diff --git a/docs/writing_checkers.md b/docs/writing_checkers.md
index 17ecca0..2768a8d 100644
--- a/docs/writing_checkers.md
+++ b/docs/writing_checkers.md
@@ -87,13 +87,15 @@ Return `None` from `check_row` to skip a row that the SQL pulled in but doesn't
 
 ## Wire it up
 
-Three things, none of them automatic:
+Two things, neither of them in `src/`:
 
-1. **Add the import** to `src/pgsleuth/checkers/__init__.py`. **The CLI imports that barrel exactly once at startup; checkers not imported there are silently invisible.** This is the single most common new-checker mistake.
+1. **Add a docs page** at `docs/rules/<name>.md` covering rationale, an example of the smell, the fix SQL, and "when to ignore." Each `Issue` carries a `docs_url` that points here automatically — no need to wire it.
 
-2. **Add a docs page** at `docs/rules/<name>.md` covering rationale, an example of the smell, the fix SQL, and "when to ignore." Each `Issue` carries a `docs_url` that points here automatically — no need to wire it.
+2. **Add a row** to the `## Checks` table in the README, linking to the docs page.
 
-3. **Add a row** to the `## Checks` table in the README, linking to the docs page.
+The checker module itself is auto-discovered: `src/pgsleuth/checkers/__init__.py` walks the directory and imports every submodule on package import, so the `register(MyChecker)` call at the bottom of your file runs without any barrel edit. **The single thing you must remember: call `register(MyChecker)` at the bottom of the module.** Skip that and the rule won't appear in `pgsleuth list-checkers` even though the file exists. The `tests/test_auto_discovery.py` suite catches this case.
+
+If you add a *helper* module that isn't a checker (shared SQL, utility code), prefix the filename with `_` so auto-discovery skips it — e.g. `_partition_helpers.py`. (`base.py` is also skipped explicitly.)
 
 ## Pick the severity
 
diff --git a/src/pgsleuth/checkers/__init__.py b/src/pgsleuth/checkers/__init__.py
index d4ea1a7..9cb28ec 100644
--- a/src/pgsleuth/checkers/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pgsleuth/checkers/__init__.py
@@ -1,17 +1,22 @@
-"""Checker package. Importing this module loads all built-in checkers and
-registers them with the global registry."""
+"""Checker package — auto-discovers every checker module on import.
 
-from pgsleuth.checkers import (  # noqa: F401
-    column_value_at_risk,
-    fk_type_mismatch,
-    json_over_jsonb,
-    missing_fk_index,
-    missing_primary_key,
-    not_valid_constraints,
-    primary_key_type,
-    redundant_index,
-    sequence_drift,
-    three_state_boolean,
-    timestamp_without_tz,
-    varchar_length,
-)
+Each checker module ends with ``register(MyChecker)``; importing the module
+runs that call and adds the class to the global registry. This file walks
+the package directory and imports every submodule so that registration
+happens automatically.
+
+The upshot for contributors: adding a new checker is *one new file* in this
+directory. There is no barrel to edit and no "I added the file but the
+checker didn't show up" footgun.
+
+``base.py`` and any ``_``-prefixed module are skipped — they're framework
+or shared-helper code, not checkers.
+"""
+
+import importlib
+import pkgutil
+
+for _info in pkgutil.iter_modules(__path__):
+    if _info.name == "base" or _info.name.startswith("_"):
+        continue
+    importlib.import_module(f"{__name__}.{_info.name}")
diff --git a/tests/test_auto_discovery.py b/tests/test_auto_discovery.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..78ebc21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_auto_discovery.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+"""Verify pgsleuth.checkers auto-discovery wires every checker module.
+
+These tests run without a database — they only inspect the import graph
+and the in-memory registry.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pkgutil
+
+import pgsleuth.checkers  # noqa: F401 — triggers auto-discovery
+from pgsleuth.checkers.base import registry
+
+
+def _checker_module_names() -> set[str]:
+    """Module names that should each register at least one Checker."""
+    return {
+        f"pgsleuth.checkers.{info.name}"
+        for info in pkgutil.iter_modules(pgsleuth.checkers.__path__)
+        if info.name != "base" and not info.name.startswith("_")
+    }
+
+
+def test_registry_is_populated():
+    """Sanity: importing pgsleuth.checkers yields a non-empty registry."""
+    assert len(registry.names()) > 0
+
+
+def test_every_checker_module_registers_at_least_one_checker():
+    """Each non-framework module under pgsleuth.checkers must call
+    register(MyChecker) on import. If a module is silently not registering,
+    the rule is invisible to the CLI even though the file exists."""
+    expected = _checker_module_names()
+    registered = {cls.__module__ for cls in registry.all()}
+
+    missing = expected - registered
+    assert not missing, (
+        f"these checker modules did not register a Checker — "
+        f"forgot `register(MyChecker)` at the bottom? {sorted(missing)}"
+    )