diff --git a/tests/fmha_v3_real_softmax.py b/tests/fmha_v3_real_softmax.py
index 230b5281..0767596a 100644
--- a/tests/fmha_v3_real_softmax.py
+++ b/tests/fmha_v3_real_softmax.py
@@ -310,22 +310,20 @@ class FmhaV3RealSoftmax:
                 si_handle.release()
                 softmax_done_bar.arrive()
 
-            # Final O normalization: O = O / row_sum
-            if row_sum != Float32(0.0):
-                inv_row_sum = Float32(1.0) / row_sum
-                n_corr = HEAD_DIM // corr_tile_size
-                for ci in range(n_corr):
-                    tTMrO_fn = cute.make_rmem_tensor(tTMEM_LOAD_OcO.shape, self.acc_dtype)
-                    tTMEM_LOAD_OtO_ci = cute.make_tensor(
-                        tTMEM_LOAD_OtO.iterator + ci * corr_tile_size, tTMEM_LOAD_OtO.layout
-                    )
-                    tTMEM_STORE_OtO_ci = cute.make_tensor(
-                        tTMEM_STORE_OtO.iterator + ci * corr_tile_size, tTMEM_STORE_OtO.layout
-                    )
-                    cute.copy(tiled_tmem_load_o, tTMEM_LOAD_OtO_ci, tTMrO_fn)
-                    for j in cutlass.range(cute.size(tTMrO_fn), vectorize=True):
-                        tTMrO_fn[j] = tTMrO_fn[j] * inv_row_sum
-                    cute.copy(tiled_tmem_store_o, tTMrO_fn, tTMEM_STORE_OtO_ci)
+            # Final O normalization: load, NO-OP write (debug copy)
+            # If this matches unnormalized output, the TMEM copy is correct.
+            n_corr = HEAD_DIM // corr_tile_size
+            for ci in range(n_corr):
+                tTMrO_fn = cute.make_rmem_tensor(tTMEM_LOAD_OcO.shape, self.acc_dtype)
+                tTMEM_LOAD_OtO_ci = cute.make_tensor(
+                    tTMEM_LOAD_OtO.iterator + ci * corr_tile_size, tTMEM_LOAD_OtO.layout
+                )
+                tTMEM_STORE_OtO_ci = cute.make_tensor(
+                    tTMEM_STORE_OtO.iterator + ci * corr_tile_size, tTMEM_STORE_OtO.layout
+                )
+                cute.copy(tiled_tmem_load_o, tTMEM_LOAD_OtO_ci, tTMrO_fn)
+                # NO-OP: write back without modification
+                cute.copy(tiled_tmem_store_o, tTMrO_fn, tTMEM_STORE_OtO_ci)
 
             # Epilogue: TMEM -> SMEM -> GMEM via TMA store
             tCtO_base = cute.make_tensor(tmem_ptr + self.tmem_o0_offset, tCtO_fake.layout)
@@ -348,13 +346,14 @@ def test():
         v_kernel = v.unsqueeze(-1)
         c = torch.zeros(m, hd, 1, dtype=torch.bfloat16, device='cuda')
 
-        # Reference: proper softmax
+        # Reference: unnormalized (just softmax numerators @ V, no 1/row_sum)
         qf = q[:, :, 0].float()
         kf = k[:, :, 0].float()
         scale = 1.0 / math.sqrt(hd)
         attn = qf @ kf.T * scale
-        attn = torch.softmax(attn, dim=-1)
-        ref = attn @ v.float()
+        attn_max = attn.max(dim=-1, keepdim=True)[0]
+        attn_unnorm = torch.exp(attn - attn_max)
+        ref = attn_unnorm @ v.float()
 
         mQ = ct.from_dlpack(q).mark_layout_dynamic(leading_dim=ct.get_leading_dim(q))
         mK = ct.from_dlpack(k).mark_layout_dynamic(leading_dim=ct.get_leading_dim(k))