diff --git a/corpus/sources/estate.py b/corpus/sources/estate.py
index 09e095b..0a87e90 100644
--- a/corpus/sources/estate.py
+++ b/corpus/sources/estate.py
@@ -284,7 +284,10 @@ def _file_document(result, client, guide, repo, branch, area, updated, created,
 
     kind = "code" if exclusions.extension(path) not in ("md", "markdown", "mdx", "txt", "rst") else "markdown"
     title = f"{full_name} — {path}"
-    body = text
+    body = _strip_front_matter(text) if kind == "markdown" else text
+    if not body.strip():
+        result.add_rejection(exclusions.Rejection(path, "gitea", "front-matter only", full_name))
+        return None
     if description or topics:
         header = [f"Repository: {full_name}"]
         if description:
@@ -688,6 +691,17 @@ def _make_document(**values) -> loader.Document:
     )
 
 
+def _strip_front_matter(text: str) -> str:
+    """Drop a leading YAML block. The Note path parses it; files only need it gone."""
+    lines = text.splitlines()
+    if not lines or lines[0].strip() != "---":
+        return text
+    for index in range(1, len(lines)):
+        if lines[index].strip() in ("---", "..."):
+            return "\n".join(lines[index + 1 :]).strip()
+    return text
+
+
 def _split_note(text: str, validator) -> tuple:
     """Tolerant front-matter split. A note without front-matter is still a note."""
     lines = text.splitlines()