diff --git a/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py b/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py
index fdcbb568466..3630c8b49da 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_kanban_tools.py
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ def test_complete_goal_mode_rejected_by_judge(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     def mock_judge_goal(goal, last_response, *, timeout=30.0, subgoals=None):
         return "continue", "missing verification evidence", False
 
-    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.goals.judge_goal", mock_judge_goal)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.kanban_tools.judge_goal", mock_judge_goal)
 
     # Attempt to complete should be rejected
     out = kt._handle_complete({"summary": "I did some stuff but not X"})
diff --git a/tools/kanban_tools.py b/tools/kanban_tools.py
index 96b49cc01f7..3b100cf2563 100644
--- a/tools/kanban_tools.py
+++ b/tools/kanban_tools.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import os
 from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from agent.redact import redact_sensitive_text
+from hermes_cli.goals import judge_goal
 from tools.registry import registry, tool_error
 from hermes_cli.config import cfg_get, load_config
 
@@ -572,26 +573,28 @@ def _handle_complete(args: dict, **kw) -> str:
             # calling kanban_complete before acceptance criteria are met.
             task = kb.get_task(conn, tid)
             if task and task.goal_mode:
+                verdict = "done"
+                reason = ""
                 try:
-                    from hermes_cli.goals import judge_goal
                     verdict, reason, _ = judge_goal(
                         goal=f"{task.title}\n\n{task.body or ''}".strip(),
                         last_response=(summary or result or "").strip(),
                     )
-                    if verdict != "done":
-                        return tool_error(
-                            f"Goal completion rejected by judge: {reason}. "
-                            f"To proceed, either: (1) provide explicit acceptance "
-                            f"evidence in your summary matching the task's criteria, "
-                            f"or (2) create continuation tasks with parent={tid} "
-                            f"and keep this task alive."
-                        )
                 except Exception as judge_exc:
                     # Fail-open to avoid wedging the worker if the judge
                     # is temporarily unavailable or misconfigured.
                     logger.warning(
                         "goal judge check failed, allowing completion: %s",
                         judge_exc,
+                        exc_info=True,
+                    )
+                if verdict != "done":
+                    return tool_error(
+                        f"Goal completion rejected by judge: {reason}. "
+                        f"To proceed, either: (1) provide explicit acceptance "
+                        f"evidence in your summary matching the task's criteria, "
+                        f"or (2) create continuation tasks with parent={tid} "
+                        f"and keep this task alive."
                     )
 
             try: