diff --git a/.changeset/2056-doctor-remote-state-dir.md b/.changeset/2056-doctor-remote-state-dir.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b51d87519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/2056-doctor-remote-state-dir.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@bradygaster/squad-cli": patch
+---
+
+`squad doctor` now validates team state files (`team.md`, `routing.md`, `agents/`, `casting/registry.json`, `decisions.md`) against the resolved team root in remote (linked) mode instead of the local `.squad/` stub, which only holds `config.json`. Previously this caused false "file not found" failures for correctly configured `squad link` setups even though `squad status` and `squad cast` resolved the team fine. Fixes #2056.
diff --git a/packages/squad-cli/src/cli/commands/doctor.ts b/packages/squad-cli/src/cli/commands/doctor.ts
index bc1d93ced..345861d8b 100644
--- a/packages/squad-cli/src/cli/commands/doctor.ts
+++ b/packages/squad-cli/src/cli/commands/doctor.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { FSStorageProvider, resolveStateBackend, type StateBackendType } from '@
 import { readCastingRegistryPair } from '@bradygaster/squad-sdk/casting';
 import { resolveSquadPaths, clearResolveSquadCache } from '@bradygaster/squad-sdk/resolution';
 import { isMutableStateKey, MUTABLE_STATE_PATHS } from '@bradygaster/squad-sdk/tools';
-import { resolveStateDir } from '../core/effective-squad-dir.js';
+import { effectiveSquadDir } from '../core/effective-squad-dir.js';
 
 const storage = new FSStorageProvider();
 
@@ -796,8 +796,11 @@ export async function runDoctor(cwd?: string): Promise<DoctorCheck[]> {
 
   // 5–9 standard files (only if .squad/ exists)
   if (isDirectory(squadDir)) {
-    // Resolve effective state dir for externalized files
-    const stateDir = resolveStateDir(squadDir);
+    // Resolve effective state dir for externalized files and remote team
+    // roots — mirrors the dual-root resolver used by `squad cast`/`squad status`
+    // so linked (remote-mode) projects are validated against the team root's
+    // .squad/ instead of the local stub that only holds config.json (#2056).
+    const { stateDir } = effectiveSquadDir(resolvedCwd);
     checks.push(checkTeamMd(stateDir));
     checks.push(checkRoutingMd(stateDir));
     checks.push(checkAgentsDir(stateDir));
diff --git a/test/cli/doctor.test.ts b/test/cli/doctor.test.ts
index 3ab8d9add..cbb35242a 100644
--- a/test/cli/doctor.test.ts
+++ b/test/cli/doctor.test.ts
@@ -116,6 +116,39 @@ describe('squad doctor', () => {
     expect(rootCheck?.status).toBe('fail');
   });
 
+  it('validates state files against the resolved team root in remote mode (#2056)', async () => {
+    // Central team root: TEST_ROOT/.squad holds the real team state.
+    await scaffold(TEST_ROOT);
+
+    // Linked project: only .squad/config.json + the agent discovery file,
+    // pointing back at the central root via a relative teamRoot.
+    const linkedProject = join(TEST_ROOT, 'linked-project');
+    await mkdir(join(linkedProject, '.squad'), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(
+      join(linkedProject, '.squad', 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ version: 1, teamRoot: '..', projectKey: null }),
+    );
+    await mkdir(join(linkedProject, '.github', 'agents'), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(join(linkedProject, '.github', 'agents', 'squad.agent.md'), '# Squad Agent\n');
+
+    const checks = await runDoctor(linkedProject);
+
+    const rootCheck = checks.find((c: DoctorCheck) => c.name === 'team root resolves');
+    expect(rootCheck?.status).toBe('pass');
+
+    for (const name of [
+      'team.md found with ## Members header',
+      'routing.md found',
+      'agents/ directory exists',
+      'casting/registry.json exists',
+      'decisions.md exists',
+    ]) {
+      const check = checks.find((c: DoctorCheck) => c.name === name);
+      expect(check, `expected a check named "${name}"`).toBeDefined();
+      expect(check?.status, `expected "${name}" to pass, got: ${check?.message}`).toBe('pass');
+    }
+  });
+
   // One row per MUTABLE_STATE_PATHS entry: the state tools could write each of
   // these to the team repo root before #2107. `scaffold()` already puts
   // decisions.md in the team's .squad/, so that row is a merge, not a move.