diff --git a/inc/functions.php b/inc/functions.php
index f0e5f66..1a8c243 100644
--- a/inc/functions.php
+++ b/inc/functions.php
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ function accelerate_scripts_styles_method() {
 
 //	wp_enqueue_style( 'accelerate-fontawesome', get_template_directory_uri() . '/fontawesome/css/font-awesome.css', array(), '4.7.0' );
 
-	wp_enqueue_script( 'html5shiv', ACCELERATE_JS_URL . '/html5shiv.js', array(), '3.7.3', false );
-	wp_script_add_data( 'html5shiv', 'conditional', 'lte IE 8' );
+	// Empty handle kept so scripts that list 'html5shiv' as a dependency still load.
+	wp_register_script( 'html5shiv', false, array(), ACCELERATE_THEME_VERSION, false );
 }
 
 function accelerate_block_editor_styles() {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/specs/smoke/no-php-notices.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/specs/smoke/no-php-notices.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3801e13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/specs/smoke/no-php-notices.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { test, expect } from "@playwright/test";
+
+/**
+ * @area assets
+ * @tier fresh
+ * @guards themegrill/accelerate-pro#21
+ * @source themegrill/radiate#73 (same fix); themegrill/spacious#151
+ * @why accelerate_scripts_styles_method() registered html5shiv with
+ *      wp_script_add_data( 'html5shiv', 'conditional', 'lte IE 8' ), which
+ *      WordPress 6.9+ deprecates, so every front-end page printed a
+ *      "Deprecated: WP_Dependencies->add_data()" notice when WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY
+ *      is on. Only observable where debug display is enabled; on a site with it
+ *      off this passes regardless. Asserts no PHP notice markup anywhere in the
+ *      response (it is printed inside <head>), not the absence of html5shiv.
+ */
+test("front page prints no PHP notices or deprecations @assets @smoke @fresh", async ({ page }) => {
+  // Read the raw response: PHP prints the notice while wp_head() runs, before
+  // <body>, so a body locator would miss it.
+  const response = await page.goto("/");
+  expect(response?.ok(), `homepage returned HTTP ${response?.status()}`).toBeTruthy();
+  const html = await response!.text();
+  expect(html).not.toMatch(/(?:^|>|\s)(?:<b>)?(?:Deprecated|Notice|Warning|Fatal error)(?:<\/b>)?:\s/);
+});