diff --git a/anton/core/memory/base.py b/anton/core/memory/base.py
index aa5b11c..4a5cbf4 100644
--- a/anton/core/memory/base.py
+++ b/anton/core/memory/base.py
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ def rewrite_identity(self, entries: list[str]) -> None:
         """Merge new entries into the identity snapshot and rewrite."""
         ...
 
+    def clear_identity(self) -> None:
+        """Delete the identity snapshot file if present."""
+        ...
+
     # --- update / delete ---
 
     def del_rule(self, id: str) -> None:
diff --git a/anton/core/memory/cortex.py b/anton/core/memory/cortex.py
index 329a7c6..a3e7550 100644
--- a/anton/core/memory/cortex.py
+++ b/anton/core/memory/cortex.py
@@ -129,6 +129,30 @@ def __init__(
         self._llm = llm_client
         self._turn_count = 0
 
+        # One-time migration: identity is singular and global. Any entries that
+        # landed in project scope from the old encode() bug are merged upward.
+        # Global wins on key conflicts — orphaned entries are likely stale
+        # (the bug wrote them; the user may have since corrected to global),
+        # so we only import keys that don't already exist globally.
+        orphaned = [e.text for e in self.project_hc.get_identities()]
+        if orphaned:
+            existing_global_keys = {
+                e.text.split(":", 1)[0].strip().lower()
+                for e in self.global_hc.get_identities()
+                if ":" in e.text
+            }
+            to_migrate = [
+                fact
+                for fact in orphaned
+                if not (
+                    ":" in fact
+                    and fact.split(":", 1)[0].strip().lower() in existing_global_keys
+                )
+            ]
+            if to_migrate:
+                self.global_hc.rewrite_identity(to_migrate)
+            self.project_hc.clear_identity()
+
     # ~6000 chars ≈ ~1500 tokens — above this, use LLM to filter rules
     _RULES_BUDGET_CHARS = 6000
 
@@ -297,7 +321,10 @@ async def encode(self, engrams: list[Engram]) -> list[str]:
 
         actions: list[str] = []
         for engram in engrams:
-            hc = self.global_hc if engram.scope == "global" else self.project_hc
+            if engram.kind == "profile":
+                hc = self.global_hc
+            else:
+                hc = self.global_hc if engram.scope == "global" else self.project_hc
 
             if engram.kind == "profile":
                 hc.rewrite_identity([engram.text])
diff --git a/anton/core/memory/hippocampus.py b/anton/core/memory/hippocampus.py
index f2873fe..13790aa 100644
--- a/anton/core/memory/hippocampus.py
+++ b/anton/core/memory/hippocampus.py
@@ -184,6 +184,10 @@ def save_identities(self, entries: list[Engram]) -> None:
         content = "# Profile\n" + "\n".join(f"- {e.text}" for e in entries) + "\n"
         self._encode_with_lock(self._profile_path, content, mode="write")
 
+    def clear_identity(self) -> None:
+        if self._profile_path.is_file():
+            self._profile_path.unlink()
+
 
     # ---------  lessons --------------
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cortex.py b/tests/test_cortex.py
index 1728805..69facbe 100644
--- a/tests/test_cortex.py
+++ b/tests/test_cortex.py
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ async def test_encode_profile(self, cortex, dirs):
         assert (g / "profile.md").exists()
         assert "Name: Jorge" in (g / "profile.md").read_text()
 
+    async def test_encode_profile_with_project_scope_routes_to_global(self, cortex, dirs):
+        g, p = dirs
+        engram = Engram(text="Name: Jorge", kind="profile", scope="project")
+        await cortex.encode([engram])
+        assert (g / "profile.md").exists()
+        assert "Name: Jorge" in (g / "profile.md").read_text()
+        assert not (p / "profile.md").exists()
+
     async def test_off_mode_returns_disabled(self, dirs):
         g, p = dirs
         cortex = Cortex(global_hc=Hippocampus(g), project_hc=Hippocampus(p), mode="off")
@@ -104,6 +112,43 @@ async def test_off_mode_returns_disabled(self, dirs):
         assert any("disabled" in a.lower() for a in actions)
 
 
+class TestOrphanedIdentityMigration:
+    def test_migrates_project_identity_to_global_on_init(self, dirs):
+        g, p = dirs
+        # Simulate orphaned state from the old bug: identity entries in project scope.
+        Hippocampus(p).rewrite_identity(["Name: Jorge", "TZ: PST"])
+        assert (p / "profile.md").exists()
+
+        Cortex(global_hc=Hippocampus(g), project_hc=Hippocampus(p), mode="copilot")
+
+        assert (g / "profile.md").exists()
+        merged = (g / "profile.md").read_text()
+        assert "Name: Jorge" in merged
+        assert "TZ: PST" in merged
+        assert not (p / "profile.md").exists()
+
+    def test_migration_does_not_overwrite_fresh_global_entries(self, dirs):
+        # Orphaned project data is likely stale (old bug wrote it, user may
+        # have since corrected to global). Global must win on key conflicts.
+        g, p = dirs
+        Hippocampus(g).rewrite_identity(["Name: Alejandro"])
+        Hippocampus(p).rewrite_identity(["Name: Alec", "TZ: PST"])
+
+        Cortex(global_hc=Hippocampus(g), project_hc=Hippocampus(p), mode="copilot")
+
+        merged = (g / "profile.md").read_text()
+        assert "Name: Alejandro" in merged
+        assert "Name: Alec" not in merged
+        assert "TZ: PST" in merged  # non-conflicting keys still migrate
+        assert not (p / "profile.md").exists()
+
+    def test_migration_noop_when_project_identity_empty(self, dirs):
+        g, p = dirs
+        Cortex(global_hc=Hippocampus(g), project_hc=Hippocampus(p), mode="copilot")
+        assert not (g / "profile.md").exists()
+        assert not (p / "profile.md").exists()
+
+
 class TestEncodingGate:
     def test_autopilot_never_confirms(self, dirs):
         g, p = dirs