diff --git a/crates/console/prometeu-hal/src/syscalls/domains/gfx.rs b/crates/console/prometeu-hal/src/syscalls/domains/gfx.rs
index 280cdff4..bad18763 100644
--- a/crates/console/prometeu-hal/src/syscalls/domains/gfx.rs
+++ b/crates/console/prometeu-hal/src/syscalls/domains/gfx.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ pub(crate) const ENTRIES: &[SyscallRegistryEntry] = &[
         "set_sprite",
         1,
         10,
-        0,
+        1,
         caps::GFX,
         Determinism::Deterministic,
         false,
diff --git a/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/virtual_machine_runtime/dispatch.rs b/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/virtual_machine_runtime/dispatch.rs
index 485ac069..160ae61d 100644
--- a/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/virtual_machine_runtime/dispatch.rs
+++ b/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/virtual_machine_runtime/dispatch.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ use prometeu_hal::vm_fault::VmFault;
 use prometeu_hal::{HostContext, HostReturn, NativeInterface, SyscallId, expect_bool, expect_int};
 
 impl VirtualMachineRuntime {
+    const GFX_STATUS_OK: i64 = 0;
+    const GFX_STATUS_ASSET_NOT_FOUND: i64 = 1;
+    const GFX_STATUS_INVALID_SPRITE_INDEX: i64 = 2;
+    const GFX_STATUS_INVALID_ARG_RANGE: i64 = 3;
+
     fn syscall_log_write(&mut self, level_val: i64, tag: u16, msg: String) -> Result<(), VmFault> {
         let level = match level_val {
             0 => LogLevel::Trace,
@@ -147,21 +152,30 @@ impl NativeInterface for VirtualMachineRuntime {
                 let flip_y = expect_bool(args, 8)?;
                 let priority = expect_int(args, 9)? as u8;
 
-                let bank_id =
-                    hw.assets().find_slot_by_name(&asset_name, BankType::TILES).unwrap_or(0);
-
-                if index < 512 {
-                    *hw.gfx_mut().sprite_mut(index) = Sprite {
-                        tile: Tile { id: tile_id, flip_x: false, flip_y: false, palette_id },
-                        x,
-                        y,
-                        bank_id,
-                        active,
-                        flip_x,
-                        flip_y,
-                        priority,
-                    };
+                if index >= 512 {
+                    ret.push_int(Self::GFX_STATUS_INVALID_SPRITE_INDEX);
+                    return Ok(());
                 }
+                if palette_id >= 64 || priority >= 5 {
+                    ret.push_int(Self::GFX_STATUS_INVALID_ARG_RANGE);
+                    return Ok(());
+                }
+                let Some(bank_id) = hw.assets().find_slot_by_name(&asset_name, BankType::TILES) else {
+                    ret.push_int(Self::GFX_STATUS_ASSET_NOT_FOUND);
+                    return Ok(());
+                };
+
+                *hw.gfx_mut().sprite_mut(index) = Sprite {
+                    tile: Tile { id: tile_id, flip_x: false, flip_y: false, palette_id },
+                    x,
+                    y,
+                    bank_id,
+                    active,
+                    flip_x,
+                    flip_y,
+                    priority,
+                };
+                ret.push_int(Self::GFX_STATUS_OK);
                 Ok(())
             }
             Syscall::GfxDrawText => {
diff --git a/docs/runtime/specs/04-gfx-peripheral.md b/docs/runtime/specs/04-gfx-peripheral.md
index cb3cd734..072332e7 100644
--- a/docs/runtime/specs/04-gfx-peripheral.md
+++ b/docs/runtime/specs/04-gfx-peripheral.md
@@ -511,3 +511,32 @@ The system can measure:
 - `palettes_referenced_this_frame`
 - `tiles_drawn_by_palette_id`
 - `sprites_drawn_by_palette_id`
+
+---
+
+## 19. Syscall Return and Fault Policy
+
+`gfx` follows status-first policy for operations with operational failure modes.
+
+Fault boundary:
+
+- `Trap`: structural ABI misuse (type/arity/capability/shape mismatch);
+- `status`: operational failure;
+- `Panic`: internal runtime invariant break only.
+
+### 19.1 `gfx.set_sprite`
+
+`gfx.set_sprite` returns `status:int`.
+
+Minimum status table:
+
+- `0` = `OK`
+- `1` = `ASSET_NOT_FOUND`
+- `2` = `INVALID_SPRITE_INDEX`
+- `3` = `INVALID_ARG_RANGE`
+
+Operational notes:
+
+- no fallback to default bank when the sprite asset name cannot be resolved;
+- no silent no-op for invalid index/range;
+- `palette_id` and `priority` must be validated against runtime-supported ranges.