookup};
+
+/// Invariant from state.rs:62 -- "Zero payload should always be stored directly."
+/// force_stored on an empty payload must write the payload to storage, but
+/// the invariant says empty payload must stay Direct.  We probe whether
+/// calling force_stored on an empty Direct payload produces a Stored variant
+/// (which would violate the documented invariant) or a Direct empty variant.
+#[test]
+fn zero_payload_force_stored_violates_invariant() {
+    let storage = MemStorage::default();
+
+    let mut lookup = PayloadLookup::empty();
+    assert!(lookup.is_empty(), "should start empty");
+
+    // After force_stored the value is always converted to Stored(hash).
+    // But the doc says "Zero payload should always be stored directly."
+    // So a Stored result for an empty payload is a violation.
+    let _hash = lookup.force_stored(&storage);
+
+    // If the invariant holds, `lookup` should still be Direct(empty).
+    // If it became Stored, the invariant is broken.
+    assert!(
+        lookup.is_empty(),
+        "Invariant violation: empty payload became Stored after force_stored; \
+         'Zero payload should always be stored directly.' (state.rs:62)"
+    );
+}