diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-examples.yml b/.github/workflows/check-examples.yml
index b14523f..235af67 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-examples.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-examples.yml
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.13'
       - name: Install local keyring and pinned Sotto release
         env:
-          SOTTO_VERSION: v0.6.0
+          SOTTO_VERSION: v0.9.0
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update -qq
           sudo apt-get install -y gnome-keyring dbus-x11
-          curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/getsotto/sotto/be30886644d321929b371aa56cf0e528c6a8edb9/install.sh | sh
+          curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/getsotto/sotto/fbd4f2542daf5580da361aabe93e8804758df6b5/install.sh | sh
           echo "$HOME/.local/bin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
       - name: Run the documented flow in a disposable keyring
         run: |
diff --git a/scripts/check_sotto.py b/scripts/check_sotto.py
index a027cc2..9689268 100644
--- a/scripts/check_sotto.py
+++ b/scripts/check_sotto.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Exercise the real local Sotto flow on a disposable Linux CI runner only."""
 
+import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 import subprocess
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    # SOTTO_DATA_DIR does not isolate OS-keychain entries. Never initialise a
+    # SOTTO_DATA_DIR does not isolate OS keychain entries. Never initialise a
     # throwaway identity in a developer's real keychain.
     if sys.platform != "linux" or os.environ.get("GITHUB_ACTIONS") != "true":
         raise SystemExit("Run this check only on the disposable Linux GitHub Actions runner.")
@@ -22,20 +23,79 @@ def main():
         env["SOTTO_PASSWORD"] = "disposable-ci-demo-password"
 
         def run(command, expected, stdin=None):
-            result = subprocess.run(command, cwd=folder, env=env, input=stdin, text=True, capture_output=True, timeout=120)
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                command,
+                cwd=folder,
+                env=env,
+                input=stdin,
+                text=True,
+                capture_output=True,
+                timeout=120,
+            )
             if result.returncode != expected:
-                raise SystemExit(f"Unexpected exit status from {command[0]}; output withheld to keep the Emergency Kit private.")
+                raise SystemExit(
+                    f"Unexpected exit status from {command[:2]}; output withheld to keep the Emergency Kit private."
+                )
             return result
 
+        def status():
+            return json.loads(run(["sotto", "status", "--json"], 0).stdout)
+
         python = [sys.executable, str(ROOT / "python/main.py")]
         run(python, 1)
+
+        if status() != {"initialized": False, "unlocked": False, "project": None}:
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected initial status before init.")
+
         run(["sotto", "init", "--name", "sotto-example"], 0)
+
+        if status() != {
+            "initialized": True,
+            "unlocked": True,
+            "project": {"name": "sotto-example", "environment": "dev"},
+        }:
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected status after init.")
+
+        envs_out = run(["sotto", "env", "ls"], 0).stdout
+        envs = {line.lstrip("* ").strip() for line in envs_out.splitlines() if line.strip()}
+        if envs != {"dev", "staging", "prod"}:
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected environment list after init.")
+
         run(["sotto", "set", "DEMO_SECRET", "--stdin"], 0, "hello-from-sotto")
+
+        if json.loads(run(["sotto", "ls", "--json"], 0).stdout) != ["DEMO_SECRET"]:
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected secret list in dev.")
+
         result = run(["sotto", "run", "--", *python], 0)
         if result.stdout != "Sotto demo: secret loaded successfully.\n":
-            raise SystemExit("Unexpected demo output (withheld).")
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected demo output in dev (withheld).")
+
+        run(["sotto", "env", "copy", "dev", "staging", "--confirm"], 0)
+        staging_result = run(["sotto", "run", "--env", "staging", "--", *python], 0)
+        if staging_result.stdout != "Sotto demo: secret loaded successfully.\n":
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected demo output in staging (withheld).")
+
+        dotenv_path = Path(folder) / ".env.staging"
+        dotenv_path.write_text("IMPORTED_KEY=synthetic-dotenv-value\n", encoding="utf-8")
+        run(["sotto", "import", "--env", "staging", str(dotenv_path)], 0)
+        if json.loads(run(["sotto", "ls", "--env", "staging", "--json"], 0).stdout) != [
+            "DEMO_SECRET",
+            "IMPORTED_KEY",
+        ]:
+            raise SystemExit("Unexpected secret list in staging after dotenv import.")
+
+        run(["sotto", "lock"], 0)
+        if status()["unlocked"] is not False:
+            raise SystemExit("Expected session to be locked after sotto lock.")
+
+        run(["sotto", "unlock"], 0)
+        if status()["unlocked"] is not True:
+            raise SystemExit("Expected session to be unlocked after sotto unlock.")
+
         run(python, 1)
-        print("PASS real Sotto: missing -> init -> set -> injected success -> direct run still missing")
+        print(
+            "PASS real Sotto: status -> init -> env ls -> set -> ls -> run -> env copy -> import -> lock/unlock -> direct run still missing"
+        )
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":