diff --git a/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache.py b/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache.py
index 1ce8baf48..998e8f3c4 100644
--- a/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache.py
+++ b/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from ..memory.tracker import ComponentStats
 
 from headroom.proxy.models import CacheEntry
-from headroom.proxy.semantic_cache_key import compute_semantic_cache_key, strip_cache_control
+from headroom.proxy.semantic_cache_key_policy import compute_semantic_cache_key, strip_cache_control
 
 _strip_cache_control = strip_cache_control
 
diff --git a/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache_key_policy.py b/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache_key_policy.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1fef49a7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/headroom/proxy/semantic_cache_key_policy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+"""Pure key policy for proxy semantic response cache."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import hashlib
+import json
+from typing import Any
+
+
+def strip_cache_control(obj: Any) -> Any:
+    """Recursively drop ``cache_control`` annotations before hashing."""
+    if isinstance(obj, dict):
+        return {k: strip_cache_control(v) for k, v in obj.items() if k != "cache_control"}
+    if isinstance(obj, list):
+        return [strip_cache_control(item) for item in obj]
+    return obj
+
+
+def compute_semantic_cache_key(
+    messages: list[dict],
+    model: str,
+    **key_fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """Compute a stable cache key from request content and shaping fields."""
+    normalized = json.dumps(
+        {
+            "model": model,
+            "messages": messages,
+            **{k: strip_cache_control(v) for k, v in key_fields.items()},
+        },
+        sort_keys=True,
+    )
+    return hashlib.sha256(normalized.encode()).hexdigest()[:32]
diff --git a/tests/test_semantic_cache_key_policy.py b/tests/test_semantic_cache_key_policy.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..44797b857
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_semantic_cache_key_policy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+"""Tests for pure proxy semantic cache key policy."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from headroom.proxy.semantic_cache import SemanticCache
+from headroom.proxy.semantic_cache_key_policy import (
+    compute_semantic_cache_key,
+    strip_cache_control,
+)
+
+MESSAGES = [{"role": "user", "content": "hello"}]
+MODEL = "claude-haiku-4-5"
+
+
+def test_strip_cache_control_recurses_through_dicts_and_lists() -> None:
+    payload = {
+        "system": [
+            {"type": "text", "text": "sys", "cache_control": {"type": "ephemeral"}},
+            {"nested": {"cache_control": "drop", "value": 1}},
+        ],
+        "cache_control": "drop-root",
+    }
+    assert strip_cache_control(payload) == {
+        "system": [
+            {"type": "text", "text": "sys"},
+            {"nested": {"value": 1}},
+        ]
+    }
+
+
+def test_compute_semantic_cache_key_is_stable_for_identical_inputs() -> None:
+    kwargs = {"system": "sys", "tools": [{"name": "read"}], "temperature": 0.2}
+    assert compute_semantic_cache_key(MESSAGES, MODEL, **kwargs) == compute_semantic_cache_key(
+        MESSAGES,
+        MODEL,
+        **kwargs,
+    )
+
+
+def test_compute_semantic_cache_key_distinguishes_response_shaping_fields() -> None:
+    assert compute_semantic_cache_key(
+        MESSAGES, MODEL, temperature=0.0
+    ) != compute_semantic_cache_key(
+        MESSAGES,
+        MODEL,
+        temperature=1.0,
+    )
+
+
+def test_compute_semantic_cache_key_ignores_moved_cache_control_breakpoints() -> None:
+    with_breakpoint = [{"type": "text", "text": "sys", "cache_control": {"type": "ephemeral"}}]
+    without_breakpoint = [{"type": "text", "text": "sys"}]
+    assert compute_semantic_cache_key(
+        MESSAGES,
+        MODEL,
+        system=with_breakpoint,
+    ) == compute_semantic_cache_key(
+        MESSAGES,
+        MODEL,
+        system=without_breakpoint,
+    )
+
+
+def test_semantic_cache_private_key_wrapper_delegates_to_policy() -> None:
+    cache = SemanticCache()
+    kwargs = {"system": "sys", "tools": [{"name": "read"}], "temperature": 0.2}
+    assert cache._compute_key(MESSAGES, MODEL, **kwargs) == compute_semantic_cache_key(
+        MESSAGES,
+        MODEL,
+        **kwargs,
+    )