diff --git a/tests/test_importer.py b/tests/test_importer.py
index 63f57cf..a72f522 100644
--- a/tests/test_importer.py
+++ b/tests/test_importer.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import pytest
 from PIL import Image
 from sqlalchemy import select
 
-from backend.app.models import Artist, ImageRecord, ImportSettings, Tag, TagKind
+from backend.app.models import Artist, ImageRecord, ImportSettings
 from backend.app.services.importer import Importer, SkipReason
 from backend.app.services.thumbnailer import Thumbnailer
 
@@ -62,21 +62,22 @@ def test_import_one_happy_path(importer, import_layout):
     assert record.path.endswith(".jpg")
 
 
-def test_folder_creates_artist_and_tag(importer, import_layout):
+def test_folder_creates_artist_and_links_artist_id(importer, import_layout):
+    # FC-2d-vii-c: folder import creates the Artist and sets the canonical
+    # image_record.artist_id — no artist-kind Tag (that path was retired;
+    # the no-tag invariant is covered by test_importer_artist_id.py).
     import_root, _ = import_layout
     src = import_root / "Alice" / "first.jpg"
     _make_jpeg(src)
-    importer.import_one(src)
+    result = importer.import_one(src)
 
     artist = importer.session.execute(
         select(Artist).where(Artist.slug == "alice")
     ).scalar_one()
     assert artist.name == "Alice"
 
-    tag = importer.session.execute(
-        select(Tag).where(Tag.name == "Alice").where(Tag.kind == TagKind.artist)
-    ).scalar_one()
-    assert tag.id is not None
+    record = importer.session.get(ImageRecord, result.image_id)
+    assert record.artist_id == artist.id
 
 
 def test_dedup_by_hash(importer, import_layout):
diff --git a/tests/test_ml_tagger.py b/tests/test_ml_tagger.py
index e60237d..79cfe51 100644
--- a/tests/test_ml_tagger.py
+++ b/tests/test_ml_tagger.py
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ from backend.app.services.ml.tagger import (
 
 
 def test_surfaced_categories():
-    assert SURFACED_CATEGORIES == {"artist", "character", "copyright", "general"}
+    # FC-2d-vii-c: 'artist' retired — artist identity is acquisition-derived
+    # (image_record.artist_id), never ML-inferred.
+    assert SURFACED_CATEGORIES == {"character", "copyright", "general"}
+    assert "artist" not in SURFACED_CATEGORIES
 
 
 def test_store_floor_is_low():