diff --git a/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py b/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py
index c2f1f830628..24a91d0c7cc 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py
@@ -482,6 +482,52 @@ def test_create_rejects_non_list_parents(worker_env):
     assert json.loads(out).get("error")
 
 
+def test_create_parses_triage_string_false(worker_env):
+    from tools import kanban_tools as kt
+    from hermes_cli import kanban_db as kb
+    out = kt._handle_create({
+        "title": "not triage",
+        "assignee": "peer",
+        "triage": "false",
+    })
+    d = json.loads(out)
+    assert d["ok"] is True
+    conn = kb.connect()
+    try:
+        task = kb.get_task(conn, d["task_id"])
+        assert task.status == "ready"
+    finally:
+        conn.close()
+
+
+def test_create_parses_triage_string_true(worker_env):
+    from tools import kanban_tools as kt
+    from hermes_cli import kanban_db as kb
+    out = kt._handle_create({
+        "title": "needs triage",
+        "assignee": "peer",
+        "triage": "true",
+    })
+    d = json.loads(out)
+    assert d["ok"] is True
+    conn = kb.connect()
+    try:
+        task = kb.get_task(conn, d["task_id"])
+        assert task.status == "triage"
+    finally:
+        conn.close()
+
+
+def test_create_rejects_bad_triage(worker_env):
+    from tools import kanban_tools as kt
+    out = kt._handle_create({
+        "title": "bad triage",
+        "assignee": "peer",
+        "triage": "sometimes",
+    })
+    assert "triage must be" in json.loads(out).get("error", "")
+
+
 def test_create_accepts_string_parent(worker_env):
     """Convenience: a single parent id as string is coerced to [id]."""
     from tools import kanban_tools as kt
diff --git a/tools/kanban_tools.py b/tools/kanban_tools.py
index d8ba7c725a0..02ed340819a 100644
--- a/tools/kanban_tools.py
+++ b/tools/kanban_tools.py
@@ -509,7 +509,9 @@ def _handle_create(args: dict, **kw) -> str:
     priority = args.get("priority")
     workspace_kind = args.get("workspace_kind") or "scratch"
     workspace_path = args.get("workspace_path")
-    triage = bool(args.get("triage"))
+    triage, bool_error = _parse_bool_arg(args, "triage")
+    if bool_error:
+        return tool_error(bool_error)
     idempotency_key = args.get("idempotency_key")
     max_runtime_seconds = args.get("max_runtime_seconds")
     skills = args.get("skills")