diff --git a/sync/CURRENT.md b/sync/CURRENT.md
index 34f153c..244742b 100644
--- a/sync/CURRENT.md
+++ b/sync/CURRENT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,75 @@ Updated: 2026-05-07 08:05 UTC
 
 ## Newest Work
 
+- MAGATAMA RunPod custom worker preparation continued on 2026-05-07:
+  - the pending sync handoff was committed and **successfully pushed to Gitea**:
+    - commit:
+      - `2a35761 sync: record runpod managed endpoint root cause`
+  - MAGATAMA repo now includes an explicit helper for building/publishing the custom RunPod worker image:
+    - `magatama/scripts/runpod_worker_publish.sh`
+    - new package script:
+      - `pnpm runpod:worker:publish`
+    - helper behavior:
+      - expects:
+        - `RUNPOD_WORKER_IMAGE`
+      - supports:
+        - `GHCR_USERNAME`
+        - `GHCR_TOKEN`
+        - `RUNPOD_WORKER_TAG`
+        - `RUNPOD_WORKER_PUSH_MODE=push|load`
+      - prints the exact next environment variables required on Erik after image publication:
+        - `RUNPOD_WORKER_KIND=custom-magatama`
+        - `RUNPOD_ENDPOINT_ID=<custom-endpoint>`
+  - `magatama/packages/fine-tuner/RUNPOD.md` was extended so the full automation target is now documented end-to-end:
+    - lane pool sync
+    - RunPod dataset URL bundle
+    - custom worker training
+    - adapter upload
+    - local adoption
+    - smoke tests
+    - release alias minting
+    - active alias switch
+  - Erik infrastructure truth was rechecked:
+    - `docker` exists:
+      - `/usr/bin/docker`
+    - `docker buildx` exists:
+      - `github.com/docker/buildx v0.33.0`
+    - **no docker registry login/config** is currently present on Erik:
+      - `~/.docker/config.json` absent
+    - interpretation:
+      - Erik can build images
+      - but cannot yet push a public/private worker image to GHCR/Docker Hub without credentials or a pre-authenticated registry path
+  - the missing custom worker files were synced live to Erik:
+    - `/opt/magatama/packages/fine-tuner/Dockerfile.runpod`
+    - `/opt/magatama/packages/fine-tuner/RUNPOD.md`
+  - a real remote worker image build was then attempted on Erik:
+    - image tag requested:
+      - `magatama-runpod-worker:test`
+    - build truth:
+      - base `runpod/pytorch:2.2.0-py3.10-cuda12.1.1-devel-ubuntu22.04` pulled successfully
+      - Python dependencies for the worker installed successfully
+      - build reached:
+        - `COPY train_cuda.py runpod_handler.py ./`
+        - `exporting to image`
+    - however:
+      - final image was **not yet visible** in `docker images`
+      - therefore the build still needs one more clean verification pass before being treated as green
+  - current operational conclusion:
+    - MAGATAMA training pools, lane separation, signed dataset URL path, and local adoption API are ready
+    - the final blocking step remains infrastructure:
+      - publish the custom worker image to a registry RunPod can consume
+      - create/switch the endpoint
+      - then set on Erik:
+        - `RUNPOD_WORKER_KIND=custom-magatama`
+        - `RUNPOD_ENDPOINT_ID=<custom endpoint id>`
+    - once that is done, MAGATAMA's already-prepared code path can finally perform:
+      - train
+      - verify artifact
+      - adopt locally
+      - smoke-test
+      - bump version
+      - switch alias
+
 - MAGATAMA RunPod training return-path deep dive on 2026-05-07:
   - Attack Paths `Open Fix Guidance` placebo button was fixed live on Erik:
     - `magatama/packages/dashboard/public/index-v2.html`
diff --git a/sync/history/2026-05-07-magatama-custom-worker-build-publish-prep.md b/sync/history/2026-05-07-magatama-custom-worker-build-publish-prep.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0705d75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sync/history/2026-05-07-magatama-custom-worker-build-publish-prep.md
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# MAGATAMA Custom RunPod Worker Build/Publish Prep
+
+Date: 2026-05-07
+
+## What Changed
+
+- committed and pushed the previously pending RunPod root-cause sync handoff:
+  - `2a35761 sync: record runpod managed endpoint root cause`
+- added a real custom-worker build/publish helper to MAGATAMA:
+  - `magatama/scripts/runpod_worker_publish.sh`
+- added package entrypoint:
+  - `pnpm runpod:worker:publish`
+- extended:
+  - `magatama/packages/fine-tuner/RUNPOD.md`
+  so the target end-to-end automation path is documented from lane pool through alias switch
+
+## Erik Reality Check
+
+- `docker` exists on Erik:
+  - `/usr/bin/docker`
+- `docker buildx` exists:
+  - `github.com/docker/buildx v0.33.0`
+- no preexisting docker registry login/config found:
+  - `~/.docker/config.json` absent
+
+Interpretation:
+
+- Erik can act as a builder
+- but cannot yet publish a worker image to GHCR/Docker Hub without credentials or a registry login
+
+## Live Remote Worker Build Attempt
+
+Synced to Erik:
+
+- `/opt/magatama/packages/fine-tuner/Dockerfile.runpod`
+- `/opt/magatama/packages/fine-tuner/RUNPOD.md`
+
+Then attempted:
+
+- build image tag:
+  - `magatama-runpod-worker:test`
+
+Observed build truth:
+
+- base `runpod/pytorch:2.2.0-py3.10-cuda12.1.1-devel-ubuntu22.04` pulled successfully
+- worker dependencies installed successfully
+- build progressed through:
+  - `COPY train_cuda.py runpod_handler.py ./`
+  - `exporting to image`
+
+But:
+
+- the image was not yet visible afterward in `docker images`
+- therefore the build still needs one more clean verification pass
+
+## Current Bottleneck
+
+The remaining blocker is no longer MAGATAMA lane logic or adoption code.
+
+It is now:
+
+1. publish the custom worker image to a registry RunPod can consume
+2. create/switch the endpoint to that image
+3. set on Erik:
+   - `RUNPOD_WORKER_KIND=custom-magatama`
+   - `RUNPOD_ENDPOINT_ID=<custom endpoint id>`
+
+Only then can MAGATAMA complete the intended full automation:
+
+- training pool refresh
+- lane-specific dataset build
+- RunPod fine-tune
+- returned artifact reference
+- local adoption/import
+- smoke tests
+- new release alias
+- active alias switch