diff --git a/cmd/core-runtime/main.go b/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
index f6faae9..0343a58 100644
--- a/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
+++ b/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
@@ -802,10 +802,12 @@ func main() {
 				ConfidenceMillis:       semantic.Interpretation.ConfidenceMillis,
 			})
 			cancelReview()
-			if reviewErr == nil {
-				planningReply = reviewedReply
-			} else {
+			if reviewErr != nil {
 				log.Printf("cognitive response review unavailable: %v", reviewErr)
+			} else if identityReply == "" {
+				planningReply = reviewedReply
+			} else if reviewedReply != planningReply {
+				log.Printf("cognitive response review proposed identity rewrite; preserving semantic identity reply")
 			}
 		}
 		response := interaction.ChatMessageResponse{