diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 26730fb..8423cb7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -115,9 +115,8 @@ ERB mode the file is intended to be Puppet Hiera data rather than Ansible role
 defaults.
 
 JinjaTurtle does **not** generate Puppet classes or `file` resources. A Puppet
-module, or another tool such as Enroll, should still declare the class
-parameters and call the template, for example with Puppet's `template()`
-function.
+module, should still declare the class parameters and call the template, for
+example with Puppet's `template()` function.
 
 ## Using `--puppet-class`
 
@@ -340,15 +339,53 @@ JinjaTurtle also templates some common bespoke config formats:
 For ambiguous extensions like `*.conf`, JinjaTurtle uses lightweight content
 sniffing. You can always force a specific handler with `--format`.
 
-## Relationship with Enroll
+## Security model
 
-JinjaTurtle can be used directly, but it is also useful as a helper for tools
-that generate configuration-management code.
+JinjaTurtle is frequently pointed at config files that were *harvested* from
+real systems, where some content may be influenced by an untrusted party (a
+hostname, a login banner, a `GECOS` comment, a "Managed by ..." note). It is
+therefore designed so that source content cannot turn into executable template
+code.
+
+Two guarantees matter:
+
+1. **Values are data, never code.** Every config *value* is replaced with a
+   `{{ variable }}` placeholder in the template, and the original value is stored
+   separately in the defaults/Hiera data. When the template is later rendered,
+   the placeholder prints the value as a literal string; Jinja2 does not
+   recursively render the *contents* of a variable, so a payload sitting inside
+   a value (for example `motd = {{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }}`) is inert.
+
+2. **Verbatim text is neutralised.** To preserve formatting, JinjaTurtle copies
+   comments, blank lines, headers and any unrecognised lines from the source
+   into the template. Any template metacharacters in that copied text
+   (`{{ }}`, `{% %}`, `{# #}` for Jinja2; `<% %>` for ERB) are escaped so they
+   render as the literal characters the author wrote, rather than executing.
+
+### Consumer responsibilities
+
+The value guarantee above relies on the downstream renderer being single-pass,
+which is the normal case:
+
+- **Ansible**: rendering a template with `template:`/`ansible.builtin.template`
+  is single-pass. For defence in depth, treat the generated defaults as
+  untrusted input — Ansible already does not re-template variable *contents* by
+  default. If you build your own var structures from this data and pass them
+  through additional templating, mark untrusted values with the `!unsafe` tag so
+  they are never re-evaluated.
+- **Salt**: use the generated file as a `file.managed` template
+  (`template: jinja`). Do **not** place JinjaTurtle output where Salt would
+  render it a second time as part of SLS/pillar rendering, which is a separate
+  Jinja pass and would re-evaluate any embedded expressions.
+- **Puppet/ERB**: render with the standard `template()`/`epp()` flow.
+
+In short: render JinjaTurtle output exactly once. Do not feed it back through
+another templating pass.
+
+**IMPORTANT**: Always review both the original config files, then the resulting
+templates generated by JinjaTurtle, before integrating them into your config
+management system!
 
-Enroll can call JinjaTurtle when it is available on the `PATH`. In that setup,
-Enroll decides where Puppet, Ansible, or Salt files belong, while JinjaTurtle
-concentrates on converting harvested config files into templates plus variable
-data.
 
 ## Found a bug, have a suggestion?
 
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/cli.py b/src/jinjaturtle/cli.py
index 7658bfb..0c403fa 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/cli.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/cli.py
@@ -199,4 +199,8 @@ def main() -> None:
     """
     Console-script entry point.
     """
-    _main(sys.argv[1:])
+    sys.exit(_main(sys.argv[1:]))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/core.py b/src/jinjaturtle/core.py
index 673aad0..1faefca 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/core.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/core.py
@@ -412,8 +412,6 @@ def generate_puppet_hiera_yaml(
     ``role_prefix`` remains the source variable prefix used by JinjaTurtle while
     ``puppet_class`` is the Puppet class/Hiera namespace.  In the normal case
     they are the same, so ``php_memory_limit`` becomes ``php::memory_limit``.
-    Enroll may pass a file-specific role prefix and a separate Puppet class to
-    avoid parameter-name collisions inside one generated Puppet module.
     """
 
     klass = puppet_class_name(puppet_class or role_prefix)
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/erb.py b/src/jinjaturtle/erb.py
index 445ec51..6eb26ad 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/erb.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/erb.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import re
 
+from .escape import escape_erb_literal
+
 
 def _safe_name(raw: str, *, fallback: str = "var") -> str:
     text = re.sub(r"[^A-Za-z0-9_]+", "_", str(raw or fallback)).strip("_").lower()
@@ -38,10 +40,9 @@ def puppet_local_var_name(
     generated Jinja variable such as ``php_memory_limit`` becomes Puppet local
     parameter ``memory_limit`` and Hiera key ``php::memory_limit``.
 
-    Enroll sometimes needs a file-specific variable prefix to avoid collisions
-    inside a generated module.  When ``puppet_class`` differs from
-    ``role_prefix`` we keep the full generated variable name as the local
-    parameter and only use ``puppet_class`` as the Hiera namespace.
+    When ``puppet_class`` differs from ``role_prefix`` we keep the full
+    generated variable name as the local parameter and only use ``puppet_class``
+    as the Hiera namespace.
     """
 
     var_name = _safe_name(jinja_var_name, fallback="value")
@@ -71,7 +72,33 @@ class ErbTranslator:
         self.loop_stack: list[tuple[str, str, str]] = []
         self.needs_json = False
 
+    # Matches a JinjaTurtle ``{% raw %} ... {% endraw %}`` block (non-greedy).
+    # JinjaTurtle emits raw blocks only to carry verbatim, security-escaped
+    # source text (comments and unrecognised lines), so the *contents* must be
+    # treated as literal output, never translated as Jinja tokens.
+    _RAW_BLOCK_RE = re.compile(r"{%\s*raw\s*%}(.*?){%\s*endraw\s*%}", re.S)
+
     def translate(self, template_text: str) -> str:
+        # Split out raw blocks first.  Their inner text is literal and must be
+        # carried through as literal ERB (with ERB delimiters re-escaped), rather
+        # than tokenised -- otherwise an escaped Jinja payload inside a comment
+        # would be "re-animated" into live ERB during translation.
+        segments = self._RAW_BLOCK_RE.split(template_text)
+        out: list[str] = []
+        # re.split with one capture group yields: [text, raw_inner, text, ...].
+        for idx, segment in enumerate(segments):
+            if idx % 2 == 1:
+                # Captured raw-block contents: emit as literal ERB text.
+                out.append(escape_erb_literal(segment))
+            else:
+                out.append(self._translate_tokens(segment))
+
+        rendered = "".join(out)
+        if self.needs_json and "require 'json'" not in rendered:
+            rendered = "<% require 'json' -%>\n" + rendered
+        return rendered
+
+    def _translate_tokens(self, template_text: str) -> str:
         parts = self._TOKEN_RE.split(template_text)
         out: list[str] = []
         for token in parts:
@@ -86,11 +113,7 @@ class ErbTranslator:
                 out.append(self.statement_to_erb(stmt))
                 continue
             out.append(token)
-
-        rendered = "".join(out)
-        if self.needs_json and "require 'json'" not in rendered:
-            rendered = "<% require 'json' -%>\n" + rendered
-        return rendered
+        return "".join(out)
 
     def local_var(self, name: str) -> str:
         return puppet_local_var_name(
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/escape.py b/src/jinjaturtle/escape.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b8575e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/escape.py
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+"""Neutralise template metacharacters in text copied verbatim from source files.
+
+JinjaTurtle preserves formatting by copying parts of the *original* config file
+straight into the generated template: comments, blank lines, section headers,
+and any line it does not recognise as ``key = value``.  Config *values* are
+always replaced with ``{{ var }}`` placeholders and parked in the defaults data,
+so a payload inside a value is inert.  Verbatim text is different: if the source
+contains ``{{ ... }}``, ``{% ... %}`` or ``{# ... #}`` (Jinja2), or ``<%= %>`` /
+``<% %>`` (ERB), that text becomes *live template code* in the output and is
+executed when Salt/Ansible/Puppet later renders the template.
+
+Because JinjaTurtle is frequently fed harvested, attacker-influenceable config
+(hostnames, banners, GECOS-derived comments, "Managed by" notes), this is a
+template-injection / SSTI vector that can lead to remote code execution on the
+configuration-management control node.
+
+The functions here render those metacharacters as literal text so they survive a
+later template render as the characters the source author actually wrote, rather
+than as executable template syntax.
+
+Design notes:
+  * We only ever escape text that originates from the *source file*.  We never
+    pass JinjaTurtle's own generated placeholders (``{{ role_var }}``) through
+    these helpers, so the placeholders keep working.
+  * Jinja2 literal text is wrapped in a single ``{% raw %} ... {% endraw %}``
+    block.  ``raw`` disables *all* tag interpretation inside it -- expressions,
+    statements and ``{# #}`` comments alike -- so one wrap neutralises every
+    Jinja construct.  The only way to break out of a raw block is a literal
+    ``{% endraw %}`` in the source, so we defang the token ``endraw`` (in any
+    internal spacing) before wrapping.
+  * The ERB translator (``erb.py``) is raw-aware: it copies the *contents* of a
+    JinjaTurtle raw block through as literal ERB text and re-escapes any ERB
+    delimiters found there.  That keeps a Jinja-escaped comment inert after the
+    Jinja2 -> ERB translation step, instead of the payload being "re-animated"
+    as ERB.
+  * ``escape_erb_literal`` exists for completeness / direct ERB emission: it
+    rewrites each ERB delimiter into an ERB expression that prints the delimiter
+    characters literally.
+"""
+
+import re
+
+# Jinja2 delimiters we must neutralise.  Engine-default; JinjaTurtle never
+# configures custom delimiters.
+_JINJA_MARKERS = ("{{", "}}", "{%", "%}", "{#", "#}")
+
+# ERB delimiters.  Longer markers first so "<%=" matches before "<%".
+_ERB_OPEN_MARKERS = ("<%=", "<%-", "<%#", "<%")
+_ERB_CLOSE_MARKERS = ("-%>", "%>")
+
+# Matches a Jinja2 endraw tag in any internal spacing, e.g. "{%endraw%}",
+# "{%  endraw  %}", "{%- endraw -%}".
+_ENDRAW_RE = re.compile(r"{%-?\s*endraw\s*-?%}")
+
+# Sentinel inserted between "end" and "raw" to break the endraw keyword without
+# changing the visible characters.  We use a Jinja comment-free approach: insert
+# the two halves across a raw boundary so the literal text still reads "endraw"
+# to a human but is never a valid tag.  See escape_jinja_literal for usage.
+
+
+def contains_jinja_markup(text: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True if *text* contains any Jinja2 delimiter."""
+    return any(m in text for m in _JINJA_MARKERS)
+
+
+def contains_erb_markup(text: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True if *text* contains any ERB delimiter."""
+    return any(m in text for m in (*_ERB_OPEN_MARKERS, *_ERB_CLOSE_MARKERS))
+
+
+def _defang_endraw(text: str) -> str:
+    """Rewrite any literal ``{% endraw %}`` so it cannot close our raw wrapper.
+
+    We turn each endraw tag into ``{% endraw %}{{ '{% endraw %}' }}{% raw %}``...
+    no -- that would re-introduce live tags.  Instead we keep everything literal:
+    we break the keyword by emitting the tag's text in two raw segments split
+    inside the word ``endraw``.  The result, when later rendered, reproduces the
+    exact original characters ``{% endraw %}`` while never being a parseable tag.
+    """
+
+    def _replace(match: re.Match[str]) -> str:
+        tag = match.group(0)
+        # Split the keyword "endraw" as "end" + "raw"; close and reopen the raw
+        # block between them.  Each half is plain text inside a raw block, so the
+        # reconstructed output is byte-identical to the original tag, but at no
+        # point does the token "{% endraw %}" exist contiguously to close raw.
+        idx = tag.lower().index("endraw")
+        head = tag[: idx + 3]  # up to and including "end"
+        tail = tag[idx + 3 :]  # "raw...%}"
+        return f"{head}{{% endraw %}}{{% raw %}}{tail}"
+
+    return _ENDRAW_RE.sub(_replace, text)
+
+
+def escape_jinja_literal(text: str) -> str:
+    """Make *text* render as literal characters under a later Jinja2 render.
+
+    Text with no Jinja metacharacters is returned unchanged so the common case
+    stays byte-for-byte identical to the source.  Otherwise the text is wrapped
+    in a single ``{% raw %}`` block, with any embedded ``endraw`` defanged.
+    """
+    if not text or not contains_jinja_markup(text):
+        return text
+    return "{% raw %}" + _defang_endraw(text) + "{% endraw %}"
+
+
+def escape_erb_literal(text: str) -> str:
+    """Make *text* render as literal characters under a later ERB render.
+
+    ERB has no ``raw`` block, so each opening/closing delimiter is rewritten as
+    an ERB expression that prints the delimiter literally.  Text with no ERB
+    metacharacters is returned unchanged.
+    """
+    if not text or not contains_erb_markup(text):
+        return text
+
+    result: list[str] = []
+    i = 0
+    n = len(text)
+    while i < n:
+        matched = None
+        for marker in (*_ERB_CLOSE_MARKERS, *_ERB_OPEN_MARKERS):
+            if text.startswith(marker, i):
+                matched = marker
+                break
+        if matched is not None:
+            escaped = matched.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"')
+            result.append('<%= "' + escaped + '" %>')
+            i += len(matched)
+        else:
+            result.append(text[i])
+            i += 1
+    return "".join(result)
+
+
+def escape_literal(text: str, *, engine: str = "jinja2") -> str:
+    """Escape verbatim *text* for the target template *engine*.
+
+    ``engine`` is ``"jinja2"`` (default) or ``"erb"``.  Unknown engines fall back
+    to Jinja2 escaping.  In JinjaTurtle's pipeline ERB output is produced by
+    translating Jinja2 output, and the translator is raw-aware, so handlers can
+    always Jinja-escape and rely on the translator to keep the literal inert.
+    """
+    if engine == "erb":
+        return escape_erb_literal(text)
+    return escape_jinja_literal(text)
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ini.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ini.py
index 1aa5e22..9f50839 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ini.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ini.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from . import BaseHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 
 
 class IniHandler(BaseHandler):
@@ -84,16 +85,18 @@ class IniHandler(BaseHandler):
             line = raw_line
             stripped = line.lstrip()
 
-            # Blank or pure comment: keep as-is
+            # Blank or pure comment: keep formatting, but neutralise any
+            # template metacharacters so attacker-controlled comment text cannot
+            # become live template code in the output.
             if not stripped or stripped[0] in {"#", ";"}:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Section header
             if stripped.startswith("[") and "]" in stripped:
                 header_inner = stripped[1 : stripped.index("]")]
                 current_section = header_inner.strip()
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Work without newline so we can re-attach it exactly
@@ -108,8 +111,9 @@ class IniHandler(BaseHandler):
 
             eq_index = content.find("=")
             if eq_index == -1:
-                # Not a simple key=value line: leave untouched
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                # Not a simple key=value line: leave content intact but escape
+                # any template metacharacters.
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             before_eq = content[:eq_index]
@@ -117,7 +121,7 @@ class IniHandler(BaseHandler):
 
             key = before_eq.strip()
             if not key:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Whitespace after '='
@@ -146,8 +150,16 @@ class IniHandler(BaseHandler):
             else:
                 replacement_value = j2.variable(var_name)
 
+            # ``before_eq`` (key + surrounding whitespace) and ``comment_part``
+            # both originate from the source file and may carry template
+            # metacharacters; escape each independently so the safe
+            # ``replacement_value`` placeholder between them is preserved.
             new_content = (
-                before_eq + "=" + leading_ws + replacement_value + comment_part
+                escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+                + "="
+                + leading_ws
+                + replacement_value
+                + escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
             )
             out_lines.append(new_content + newline)
 
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/postfix.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/postfix.py
index e2e442a..f6a1974 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/postfix.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/postfix.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from . import BaseHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 
 
 class PostfixMainHandler(BaseHandler):
@@ -108,16 +109,16 @@ class PostfixMainHandler(BaseHandler):
 
             stripped = content.strip()
             if not stripped:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 i += 1
                 continue
             if stripped.startswith("#"):
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 i += 1
                 continue
 
             if "=" not in content:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 i += 1
                 continue
 
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ class PostfixMainHandler(BaseHandler):
 
             key = before_eq.strip()
             if not key:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 i += 1
                 continue
 
@@ -162,16 +163,21 @@ class PostfixMainHandler(BaseHandler):
 
             var = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, (key,))
             v = value
+            # ``before_eq`` (key) and ``comment_part`` are source-derived and may
+            # contain template metacharacters; escape each around the safe
+            # placeholder.
+            safe_before = escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+            safe_comment = escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
             quoted = len(v) >= 2 and v[0] == v[-1] and v[0] in {'"', "'"}
             if quoted:
                 replacement = (
-                    f"{before_eq}={leading_ws}{j2.quoted_variable(var)}"
-                    f"{comment_part}{newline}"
+                    f"{safe_before}={leading_ws}{j2.quoted_variable(var)}"
+                    f"{safe_comment}{newline}"
                 )
             else:
                 replacement = (
-                    f"{before_eq}={leading_ws}{j2.variable(var)}"
-                    f"{comment_part}{newline}"
+                    f"{safe_before}={leading_ws}{j2.variable(var)}"
+                    f"{safe_comment}{newline}"
                 )
 
             out_lines.append(replacement)
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ssh.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ssh.py
index a6c0d2f..f588a33 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ssh.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/ssh.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from . import BaseHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 
 
 _SECTION_KEYWORDS = {"host", "match"}
@@ -255,12 +256,12 @@ class SshConfigHandler(BaseHandler):
         out_lines: list[str] = []
         for ln in parsed.lines:
             if ln.kind != "kv":
-                out_lines.append(ln.raw)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(ln.raw))
                 continue
 
             path = self._path_for_line(ln)
             if not path:
-                out_lines.append(ln.raw)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(ln.raw))
                 continue
 
             var = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, path)
@@ -270,9 +271,12 @@ class SshConfigHandler(BaseHandler):
             else:
                 replacement_value = j2.variable(var)
 
+            # ``before_value`` (keyword + spacing) and ``comment`` are
+            # source-derived; escape around the safe placeholder.
             rendered = (
-                f"{ln.before_value}{replacement_value}"
-                f"{ln.whitespace_before_comment}{ln.comment}{ln.newline}"
+                f"{escape_jinja_literal(ln.before_value)}{replacement_value}"
+                f"{ln.whitespace_before_comment}"
+                f"{escape_jinja_literal(ln.comment)}{ln.newline}"
             )
             out_lines.append(rendered)
 
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/systemd.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/systemd.py
index 8118808..d28a8c5 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/systemd.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/systemd.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from . import BaseHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -157,7 +158,13 @@ class SystemdUnitHandler(BaseHandler):
         out_lines: list[str] = []
         for ln in parsed.lines:
             if ln.kind != "kv" or not ln.section or not ln.key:
-                out_lines.append(ln.raw)
+                # Verbatim lines (blank/comment/section/unrecognised "raw")
+                # originate from the source file.  Escape template
+                # metacharacters so they cannot become live template code.
+                # This is the only handler that emits unrecognised lines, which
+                # is where Jinja *statement* injection (``{% ... %}``) was
+                # possible, so escaping here is essential.
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(ln.raw))
                 continue
 
             path: tuple[str, ...] = (ln.section, ln.key)
@@ -166,16 +173,18 @@ class SystemdUnitHandler(BaseHandler):
             var = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, path)
 
             v = (ln.value or "").strip()
+            safe_before = escape_jinja_literal(ln.before_eq)
+            safe_comment = escape_jinja_literal(ln.comment)
             quoted = len(v) >= 2 and v[0] == v[-1] and v[0] in {'"', "'"}
             if quoted:
                 repl = (
-                    f"{ln.before_eq}={ln.leading_ws_after_eq}"
-                    f"{j2.quoted_variable(var)}{ln.comment}"
+                    f"{safe_before}={ln.leading_ws_after_eq}"
+                    f"{j2.quoted_variable(var)}{safe_comment}"
                 )
             else:
                 repl = (
-                    f"{ln.before_eq}={ln.leading_ws_after_eq}"
-                    f"{j2.variable(var)}{ln.comment}"
+                    f"{safe_before}={ln.leading_ws_after_eq}"
+                    f"{j2.variable(var)}{safe_comment}"
                 )
 
             newline = "\n" if ln.raw.endswith("\n") else ""
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/toml.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/toml.py
index 15d5a2a..6d25cff 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/toml.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/toml.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from . import DictLikeHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 from ..loop_analyzer import LoopCandidate
 
 try:
@@ -77,19 +78,25 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
         def emit_kv(path: tuple[str, ...], key: str, value: Any) -> None:
             var_name = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, path + (key,))
             if isinstance(value, str):
-                lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(var_name)}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(var_name)}"
+                )
             elif isinstance(value, bool):
                 # Booleans need | lower filter (Python True/False → TOML true/false)
-                lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}"
+                )
             else:
-                lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}"
+                )
 
         def walk(obj: dict[str, Any], path: tuple[str, ...] = ()) -> None:
             scalar_items = {k: v for k, v in obj.items() if not isinstance(v, dict)}
             nested_items = {k: v for k, v in obj.items() if isinstance(v, dict)}
 
             if path:
-                header = ".".join(path)
+                header = ".".join(escape_jinja_literal(str(p)) for p in path)
                 lines.append(f"[{header}]")
 
             for key, val in scalar_items.items():
@@ -130,10 +137,14 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
         def emit_kv(path: tuple[str, ...], key: str, value: Any) -> None:
             var_name = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, path + (key,))
             if isinstance(value, str):
-                lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(var_name)}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(var_name)}"
+                )
             elif isinstance(value, bool):
                 # Booleans need | lower filter (Python True/False → TOML true/false)
-                lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}"
+                )
             elif isinstance(value, list):
                 # Check if this list is a loop candidate
                 if path + (key,) in loop_paths:
@@ -157,19 +168,26 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     elif candidate.item_schema in ("simple_dict", "nested"):
                         # Dict list loop - TOML array of tables
                         # This is complex for TOML, using simplified approach
-                        lines.append(f"{key} = " f"{j2.to_json(var_name)}")
+                        lines.append(
+                            f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = "
+                            f"{j2.to_json(var_name)}"
+                        )
                 else:
                     # Not a loop, treat as regular variable
-                    lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}")
+                    lines.append(
+                        f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}"
+                    )
             else:
-                lines.append(f"{key} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(var_name, value)}"
+                )
 
         def walk(obj: dict[str, Any], path: tuple[str, ...] = ()) -> None:
             scalar_items = {k: v for k, v in obj.items() if not isinstance(v, dict)}
             nested_items = {k: v for k, v in obj.items() if isinstance(v, dict)}
 
             if path:
-                header = ".".join(path)
+                header = ".".join(escape_jinja_literal(str(p)) for p in path)
                 lines.append(f"[{header}]")
 
             for key, val in scalar_items.items():
@@ -217,7 +235,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
 
             # Blank or pure comment
             if not stripped or stripped.startswith("#"):
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Table header: [server] or [server.tls] or [[array.of.tables]]
@@ -230,7 +248,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     inner = inner.strip("[]")  # handle [[table]] as well
                     parts = [p.strip() for p in inner.split(".") if p.strip()]
                     current_table = tuple(parts)
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Try key = value
@@ -245,7 +263,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
 
             eq_index = content.find("=")
             if eq_index == -1:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             before_eq = content[:eq_index]
@@ -253,7 +271,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
 
             key = before_eq.strip()
             if not key:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Whitespace after '='
@@ -289,19 +307,23 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                         nested_var = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, nested_path)
                         if isinstance(sub_val, str):
                             inner_bits.append(
-                                f"{sub_key} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(nested_var)}"
+                                f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(sub_key))} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(nested_var)}"
                             )
                         elif isinstance(sub_val, bool):
                             inner_bits.append(
-                                f"{sub_key} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
+                                f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(sub_key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
                             )
                         else:
                             inner_bits.append(
-                                f"{sub_key} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
+                                f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(sub_key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
                             )
                     replacement_value = "{ " + ", ".join(inner_bits) + " }"
                     new_content = (
-                        before_eq + "=" + leading_ws + replacement_value + comment_part
+                        escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+                        + "="
+                        + leading_ws
+                        + replacement_value
+                        + escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
                     )
                     out_lines.append(new_content + newline)
                     continue
@@ -327,7 +349,11 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 replacement_value = j2.variable(var_name)
 
             new_content = (
-                before_eq + "=" + leading_ws + replacement_value + comment_part
+                escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+                + "="
+                + leading_ws
+                + replacement_value
+                + escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
             )
             out_lines.append(new_content + newline)
 
@@ -355,7 +381,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
             if not stripped or stripped.startswith("#"):
                 # Only output if we're not skipping
                 if not skip_until_next_table:
-                    out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                    out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Table header: [server] or [server.tls] or [[array.of.tables]]
@@ -404,7 +430,9 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                             out_lines.append(
                                 f"{j2.for_start(item_var, collection_var)}\n"
                             )
-                            out_lines.append(f"[[{'.'.join(table_path)}]]\n")
+                            out_lines.append(
+                                f"[[{'.'.join(escape_jinja_literal(str(p)) for p in table_path)}]]\n"
+                            )
 
                             # Add fields from sample item
                             for key, value in sample_item.items():
@@ -412,17 +440,17 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                                     continue
                                 if isinstance(value, str):
                                     out_lines.append(
-                                        f"{key} = "
+                                        f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = "
                                         f"{self._toml_quoted_expr(f'{item_var}.{key}')}\n"
                                     )
                                 elif isinstance(value, bool):
                                     out_lines.append(
-                                        f"{key} = "
+                                        f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = "
                                         f"{self._toml_value_expr(f'{item_var}.{key}', value)}\n"
                                     )
                                 else:
                                     out_lines.append(
-                                        f"{key} = "
+                                        f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))} = "
                                         f"{self._toml_value_expr(f'{item_var}.{key}', value)}\n"
                                     )
 
@@ -437,7 +465,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                             skip_until_next_table = False
                         current_table = table_path
 
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # If we're inside a skipped array-of-tables section, skip this line
@@ -456,7 +484,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
 
             eq_index = content.find("=")
             if eq_index == -1:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             before_eq = content[:eq_index]
@@ -464,7 +492,7 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
 
             key = before_eq.strip()
             if not key:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Whitespace after '='
@@ -501,7 +529,11 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     replacement_value = j2.to_json(collection_var)
 
                 new_content = (
-                    before_eq + "=" + leading_ws + replacement_value + comment_part
+                    escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+                    + "="
+                    + leading_ws
+                    + replacement_value
+                    + escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
                 )
                 out_lines.append(new_content + newline)
                 continue
@@ -526,19 +558,23 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                         nested_var = self.make_var_name(role_prefix, nested_path)
                         if isinstance(sub_val, str):
                             inner_bits.append(
-                                f"{sub_key} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(nested_var)}"
+                                f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(sub_key))} = {self._toml_quoted_expr(nested_var)}"
                             )
                         elif isinstance(sub_val, bool):
                             inner_bits.append(
-                                f"{sub_key} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
+                                f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(sub_key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
                             )
                         else:
                             inner_bits.append(
-                                f"{sub_key} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
+                                f"{escape_jinja_literal(str(sub_key))} = {self._toml_value_expr(nested_var, sub_val)}"
                             )
                     replacement_value = "{ " + ", ".join(inner_bits) + " }"
                     new_content = (
-                        before_eq + "=" + leading_ws + replacement_value + comment_part
+                        escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+                        + "="
+                        + leading_ws
+                        + replacement_value
+                        + escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
                     )
                     out_lines.append(new_content + newline)
                     continue
@@ -564,7 +600,11 @@ class TomlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 replacement_value = j2.variable(var_name)
 
             new_content = (
-                before_eq + "=" + leading_ws + replacement_value + comment_part
+                escape_jinja_literal(before_eq)
+                + "="
+                + leading_ws
+                + replacement_value
+                + escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)
             )
             out_lines.append(new_content + newline)
 
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/xml.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/xml.py
index 51c7a73..9fde3ec 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/xml.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/xml.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET  # nosec
 
 from .base import BaseHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 from ..loop_analyzer import LoopCandidate
 
 
@@ -230,6 +231,37 @@ class XmlHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         walk(root, ())
 
+    # Internal marker prefixes used by JinjaTurtle's own comment nodes.  These
+    # must NOT be escaped (they are converted into real Jinja control structures
+    # downstream).  Source-file comments have none of these prefixes.
+    _MARKER_PREFIXES = ("LOOP:", "IF:", "ENDIF:")
+
+    def _is_jt_marker(self, comment_text: str) -> bool:
+        stripped = (comment_text or "").lstrip()
+        return any(stripped.startswith(p) for p in self._MARKER_PREFIXES)
+
+    def _escape_source_comments(self, root: ET.Element) -> None:
+        """Escape template metacharacters in comments preserved from the source.
+
+        XML comments are re-emitted verbatim by ``ET.tostring`` (the tree is
+        parsed with ``insert_comments=True``).  Attacker-controlled comment text
+        such as ``<!-- {{ cmd.run('id') }} -->`` would otherwise become live
+        template code.  Element/attribute *names* cannot carry Jinja delimiters
+        (XML naming rules forbid the characters and the parser rejects them), and
+        text/attribute *values* are already replaced with ``{{ var }}``
+        placeholders, so comments (and the prolog, handled separately) are the
+        only XML injection vector.
+
+        JinjaTurtle's own internal marker comments are left untouched so they can
+        be converted into real loops/conditionals later.
+        """
+        # ET represents comments with a callable tag (ET.Comment).  Iterate all
+        # descendants and escape comment text that is not one of our markers.
+        for elem in root.iter():
+            if elem.tag is ET.Comment:
+                if not self._is_jt_marker(elem.text or ""):
+                    elem.text = escape_jinja_literal(elem.text or "")
+
     def _generate_xml_template_from_text(self, role_prefix: str, text: str) -> str:
         """Generate scalar-only Jinja2 template."""
         prolog, body = self._split_xml_prolog(text)
@@ -240,12 +272,16 @@ class XmlHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         self._apply_jinja_to_xml_tree(role_prefix, root)
 
+        # Neutralise template metacharacters in any comments preserved from the
+        # source file before serialising.
+        self._escape_source_comments(root)
+
         indent = getattr(ET, "indent", None)
         if indent is not None:
             indent(root, space="  ")  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
         xml_body = ET.tostring(root, encoding="unicode")
-        return prolog + xml_body
+        return escape_jinja_literal(prolog) + xml_body
 
     def _generate_xml_template_with_loops_from_text(
         self,
@@ -265,6 +301,11 @@ class XmlHandler(BaseHandler):
         # Apply Jinja transformations (including loop markers)
         self._apply_jinja_to_xml_tree(role_prefix, root, loop_candidates)
 
+        # Escape comments preserved from the source.  JinjaTurtle's own
+        # LOOP/IF/ENDIF marker comments are recognised and left intact so they
+        # can be converted into real Jinja control structures below.
+        self._escape_source_comments(root)
+
         # Convert to string
         indent = getattr(ET, "indent", None)
         if indent is not None:
@@ -275,7 +316,7 @@ class XmlHandler(BaseHandler):
         # Post-process to replace loop markers with actual Jinja loops
         xml_body = self._insert_xml_loops(xml_body, role_prefix, loop_candidates, root)
 
-        return prolog + xml_body
+        return escape_jinja_literal(prolog) + xml_body
 
     def _insert_xml_loops(
         self,
diff --git a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/yaml.py b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/yaml.py
index 1ad9bf3..d8131b0 100644
--- a/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/yaml.py
+++ b/src/jinjaturtle/handlers/yaml.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from .dict import DictLikeHandler
 from .. import j2
+from ..escape import escape_jinja_literal
 from ..loop_analyzer import LoopCandidate
 
 
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
             indent = len(raw_line) - len(stripped)
 
             if not stripped or stripped.startswith("#"):
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             while stack and indent < stack[-1][0]:
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 key_part, rest = stripped.split(":", 1)
                 key = key_part.strip()
                 if not key:
-                    out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                    out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     continue
 
                 rest_stripped = rest.lstrip(" \t")
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 stack.append((indent, path, "map"))
 
                 if not has_value:
-                    out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                    out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     continue
 
                 value_part, comment_part = self._split_inline_comment(
@@ -147,8 +148,8 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     replacement = self._yaml_scalar_expr(var_name, raw_value)
 
                 leading = rest[: len(rest) - len(rest.lstrip(" \t"))]
-                new_rest = f"{leading}{replacement}{comment_part}"
-                new_stripped = f"{key}:{new_rest}"
+                new_rest = f"{leading}{replacement}{escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)}"
+                new_stripped = f"{escape_jinja_literal(key)}:{new_rest}"
                 out_lines.append(
                     " " * indent
                     + new_stripped
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 else:
                     replacement = self._yaml_scalar_expr(var_name, raw_value)
 
-                new_stripped = f"- {replacement}{comment_part}"
+                new_stripped = f"- {replacement}{escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)}"
                 out_lines.append(
                     " " * indent
                     + new_stripped
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 )
                 continue
 
-            out_lines.append(raw_line)
+            out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
 
         return "".join(out_lines)
 
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     next_line = next_significant_line(line_index)
                     if next_line is None:
                         skip_until_indent = None
-                        out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                        out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     else:
                         next_indent, next_stripped = next_line
                         still_in_collection = next_indent > skip_until_indent or (
@@ -284,12 +285,12 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                         )
                         if not still_in_collection:
                             skip_until_indent = None
-                            out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                            out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     continue
                 if is_comment:
                     if indent <= skip_until_indent:
                         skip_until_indent = None
-                        out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                        out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     # Comments/blank lines indented beneath the replaced
                     # collection are considered part of that collection and
                     # cannot be placed safely inside a generated loop.
@@ -303,7 +304,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
 
             # Blank or comment lines
             if is_blank or is_comment:
-                out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                 continue
 
             # Adjust stack based on indent
@@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 key_part, rest = stripped.split(":", 1)
                 key = key_part.strip()
                 if not key:
-                    out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                    out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     continue
 
                 rest_stripped = rest.lstrip(" \t")
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     continue
 
                 if not has_value:
-                    out_lines.append(raw_line)
+                    out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
                     continue
 
                 # Scalar value - replace with variable
@@ -376,8 +377,8 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                     replacement = self._yaml_scalar_expr(var_name, raw_value)
 
                 leading = rest[: len(rest) - len(rest.lstrip(" \t"))]
-                new_rest = f"{leading}{replacement}{comment_part}"
-                new_stripped = f"{key}:{new_rest}"
+                new_rest = f"{leading}{replacement}{escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)}"
+                new_stripped = f"{escape_jinja_literal(key)}:{new_rest}"
                 out_lines.append(
                     " " * indent
                     + new_stripped
@@ -439,7 +440,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 else:
                     replacement = self._yaml_scalar_expr(var_name, raw_value)
 
-                new_stripped = f"- {replacement}{comment_part}"
+                new_stripped = f"- {replacement}{escape_jinja_literal(comment_part)}"
                 out_lines.append(
                     " " * indent
                     + new_stripped
@@ -447,7 +448,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
                 )
                 continue
 
-            out_lines.append(raw_line)
+            out_lines.append(escape_jinja_literal(raw_line))
 
         return "".join(out_lines)
 
@@ -480,7 +481,7 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
         lines: list[str] = []
         if not is_list:
             key = candidate.path[-1] if candidate.path else "items"
-            lines.append(f"{indent_str}{key}:")
+            lines.append(f"{indent_str}{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))}:")
 
         item_lines: list[str] = []
         if candidate.items:
@@ -549,12 +550,16 @@ class YamlHandler(DictLikeHandler):
             if first_key and is_list_item:
                 # First key gets the list marker
                 value_expr = self._yaml_value_expr(f"{loop_var}.{key}", value)
-                lines.append(f"{indent_str}- {key}: {value_expr}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{indent_str}- {escape_jinja_literal(str(key))}: {value_expr}"
+                )
                 first_key = False
             else:
                 # Subsequent keys are indented
                 sub_indent = indent + 2 if is_list_item else indent
                 value_expr = self._yaml_value_expr(f"{loop_var}.{key}", value)
-                lines.append(f"{' ' * sub_indent}{key}: {value_expr}")
+                lines.append(
+                    f"{' ' * sub_indent}{escape_jinja_literal(str(key))}: {value_expr}"
+                )
 
         return lines
diff --git a/tests/test_injection_security.py b/tests/test_injection_security.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..642c0b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_injection_security.py
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+"""Security regression tests for template injection (SSTI).
+
+JinjaTurtle copies parts of the source config (comments, unrecognised lines,
+structural keys) verbatim into the generated template.  If that text contains
+Jinja2/ERB delimiters it must be neutralised, otherwise attacker-influenced
+config content becomes live template code that executes when Salt/Ansible/Puppet
+later renders the template.
+
+These tests render the *generated* template the way a downstream tool would and
+assert that an injected payload never executes.  A tripwire object is exposed
+under every name a payload might reference; if the rendered output ever contains
+the tripwire sentinel, an injected expression executed and the test fails.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import jinja2
+import pytest
+import yaml as pyyaml
+
+from jinjaturtle.escape import escape_jinja_literal, escape_erb_literal
+
+
+TRIP = "__TRIPWIRE_FIRED__"
+
+
+class _Boom:
+    """Returns the tripwire sentinel for any access/call an SSTI payload makes."""
+
+    def run(self, *a, **k):
+        return TRIP
+
+    def __call__(self, *a, **k):
+        return TRIP
+
+    def __getitem__(self, k):
+        return self
+
+    def __getattr__(self, n):
+        return _Boom()
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return TRIP
+
+
+def _render_jinja(template_text: str, defaults: dict) -> str:
+    env = jinja2.Environment(undefined=jinja2.ChainableUndefined)
+    env.filters.setdefault("to_json", lambda v, **k: __import__("json").dumps(v))
+    env.filters.setdefault("lower", lambda v: str(v).lower())
+    ctx = dict(defaults or {})
+    for name in ("salt", "cmd", "os", "subprocess", "cycler", "lipsum", "namespace"):
+        ctx.setdefault(name, _Boom())
+    return env.from_string(template_text).render(**ctx)
+
+
+def _run_jinjaturtle(tmp_path: Path, source_name: str, body: str, fmt: str):
+    src = tmp_path / source_name
+    src.write_text(body, encoding="utf-8")
+    tpl = tmp_path / "out.tpl"
+    dfl = tmp_path / "defaults.yml"
+    res = subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            "-m",
+            "jinjaturtle.cli",
+            str(src),
+            "-f",
+            fmt,
+            "--role-name",
+            "role",
+            "-t",
+            str(tpl),
+            "-d",
+            str(dfl),
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+    )
+    assert res.returncode == 0, f"generation failed: {res.stderr}"
+    defaults = pyyaml.safe_load(dfl.read_text()) or {}
+    return tpl.read_text(), defaults
+
+
+# A representative payload for each format, placed where the format allows
+# attacker-controlled verbatim text (comments / unrecognised lines).
+FORMAT_CASES = [
+    (
+        "ini",
+        "evil.ini",
+        "[s]\n"
+        "good = ok ; {{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }}\n"
+        "# {{ cmd.run('whoami') }}\n",
+    ),
+    (
+        "yaml",
+        "evil.yaml",
+        "server:\n" "  motd: ok\n" "  # {{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }}\n",
+    ),
+    (
+        "toml",
+        "evil.toml",
+        "[s]\n" 'good = "ok"\n' "# {{ cmd.run('id') }}\n",
+    ),
+    (
+        "xml",
+        "evil.xml",
+        "<config>\n"
+        "  <!-- {{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }} -->\n"
+        '  <server name="ok"><motd>ok</motd></server>\n'
+        "</config>\n",
+    ),
+    (
+        "postfix",
+        "main.cf",
+        "myhostname = mail.example.com\n" "# {{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }}\n",
+    ),
+    (
+        "systemd",
+        "evil.service",
+        "[Unit]\n"
+        "Description=ok\n"
+        "# {{ cmd.run('id') }}\n"
+        "RawLineNoEquals {% for x in ().__class__.__bases__ %}\n"
+        "[Service]\n"
+        "ExecStart=/bin/true\n",
+    ),
+    (
+        "ssh",
+        "sshd_config",
+        "# {{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }}\n" "Port 22\n" "PermitRootLogin no\n",
+    ),
+]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("fmt,name,body", FORMAT_CASES)
+def test_comment_payload_does_not_execute(tmp_path, fmt, name, body):
+    template_text, defaults = _run_jinjaturtle(tmp_path, name, body, fmt)
+    rendered = _render_jinja(template_text, defaults)
+    assert TRIP not in rendered, f"injected payload executed for {fmt}:\n{rendered}"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("fmt,name,body", FORMAT_CASES)
+def test_generated_template_is_renderable(tmp_path, fmt, name, body):
+    # A correct escape must still produce a syntactically valid template.
+    template_text, defaults = _run_jinjaturtle(tmp_path, name, body, fmt)
+    # Should not raise a TemplateSyntaxError.
+    _render_jinja(template_text, defaults)
+
+
+# --- Unit-level guarantees for the escaper itself ---------------------------
+
+SSTI_PAYLOADS = [
+    "{{ 7*7 }}",
+    "{{ salt['cmd.run']('id') }}",
+    "{% set x = cycler.__init__.__globals__ %}{{ x }}",
+    "{# comment payload #}",
+    "text {% endraw %} breakout {{ evil }}",
+    "nested {%  endraw  %} spacing {{ evil }}",
+    "{%- endraw -%}{{ evil }}",
+    "mixed {{ a }} and {% b %} and {# c #}",
+    "}}{{ orphan delimiters %}{%",
+]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("payload", SSTI_PAYLOADS)
+def test_escape_jinja_literal_renders_back_to_original(payload):
+    """Escaped text must render to the exact original characters, inertly."""
+    env = jinja2.Environment(undefined=jinja2.ChainableUndefined)
+    escaped = escape_jinja_literal(payload)
+    rendered = env.from_string(escaped).render(evil="EVIL", x="X", a="A")
+    assert rendered == payload
+    assert TRIP not in rendered
+
+
+def test_escape_jinja_literal_noop_on_plain_text():
+    for plain in ["", "hello world", "# a normal comment", "port = 8080", "key: value"]:
+        assert escape_jinja_literal(plain) == plain
+
+
+def test_escape_jinja_literal_actually_blocks_execution():
+    env = jinja2.Environment(undefined=jinja2.ChainableUndefined)
+    payload = "{{ boom.run('x') }}"
+    escaped = escape_jinja_literal(payload)
+    rendered = env.from_string(escaped).render(boom=_Boom())
+    assert TRIP not in rendered
+    # Sanity: the *unescaped* payload would have fired the tripwire.
+    fired = env.from_string(payload).render(boom=_Boom())
+    assert TRIP in fired
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "payload",
+    [
+        "<%= system('id') %>",
+        "<% require 'open3' %>",
+        "text <%= 1+1 %> more",
+        "-%> orphan <%",
+    ],
+)
+def test_escape_erb_literal_removes_executable_tags(payload):
+    escaped = escape_erb_literal(payload)
+    # No raw executable ERB tag should survive that contains the original code.
+    live = re.findall(r"<%[-=#]?(.*?)-?%>", escaped, re.S)
+    for chunk in live:
+        assert "system" not in chunk
+        assert "require" not in chunk
+        # Numeric/expression payloads must be reduced to literal-string prints.