diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 5d3adb5..23d5827 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -47,3 +47,5 @@ multiple_crate_versions = "allow"
 dbg_macro = "deny"
 # Forbid leftover `todo!` placeholders from reaching production
 todo = "deny"
+# Forbid explicit `panic!` calls; unreachable arms belong in `unreachable!`
+panic = "deny"
diff --git a/src/cli_tests.rs b/src/cli_tests.rs
index 683f7f6..f3d1d77 100644
--- a/src/cli_tests.rs
+++ b/src/cli_tests.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ fn test_open_env_single() {
         Commands::Open { env, .. } => {
             assert_eq!(env, vec!["FOO=bar"]);
         }
-        _other => panic!("unexpected command variant"),
+        _other => unreachable!("unexpected command variant"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fn test_open_env_multiple() {
         Commands::Open { env, .. } => {
             assert_eq!(env, vec!["FOO=bar", "BAZ=qux"]);
         }
-        _other => panic!("unexpected command variant"),
+        _other => unreachable!("unexpected command variant"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ fn test_open_env_empty_by_default() {
         Commands::Open { env, .. } => {
             assert!(env.is_empty());
         }
-        _other => panic!("unexpected command variant"),
+        _other => unreachable!("unexpected command variant"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fn test_open_json_flag() {
         Commands::Open { json, .. } => {
             assert!(json);
         }
-        _other => panic!("unexpected command variant"),
+        _other => unreachable!("unexpected command variant"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ fn test_open_json_false_by_default() {
         Commands::Open { json, .. } => {
             assert!(!json);
         }
-        _other => panic!("unexpected command variant"),
+        _other => unreachable!("unexpected command variant"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -88,6 +88,6 @@ fn test_open_env_and_json_together() {
             assert!(json);
             assert!(headless);
         }
-        _other => panic!("unexpected command variant"),
+        _other => unreachable!("unexpected command variant"),
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/issue/adhoc_env_tests.rs b/src/issue/adhoc_env_tests.rs
index 1e0cab5..e0abeba 100644
--- a/src/issue/adhoc_env_tests.rs
+++ b/src/issue/adhoc_env_tests.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ fn parse_worktree_url_env_with_adhoc() {
     .unwrap();
     match r {
         IssueRef::Adhoc { name, .. } => assert_eq!(name, "run-42"),
-        other => panic!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
+        other => unreachable!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
     }
     assert_eq!(opts.extra_env.len(), 1);
     assert_eq!(
diff --git a/src/issue/adhoc_tests.rs b/src/issue/adhoc_tests.rs
index 4b72515..37899bc 100644
--- a/src/issue/adhoc_tests.rs
+++ b/src/issue/adhoc_tests.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ fn parse_bare_owner_repo() {
             assert_eq!(repo, "api");
             assert!(name.contains('_'), "expected adjective_noun: {name}");
         }
-        other => panic!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
+        other => unreachable!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ fn parse_worktree_url_no_issue() {
             assert_eq!(repo, "api");
             assert!(name.contains('_'));
         }
-        other => panic!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
+        other => unreachable!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ fn parse_worktree_url_no_issue_with_editor() {
             assert_eq!(owner, "acme");
             assert_eq!(repo, "api");
         }
-        other => panic!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
+        other => unreachable!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
     }
     assert_eq!(opts.editor.as_deref(), Some("cursor"));
 }
@@ -95,6 +95,6 @@ fn parse_worktree_url_adhoc_param() {
             assert_eq!(repo, "api");
             assert_eq!(name, "my-session");
         }
-        other => panic!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
+        other => unreachable!("expected Adhoc, got {other:?}"),
     }
 }