diff --git a/turbo/generators/templates/realtime/handler/handler.test.ts.hbs b/turbo/generators/templates/realtime/handler/handler.test.ts.hbs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3576682
--- /dev/null
+++ b/turbo/generators/templates/realtime/handler/handler.test.ts.hbs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// packages/{{kebabCase feature}}/src/realtime/handlers/on-{{kebabCase channelSlug}}.handler.test.ts
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import { on{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler } from "@/realtime/handlers/on-{{kebabCase channelSlug}}.handler";
+
+describe("on{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler", () => {
+  it("returns a function (factory shape)", () => {
+    const handler = on{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler();
+    expect(typeof handler).toBe("function");
+  });
+
+  it("does not throw on a valid stub input", async () => {
+    const handler = on{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler();
+    await expect(
+      handler({} as never, { userId: "u1", roles: [] }),
+    ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/turbo/generators/templates/realtime/handler/handler.ts.hbs b/turbo/generators/templates/realtime/handler/handler.ts.hbs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad4646e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/turbo/generators/templates/realtime/handler/handler.ts.hbs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// packages/{{kebabCase feature}}/src/realtime/handlers/on-{{kebabCase channelSlug}}.handler.ts
+import type { {{pascalCase channelSlug}}Payload } from "../{{kebabCase channelSlug}}.channel";
+import type { RealtimeContext } from "@repo/core-realtime";
+
+export type IOn{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler = ReturnType<typeof on{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler>;
+
+export const on{{pascalCase channelSlug}}Handler =
+  () =>
+  async (_input: {{pascalCase channelSlug}}Payload, _ctx: RealtimeContext): Promise<void> => {
+    // TODO: implement the reaction. Inject deps via the factory's constructor
+    // and use them here. The handler is wrapped in span+capture at bind time,
+    // so just throwing on failure is the right shape.
+  };