diff --git a/scripts/mindmodel/cli.py b/scripts/mindmodel/cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6555aad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/mindmodel/cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+
+def main(argv: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> int:
+    """CLI wrapper that delegates to scripts.mindmodel.validator.main.
+
+    Returns the integer exit code from the delegated main. If the
+    validator module is not available or raises, return a non-zero
+    exit code.
+    """
+    try:
+        # Import here to avoid side-effects on module import
+        from scripts.mindmodel import validator
+
+        # Call the validator.main if present
+        if hasattr(validator, "main"):
+            result = validator.main(argv)
+            # Ensure we return an int
+            try:
+                return int(result)  # type: ignore
+            except Exception:
+                return 1
+        else:
+            return 2
+    except Exception:
+        # Import error or runtime error — return non-zero so callers
+        # can detect failure (tests expect non-zero on missing manifest)
+        return 2
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
diff --git a/tests/scripts/mindmodel/test_cli.py b/tests/scripts/mindmodel/test_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2333f24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scripts/mindmodel/test_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import os
+
+
+def test_cli_with_nonexistent_manifest():
+    """Calling cli.main with a non-existent manifest should return non-zero."""
+    from scripts.mindmodel import cli
+
+    # Provide a path that is extremely unlikely to exist
+    fake_manifest = "/this/path/does/not/exist/manifest.json"
+
+    code = cli.main([fake_manifest])
+
+    assert isinstance(code, int)
+    assert code != 0