diff --git a/consent-tester/checks/banner_runner.py b/consent-tester/checks/banner_runner.py
index 8166f03..0336120 100644
--- a/consent-tester/checks/banner_runner.py
+++ b/consent-tester/checks/banner_runner.py
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ def map_scan_to_checks(scan_result: dict) -> dict:
 
         # For checks whose check_key appears in violations → failed
         # For checks whose check_key appears only in passes → passed
-        # For checks where neither → assume passed (not tested = no finding)
+        # For checks where neither:
+        #   - Phase-based checks (tracking/cookies) → PASS (absence = good)
+        #   - Banner UI checks → PASS only if banner was detected and
+        #     the scanner actually ran the relevant check
         if is_violation_key:
             passed = False
             matched_text = violation_codes[key]
@@ -46,12 +49,20 @@ def map_scan_to_checks(scan_result: dict) -> dict:
             passed = True
             matched_text = pass_codes.get(key, "")
         else:
-            # Key not found in violations or explicit passes.
-            # If the scan ran (banner detected) → assume passed.
-            # If banner not detected → only banner_detected fails.
-            passed = scan_result.get("banner_detected", False) or key == "banner_detected"
+            banner_detected = scan_result.get("banner_detected", False)
             if key == "banner_detected":
-                passed = scan_result.get("banner_detected", False)
+                passed = banner_detected
+            elif key in _ABSENCE_IS_PASS:
+                # For these checks, no violation = passed (e.g. no tracking cookies)
+                passed = True
+            elif banner_detected:
+                # Banner was detected but this specific check produced no result.
+                # If the scanner ran banner_checks → assume checked and passed.
+                # If banner_checks is empty → scanner couldn't test → not passed.
+                has_banner_results = bool(scan_result.get("banner_checks", {}).get("violations") is not None)
+                passed = has_banner_results
+            else:
+                passed = False
             matched_text = ""
 
         # L2 checks are skipped if their parent L1 failed
@@ -213,6 +224,17 @@ def _collect_pass_codes(scan: dict) -> dict[str, str]:
     return passes
 
 
+# Checks where absence of a violation means PASS (not "untested")
+# These are phase-based checks: if no tracking was detected, that's good.
+_ABSENCE_IS_PASS = {
+    "tracking_before_consent",
+    "cookies_before_consent",
+    "tracking_after_reject",
+    "google_consent_mode_defaults",
+    "banner_language_mismatch",
+    "cookie_wall",
+}
+
 _TRACKING_COOKIE_PREFIXES = (
     "_ga", "_gid", "_fbp", "_fbc", "IDE", "_gcl", "fr", "_pin",
     "_tt_", "li_sugr", "_hj", "mp_", "ajs_", "_clck", "_clsk",