diff --git a/scripts/check.sh b/scripts/check.sh
index a80d81f..97b16ab 100755
--- a/scripts/check.sh
+++ b/scripts/check.sh
@@ -26,11 +26,12 @@ go vet ./...
 echo "[check] running go test"
 go test ./...
 
-if command -v terraform >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  echo "[check] running terraform fmt check for examples/"
-  terraform fmt -check -recursive examples
-else
-  echo "[check][warn] terraform not found; skipping examples/ checks" >&2
+if ! command -v terraform >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "[check][error] terraform not found in PATH" >&2
+  exit 1
 fi
 
+echo "[check] running terraform fmt check for examples/"
+terraform fmt -check -recursive examples
+
 echo "[check] complete"
diff --git a/scripts/fix.sh b/scripts/fix.sh
index 9e12dfb..3f9bc0d 100755
--- a/scripts/fix.sh
+++ b/scripts/fix.sh
@@ -18,11 +18,12 @@ fi
 echo "[fix] running go mod tidy"
 go mod tidy
 
-if command -v terraform >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  echo "[fix] running terraform fmt for examples/"
-  terraform fmt -recursive examples
-else
-  echo "[fix][warn] terraform not found; skipping examples/ formatting" >&2
+if ! command -v terraform >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "[fix][error] terraform not found in PATH" >&2
+  exit 1
 fi
 
+echo "[fix] running terraform fmt for examples/"
+terraform fmt -recursive examples
+
 echo "[fix] complete"
diff --git a/scripts/setup-dev.sh b/scripts/setup-dev.sh
index c354916..cce94d1 100755
--- a/scripts/setup-dev.sh
+++ b/scripts/setup-dev.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ MIN_GO_VERSION="1.23.0"
 MIN_TERRAFORM_VERSION="1.5.0"
 
 FIX_MODE=0
-STRICT_MODE=0
+STRICT_MODE=1
 
 log() {
   echo "[setup-dev] $*"
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ error() {
 
 usage() {
   cat <<USAGE
-Usage: ./scripts/setup-dev.sh [--fix] [--strict] [--help]
+Usage: ./scripts/setup-dev.sh [--fix] [--no-strict] [--help]
 
 Modes:
   --fix     Validate and attempt safe remediation via already-installed version managers.
-  --strict  Treat missing Terraform as an error.
+  --no-strict  Allow missing Terraform (not recommended; legacy compatibility mode).
   --help    Show this help text.
 USAGE
 }
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
     --fix)
       FIX_MODE=1
       ;;
-    --strict)
-      STRICT_MODE=1
+    --no-strict)
+      STRICT_MODE=0
       ;;
     --help|-h)
       usage
@@ -273,10 +273,10 @@ validate_terraform() {
   if [[ -z "$TERRAFORM_PATH" ]]; then
     if (( STRICT_MODE == 1 )); then
       error "terraform not found in PATH (required in --strict mode)"
-      bad=1
     else
-      warn "terraform not found in PATH (required for validate/acceptance workflows)"
+      warn "terraform not found in PATH (allowed only because --no-strict was set)"
     fi
+    bad=1
     return "$bad"
   fi