diff --git a/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py b/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py
index 2408a4a7762..dc2ec507e78 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Iterable, Optional
 
+from toolsets import get_toolset_names
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Constants
@@ -90,6 +92,7 @@ from typing import Any, Iterable, Optional
 
 VALID_STATUSES = {"triage", "todo", "ready", "running", "blocked", "done", "archived"}
 VALID_WORKSPACE_KINDS = {"scratch", "worktree", "dir"}
+KNOWN_TOOLSET_NAMES = frozenset(name.casefold() for name in get_toolset_names())
 
 # A running task's claim is valid for 15 minutes; after that the next
 # dispatcher tick reclaims it.  Workers that outlive this window should call
@@ -1283,6 +1286,11 @@ def create_task(
                     f"skill name cannot contain comma: {name!r} "
                     f"(pass a list of separate names instead of a comma-joined string)"
                 )
+            if name.casefold() in KNOWN_TOOLSET_NAMES:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"{name!r} is a toolset name, not a skill name. "
+                    "Put it in the assignee profile's toolsets instead of task skills."
+                )
             if name in seen:
                 continue
             seen.add(name)
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_core_functionality.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_core_functionality.py
index e660764c6d0..ed5172c82de 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_core_functionality.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_core_functionality.py
@@ -2691,6 +2691,21 @@ def test_create_task_skills_rejects_comma_embedded(kanban_home):
         conn.close()
 
 
+def test_create_task_skills_rejects_toolset_names(kanban_home):
+    """Toolset names belong in profile config, not per-task skills."""
+    conn = kb.connect()
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="toolset name"):
+            kb.create_task(
+                conn,
+                title="bad toolset skill",
+                assignee="x",
+                skills=["web", "translation"],
+            )
+    finally:
+        conn.close()
+
+
 def test_default_spawn_appends_per_task_skills(kanban_home, monkeypatch):
     """Dispatcher argv must carry one `--skills X` pair per task skill,
     in addition to the built-in kanban-worker."""
diff --git a/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py b/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py
index 8d5ea1afa1b..be57fb549e9 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py
@@ -1036,6 +1036,20 @@ def test_create_task_without_skills_defaults_to_empty_list(client):
     assert task.get("skills") in (None, [])
 
 
+def test_create_task_with_toolset_name_in_skills_is_rejected(client):
+    """POST /tasks fails fast when callers confuse toolsets with skills."""
+    r = client.post(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/tasks",
+        json={
+            "title": "bad skills payload",
+            "assignee": "linguist",
+            "skills": ["web"],
+        },
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 400, r.text
+    assert "toolset name" in r.json()["detail"]
+
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Dispatcher-presence warning in POST /tasks response
diff --git a/tools/kanban_tools.py b/tools/kanban_tools.py
index 7311d1b2b27..267f782d611 100644
--- a/tools/kanban_tools.py
+++ b/tools/kanban_tools.py
@@ -611,6 +611,8 @@ def _handle_create(args: dict, **kw) -> str:
             )
         finally:
             conn.close()
+    except ValueError as e:
+        return tool_error(f"kanban_create: {e}")
     except Exception as e:
         logger.exception("kanban_create failed")
         return tool_error(f"kanban_create: {e}")