diff --git a/qualification/policy.json b/qualification/policy.json
index 63398ca..d0dc3fa 100644
--- a/qualification/policy.json
+++ b/qualification/policy.json
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@
       "server/native-release.yml": {
         "environment": "dockerhub-native",
         "jobs": [
-          "aliases",
           "build-amd64",
           "build-arm64",
           "publish"
@@ -164,17 +163,13 @@
           "run": "scripts/ci/verify-native-release-dispatch.sh"
         },
         "tag_input": "tag",
-        "tag_ref_condition": "github.ref == format('refs/tags/{0}', inputs.tag)",
-        "optional_jobs": [
-          "aliases"
-        ]
+        "tag_ref_condition": "github.ref == format('refs/tags/{0}', inputs.tag)"
       },
       "server/native-alias-promotion.yml": {
         "environment": "dockerhub-native",
         "jobs": [
           "promote"
         ],
-        "optional": true,
         "plan_job": "plan",
         "plan_verifier": {
           "env": {
diff --git a/tests/test_qualification_policy.py b/tests/test_qualification_policy.py
index dbdd4e9..bf7f565 100644
--- a/tests/test_qualification_policy.py
+++ b/tests/test_qualification_policy.py
@@ -1072,9 +1072,19 @@ def publishing_job(name: str, condition: str) -> str:
 {publishing_job("aliases", gate + " && needs.plan.outputs.dockerhub == 'true'")}{extra_job}"""
 
 
+def native_promotion_transition_policy() -> dict[str, object]:
+    """Retain the legacy topology only in explicit transition controls."""
+    policy = policy_fixture()
+    bindings = policy["workflow_trust"]["privileged_tag_dispatch_workflows"]
+    bindings["server/native-release.yml"]["jobs"].insert(0, "aliases")
+    bindings["server/native-release.yml"]["optional_jobs"] = ["aliases"]
+    bindings["server/native-alias-promotion.yml"]["optional"] = True
+    return policy
+
+
 class TagDispatchPolicyTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.policy = policy_fixture()
+        self.policy = native_promotion_transition_policy()
 
     def scan(self, source: str, policy: dict[str, object] | None = None) -> dict[str, dict[str, object]]:
         return scan_workflow_sources(
@@ -1248,7 +1258,7 @@ class NativePromotionTransitionTest(unittest.TestCase):
     """Presence exceptions cannot relax any present workflow's trust binding."""
 
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.policy = policy_fixture()
+        self.policy = native_promotion_transition_policy()
         self.path = ".github/workflows/native-alias-promotion.yml"
         binding = self.policy["workflow_trust"]["privileged_tag_dispatch_workflows"]["server/native-alias-promotion.yml"]
         env = "\n".join(f"          {name}: {value}" for name, value in binding["plan_verifier"]["env"].items())
@@ -1331,11 +1341,7 @@ def test_presence_exception_cannot_name_unregistered_jobs_or_nonboolean_flags(se
                 validate_policy(policy)
 
     def test_tightened_post_transition_policy_requires_promotion_and_refuses_legacy_aliases(self) -> None:
-        policy = copy.deepcopy(self.policy)
-        bindings = policy["workflow_trust"]["privileged_tag_dispatch_workflows"]
-        del bindings["server/native-alias-promotion.yml"]["optional"]
-        del bindings["server/native-release.yml"]["optional_jobs"]
-        bindings["server/native-release.yml"]["jobs"].remove("aliases")
+        policy = policy_fixture()
         scan_workflow_sources(policy, "server", self.sources(self.promotion, False))
         for promotion, legacy in ((None, False), (self.promotion, True)):
             with self.subTest(promotion=promotion is not None, legacy=legacy), self.assertRaises(PolicyError):