diff --git a/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/scripts/run_epic_cycle.py b/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/scripts/run_epic_cycle.py
index c01b0ff7..cfb4dd01 100755
--- a/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/scripts/run_epic_cycle.py
+++ b/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/scripts/run_epic_cycle.py
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ def validate_pairs(
             pairs.append((plan, review, header))
             union.update(target_ids)
         contents = plan.read_text(encoding="utf-8") + "\n" + review.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        if "[TODO" in contents or "<task_group>" in contents or "<milestone-slug>" in contents:
+        if "[TODO" in contents or "<task_group>" in contents:
             raise CycleError(f"unresolved template token: {plan.parent}")
         if dispatcher.is_file():
             run(
diff --git a/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/tests/test_run_epic_cycle.py b/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/tests/test_run_epic_cycle.py
index cd1261b5..8650d300 100644
--- a/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/tests/test_run_epic_cycle.py
+++ b/agent-ops/skills/common/prepare-epic-work-items/tests/test_run_epic_cycle.py
@@ -260,6 +260,32 @@ class EpicCycleContractTest(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual([pair[0].parent.name for pair in pairs], ["02_second"])
             self.assertEqual(union, {"second-task"})
 
+    def test_validate_pair_allows_documented_milestone_slug_notation(self) -> None:
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as raw:
+            workspace = Path(raw)
+            command(workspace, "git", "init")
+            task = workspace / "agent-task" / "m-sample" / "01_work"
+            task.mkdir(parents=True)
+            header = (
+                "<!-- task=m-sample/01_work plan=0 tag=TEST "
+                "milestone-task=inside -->\n"
+            )
+            (task / "PLAN-local-G01.md").write_text(
+                header + "# Plan\n",
+                encoding="utf-8",
+            )
+            (task / "CODE_REVIEW-local-G01.md").write_text(
+                header
+                + "# Review\n\n"
+                + "For task groups matching `m-<milestone-slug>`, preserve metadata.\n",
+                encoding="utf-8",
+            )
+
+            pairs, union = MODULE.validate_pairs(workspace, "m-sample", {"inside"})
+
+            self.assertEqual(len(pairs), 1)
+            self.assertEqual(union, {"inside"})
+
     def test_validate_pair_rejects_foreign_pair_outside_selected_batch(self) -> None:
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as raw:
             workspace = Path(raw)