diff --git a/docs/modernization/debt.md b/docs/modernization/debt.md
index 2ac72c35..bfd198db 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/debt.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/debt.md
@@ -413,6 +413,10 @@ agent or engineer to remove them without reconstructing context from chat.
   `make_canvas_draw_merge_branch_dispatch(...)` forward declaration in
   `src/canvas.cpp` now matches the 7-argument implementation, shrinking the
   remaining draw-merge helper API mismatch while `STR-016` stays blocked.
+- 2026-06-15: `DEBT-0036` was narrowed again. The remaining
+  `Canvas::draw_merge()` inline-default comment in `src/canvas.cpp` now
+  matches the header's `SIXPLETTE(true)` default, so the draw-merge mismatch
+  is comment-only and aligned while `STR-016` stays blocked.
 - 2026-06-14: `DEBT-0036` was narrowed again. `Canvas::draw_merge_branch_orchestration()`
   now routes the temporary erase, temporary paint, texture, and blend dispatch
   bodies through retained helpers inside `execute_canvas_draw_merge_branch_body(...)`;
diff --git a/docs/modernization/roadmap.md b/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
index 7a103349..1e7fd966 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ families debt-tracked.
 The stale `make_canvas_draw_merge_branch_dispatch(...)` forward declaration in
 `src/canvas.cpp` now matches the existing 7-argument implementation, shrinking
 the remaining draw-merge helper API mismatch while `STR-016` stays blocked.
+The remaining `Canvas::draw_merge()` inline-default comment in `src/canvas.cpp`
+now matches the header's `SIXPLETTE(true)` default, so the draw-merge mismatch
+is comment-only and aligned while `STR-016` stays blocked.
 The cloud browser dialog now also opens through that seam from
 `src/legacy_cloud_services.cpp`, so the remaining cloud modernization debt is
 now concentrated in retained background worker threads, transfer helpers,
diff --git a/src/canvas.cpp b/src/canvas.cpp
index c3d5511d..0032af22 100644
--- a/src/canvas.cpp
+++ b/src/canvas.cpp
@@ -2226,7 +2226,7 @@ void Canvas::stroke_commit_timelapse()
     }
 }
 
-void Canvas::draw_merge(bool draw_checkerboard, std::array<bool, 6> faces /*= SIXPLETTE(false)*/)
+void Canvas::draw_merge(bool draw_checkerboard, std::array<bool, 6> faces /*= SIXPLETTE(true)*/)
 {
     assert(App::I->is_render_thread());