diff --git a/templates/commands/specify.md b/templates/commands/specify.md
index e32fd48971..54151e8b42 100644
--- a/templates/commands/specify.md
+++ b/templates/commands/specify.md
@@ -139,9 +139,9 @@ Given that feature description, do this:
     7. Identify Key Entities (if data involved)
     8. Return: SUCCESS (spec ready for planning)
 
-6. Write the specification to SPEC_FILE using the template structure, replacing placeholders with concrete details derived from the feature description (arguments) while preserving section order and headings.
+7. Write the specification to SPEC_FILE using the template structure, replacing placeholders with concrete details derived from the feature description (arguments) while preserving section order and headings.
 
-7. **Specification Quality Validation**: After writing the initial spec, validate it against quality criteria:
+8. **Specification Quality Validation**: After writing the initial spec, validate it against quality criteria:
 
    a. **Create Spec Quality Checklist**: Generate a checklist file at `SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY/checklists/requirements.md` using the checklist template structure with these validation items:
 
diff --git a/tests/test_specify_template_numbering.py b/tests/test_specify_template_numbering.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cce8991d90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_specify_template_numbering.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""Regression tests for top-level step numbering in specify.md."""
+
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+SPECIFY_TEMPLATE = REPO_ROOT / "templates" / "commands" / "specify.md"
+MAIN_LIST_START = "Given that feature description, do this:"
+MAIN_LIST_END = "## Mandatory Post-Execution Hooks"
+
+
+def _main_execution_ordinals(text: str) -> list[int]:
+    """Extract top-level ordinals from the main execution flow."""
+    _, start, execution_flow = text.partition(MAIN_LIST_START)
+    execution_flow, end, _ = execution_flow.partition(MAIN_LIST_END)
+    if not start or not end:
+        return []
+
+    return [
+        int(match.group(1))
+        for line in execution_flow.splitlines()
+        if (match := re.match(r"^(\d+)\. ", line))
+    ]
+
+
+def test_main_execution_list_has_no_duplicate_ordinals():
+    """The main execution list must not reuse a step number."""
+    ordinals = _main_execution_ordinals(SPECIFY_TEMPLATE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    duplicates = {ordinal for ordinal in ordinals if ordinals.count(ordinal) > 1}
+
+    assert not duplicates, f"Duplicate top-level ordinals found: {sorted(duplicates)}"
+
+
+def test_main_execution_list_is_sequential():
+    """The main execution list must run from 1 through N without gaps."""
+    ordinals = _main_execution_ordinals(SPECIFY_TEMPLATE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+
+    assert ordinals, "Could not find the main execution list in specify.md"
+    assert ordinals == list(range(1, 9))