diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b22a68fc..902635a3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -72,3 +72,6 @@ htmlcov/
 
 # agent tooling state
 .crush/
+
+# stray test artifact (import fail file written to cwd)
+/fail.csv
diff --git a/docs/guides/odoo_workflows.md b/docs/guides/odoo_workflows.md
index c5690691..00698f2b 100644
--- a/docs/guides/odoo_workflows.md
+++ b/docs/guides/odoo_workflows.md
@@ -271,6 +271,29 @@ fluvo workflow create-missing-variants --connection-file conf/connection.conf \
 | `--batch-size` | Number of variants to create per RPC call (default: 200). |
 | `--dry-run` | Only report how many templates lack a variant; create nothing. |
 
+### Automatic guardrail during import
+
+You don't have to remember to run the command. After **every `product.template`
+import**, fluvo automatically checks the just-imported templates and **warns** if
+any ended up without a variant — so you find out at import time, not in production:
+
+```text
+WARNING  3 imported product template(s) have NO variants and are unusable in
+         sales/purchase orders and BoMs ... Fix with 'fluvo workflow
+         create-missing-variants', or re-run with --fix-missing-variants.
+```
+
+Pass `--fix-missing-variants` to the `import` command to create them inline instead
+of only warning:
+
+```bash
+fluvo import --connection-file conf/connection.conf --file product_template.csv \
+    --model product.template --fix-missing-variants
+```
+
+The check is scoped to the records from that import and is skipped for every other
+model, so it adds no overhead to non-product imports.
+
 ---
 
 ## Data Processing Workflows
diff --git a/pydoclint-baseline.txt b/pydoclint-baseline.txt
index 9ce8f814..852ad27c 100644
--- a/pydoclint-baseline.txt
+++ b/pydoclint-baseline.txt
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ src/fluvo/importer.py
     DOC203: Function `_get_env_from_config` return type(s) in docstring not consistent with the return annotation. Return annotation types: ['Optional[str]']; docstring return section types: ['']
     DOC111: Function `_run_preflight_checks`: The option `--arg-type-hints-in-docstring` is `False` but there are type hints in the docstring arg list
     DOC101: Function `run_import`: Docstring contains fewer arguments than in function signature.
-    DOC103: Function `run_import`: Docstring arguments are different from function arguments. (Or could be other formatting issues: https://jsh9.github.io/pydoclint/violation_codes.html#notes-on-doc103 ). Arguments in the function signature but not in the docstring: [adaptive_throttle: bool, auto_clean: bool, auto_create_refs: bool, auto_defer: bool, auto_groupby: bool, batch_delay: float, batch_size: int, check_refs: str, config: Union[str, dict[str, Any]], context: Any, deferred_fields: Optional[list[str]], encoding: str, fail: bool, filename: str, groupby: Optional[list[str]], headless: bool, ignore: Optional[list[str]], max_batch_bytes: int, model: Optional[str], no_checkpoint: bool, no_preflight_checks: bool, o2m: bool, resolve_relations: Optional[list[dict[str, Any]]], resume: bool, separator: str, set_empty_on_missing: bool, skip: int, skip_existing: bool, skip_unchanged: bool, stream: bool, unique_id_field: Optional[str], worker: int].
+    DOC103: Function `run_import`: Docstring arguments are different from function arguments. (Or could be other formatting issues: https://jsh9.github.io/pydoclint/violation_codes.html#notes-on-doc103 ). Arguments in the function signature but not in the docstring: [adaptive_throttle: bool, auto_clean: bool, auto_create_refs: bool, auto_defer: bool, auto_groupby: bool, batch_delay: float, batch_size: int, check_refs: str, config: Union[str, dict[str, Any]], context: Any, deferred_fields: Optional[list[str]], encoding: str, fail: bool, filename: str, fix_missing_variants: bool, groupby: Optional[list[str]], headless: bool, ignore: Optional[list[str]], max_batch_bytes: int, model: Optional[str], no_checkpoint: bool, no_preflight_checks: bool, o2m: bool, resolve_relations: Optional[list[dict[str, Any]]], resume: bool, separator: str, set_empty_on_missing: bool, skip: int, skip_existing: bool, skip_unchanged: bool, stream: bool, unique_id_field: Optional[str], worker: int].
     DOC203: Function `run_import` return type(s) in docstring not consistent with the return annotation. Return annotation types: ['Optional[dict[str, int]]']; docstring return section types: ['dict[str, int]']
     DOC501: Function `run_import` has raise statements, but the docstring does not have a "Raises" section
     DOC503: Function `run_import` exceptions in the "Raises" section in the docstring do not match those in the function body. Raised exceptions in the docstring: []. Raised exceptions in the body: ['TypeError'].
diff --git a/src/fluvo/__main__.py b/src/fluvo/__main__.py
index 83fff4ee..204aaeb4 100644
--- a/src/fluvo/__main__.py
+++ b/src/fluvo/__main__.py
@@ -1107,6 +1107,14 @@ def vat_validate_cmd(
     help="Apply safe, type-aware coercions before load (strip whitespace, "
     "normalize null tokens, canonicalize booleans). Off by default.",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--fix-missing-variants",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="For product.template imports: create default variants for any imported "
+    "templates that end up with none (Odoo's load() does not auto-create them). "
+    "Without this flag, fluvo only warns about them.",
+)
 @click.option(
     "--defer-parent-store",
     is_flag=True,
diff --git a/src/fluvo/importer.py b/src/fluvo/importer.py
index 8fed9b71..27df3d35 100755
--- a/src/fluvo/importer.py
+++ b/src/fluvo/importer.py
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ def run_import(  # noqa: C901
     max_batch_bytes: int = 5 * 1024 * 1024,
     resolve_relations: Optional[list[dict[str, Any]]] = None,
     auto_clean: bool = False,
+    fix_missing_variants: bool = False,
 ) -> Optional[dict[str, int]]:
     """Main entry point for the import command, handling all orchestration.
 
@@ -537,6 +538,17 @@ def _base(field: str) -> str:
             )
         )
 
+    # Guardrail (#188): Odoo's load() does not auto-create default variants, so a
+    # product.template import can silently leave templates unusable. Warn (or fix
+    # with --fix-missing-variants) for the just-imported templates. Runs whenever
+    # any records were imported (id_map), including partially-successful imports.
+    if model == "product.template" and id_map:
+        from .lib.actions.variant_manager import check_missing_variants_after_import
+
+        check_missing_variants_after_import(
+            config, model, id_map, fix=fix_missing_variants
+        )
+
     return id_map
 
 
diff --git a/src/fluvo/lib/actions/variant_manager.py b/src/fluvo/lib/actions/variant_manager.py
index fb3aec15..9f0fdee2 100644
--- a/src/fluvo/lib/actions/variant_manager.py
+++ b/src/fluvo/lib/actions/variant_manager.py
@@ -17,6 +17,45 @@
 from ...logging_config import log
 
 
+def _create_default_variants(
+    product_obj: Any, template_ids: list[int], batch_size: int = 200
+) -> tuple[int, int]:
+    """Create one default product.product per template id, in batches.
+
+    Args:
+        product_obj: The ``product.product`` model proxy.
+        template_ids: Template ids to give a default variant.
+        batch_size: Variants to create per RPC call.
+
+    Returns:
+        tuple[int, int]: ``(created, failed)`` counts.
+    """
+    created = 0
+    failed = 0
+    for start in range(0, len(template_ids), batch_size):
+        batch = template_ids[start : start + batch_size]
+        try:
+            # Batch create works on Odoo >= 14. Older Odoo rejects a list of
+            # dicts, so fall back to one-by-one creation if the batch call fails.
+            product_obj.create([{"product_tmpl_id": tid} for tid in batch])
+            created += len(batch)
+        except Exception as batch_err:
+            log.warning(
+                f"Batch variant creation failed ({batch_err}); "
+                "falling back to individual creation."
+            )
+            for tid in batch:
+                try:
+                    product_obj.create({"product_tmpl_id": tid})
+                    created += 1
+                except Exception as item_err:
+                    failed += 1
+                    log.error(
+                        f"Failed to create variant for template {tid}: {item_err}"
+                    )
+    return created, failed
+
+
 def run_create_missing_variants(
     config: Union[str, dict[str, Any]],
     domain: Optional[list[Any]] = None,
@@ -66,31 +105,78 @@ def run_create_missing_variants(
         log.info("Dry run: no variants will be created.")
         return True
 
-    created = 0
-    failed = 0
-    for start in range(0, len(orphan_ids), batch_size):
-        batch = orphan_ids[start : start + batch_size]
-        try:
-            # Batch create works on Odoo >= 14. Older Odoo rejects a list of
-            # dicts, so fall back to one-by-one creation if the batch call fails.
-            product_obj.create([{"product_tmpl_id": tid} for tid in batch])
-            created += len(batch)
-        except Exception as batch_err:
-            log.warning(
-                f"Batch variant creation failed ({batch_err}); "
-                "falling back to individual creation."
-            )
-            for tid in batch:
-                try:
-                    product_obj.create({"product_tmpl_id": tid})
-                    created += 1
-                except Exception as item_err:
-                    failed += 1
-                    log.error(
-                        f"Failed to create variant for template {tid}: {item_err}"
-                    )
-
+    created, failed = _create_default_variants(product_obj, orphan_ids, batch_size)
     log.info(
         f"--- Create Missing Variants Finished: {created} created, {failed} failed ---"
     )
     return failed == 0
+
+
+def check_missing_variants_after_import(
+    config: Union[str, dict[str, Any]],
+    model: Optional[str],
+    id_map: dict[str, int],
+    fix: bool = False,
+) -> int:
+    """Post-import guardrail: warn (or fix) when imported templates lack variants.
+
+    Odoo's ``load()`` does not auto-create default variants, so a
+    ``product.template`` import can silently leave templates with no variants
+    (#188). This checks the *just-imported* templates and warns; with ``fix=True``
+    it creates the missing default variants inline. A no-op for other models.
+
+    Args:
+        config: Connection config — a ``.conf`` file path or a connection dict.
+        model: The model that was just imported.
+        id_map: Mapping of external IDs to database IDs from the import.
+        fix: If True, create the missing variants; otherwise only warn.
+
+    Returns:
+        int: The number of imported templates found without a variant.
+    """
+    if model != "product.template" or not id_map:
+        return 0
+
+    db_ids = list(set(id_map.values()))
+    try:
+        if isinstance(config, dict):
+            connection: Any = conf_lib.get_connection_from_dict(config)
+        else:
+            connection = conf_lib.get_connection_from_config(config_file=config)
+        template_obj = connection.get_model("product.template")
+        product_obj = connection.get_model("product.product")
+        # Batch the search: a large import can yield tens of thousands of ids,
+        # and a single "in" query risks oversized RPC payloads / slow SQL.
+        orphan_ids: list[int] = []
+        for i in range(0, len(db_ids), 2000):
+            orphan_ids.extend(
+                template_obj.search(
+                    [
+                        ("id", "in", db_ids[i : i + 2000]),
+                        ("product_variant_count", "=", 0),
+                    ]
+                )
+            )
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.warning(f"Could not check imported templates for missing variants: {e}")
+        return 0
+
+    if not orphan_ids:
+        return 0
+
+    if fix:
+        log.warning(
+            f"{len(orphan_ids)} imported product template(s) have no variants; "
+            "creating the missing default variants (--fix-missing-variants)."
+        )
+        # Create directly from the ids already found (no re-search), with the
+        # shared helper's internal batching.
+        _create_default_variants(product_obj, orphan_ids)
+    else:
+        log.warning(
+            f"{len(orphan_ids)} imported product template(s) have NO variants and "
+            "are unusable in sales/purchase orders and BoMs (Odoo's load() does not "
+            "auto-create them). Fix with 'fluvo workflow create-missing-variants', "
+            "or re-run the import with --fix-missing-variants."
+        )
+    return len(orphan_ids)
diff --git a/tests/test_variant_manager.py b/tests/test_variant_manager.py
index 48e95eeb..5f836e90 100644
--- a/tests/test_variant_manager.py
+++ b/tests/test_variant_manager.py
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@
 from click.testing import CliRunner
 
 from fluvo.__main__ import cli
-from fluvo.lib.actions.variant_manager import run_create_missing_variants
+from fluvo.lib.actions.variant_manager import (
+    check_missing_variants_after_import,
+    run_create_missing_variants,
+)
 
 CFG = "fluvo.lib.actions.variant_manager.conf_lib.get_connection_from_config"
 CFG_DICT = "fluvo.lib.actions.variant_manager.conf_lib.get_connection_from_dict"
@@ -198,3 +201,77 @@ def test_cli_rejects_an_invalid_domain(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     )
     assert result.exit_code != 0
     assert "Invalid --domain" in result.output
+
+
+# --- post-import guardrail (#188) ---
+@patch(CFG)
+def test_guardrail_skips_non_product_template(mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """The guardrail is a no-op (no connection) for other models."""
+    assert check_missing_variants_after_import("c.conf", "res.partner", {"x": 1}) == 0
+    mock_get.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_guardrail_skips_empty_id_map() -> None:
+    """The guardrail is a no-op when nothing was imported."""
+    assert check_missing_variants_after_import("c.conf", "product.template", {}) == 0
+
+
+@patch(CFG)
+def test_guardrail_returns_zero_when_no_orphans(mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """No imported template lacks a variant -> returns 0, creates nothing."""
+    conn, _t, product = _mock_conn([])
+    mock_get.return_value = conn
+    n = check_missing_variants_after_import("c.conf", "product.template", {"a": 1})
+    assert n == 0
+    product.create.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@patch(CFG)
+def test_guardrail_warns_only_by_default(mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """With fix=False, orphans are reported but NOT created."""
+    conn, _t, product = _mock_conn([10, 11])
+    mock_get.return_value = conn
+    n = check_missing_variants_after_import(
+        "c.conf", "product.template", {"a": 10, "b": 11}
+    )
+    assert n == 2
+    product.create.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@patch(CFG)
+def test_guardrail_fixes_when_requested(mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """With fix=True, the missing variants are created."""
+    conn, _t, product = _mock_conn([10, 11])
+    mock_get.return_value = conn
+    n = check_missing_variants_after_import(
+        "c.conf", "product.template", {"a": 10, "b": 11}, fix=True
+    )
+    assert n == 2
+    product.create.assert_called()
+
+
+@patch(CFG)
+def test_guardrail_swallows_connection_errors(mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """A connection failure during the check returns 0 (never breaks the import)."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = Exception("boom")
+    assert (
+        check_missing_variants_after_import("c.conf", "product.template", {"a": 1}) == 0
+    )
+
+
+@patch(CFG)
+def test_guardrail_batches_the_search_for_large_imports(
+    mock_get: MagicMock,
+) -> None:
+    """The orphan search is chunked (2000/call) to avoid huge RPC payloads."""
+    conn = MagicMock()
+    template = MagicMock()
+    product = MagicMock()
+    template.search.return_value = []
+    conn.get_model.side_effect = lambda m: (
+        template if m == "product.template" else product
+    )
+    mock_get.return_value = conn
+    id_map = {f"x{i}": i for i in range(4500)}  # -> 3 batches (2000 + 2000 + 500)
+    check_missing_variants_after_import("c.conf", "product.template", id_map)
+    assert template.search.call_count == 3