diff --git a/hermes_cli/goals.py b/hermes_cli/goals.py
index bf2e25ef70..2047c81c54 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/goals.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/goals.py
@@ -1646,7 +1646,15 @@ def run_kanban_goal_loop(
             _log(f"kanban goal loop: task {task_id} status={status!r}; stopping")
             return _result("stopped", f"status={status}")
 
-        verdict, reason, _parse_failed, _wait, _transport_failed = judge_goal(goal_text, last_response)
+        # The between-turns judge runs outside any agent turn: bind the per-task relay-affinity
+        # scope (same shape as the handoff gates) so the relay does not reject the call (#113669).
+        from agent.portal_tags import get_affinity_scope, reset_affinity_scope, set_affinity_scope
+        affinity_token = None if get_affinity_scope() else set_affinity_scope(f"kanban:{task_id}")
+        try:
+            verdict, reason, _parse_failed, _wait, _transport_failed = judge_goal(goal_text, last_response)
+        finally:
+            if affinity_token is not None:
+                reset_affinity_scope(affinity_token)
         if verdict == "wait":
             verdict = "continue"
         _log(f"kanban goal loop: turn {turns_used}/{max_turns} verdict={verdict} reason={_truncate(reason, 120)}")
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_judge_affinity.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_judge_affinity.py
index c2d3e7d0c9..3e8d40bc31 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_judge_affinity.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_judge_affinity.py
@@ -85,3 +85,28 @@ def test_tool_gate_binds_per_task_affinity_scope():
         kanban_tools._goal_gate("kanban_complete", _task("task-9"), "task-9", "ev")
     assert seen == ["kanban:task-9"]
     assert get_affinity_scope() is None
+
+
+def test_goal_loop_judge_binds_per_task_affinity_scope():
+    """The between-turns judge in run_kanban_goal_loop runs under kanban:<task_id> too."""
+    from hermes_cli import goals
+
+    seen = []
+
+    def fake_judge(goal, last_response):
+        seen.append(get_affinity_scope())
+        return ("continue", "not yet", False, None, False)
+
+    with patch.object(goals, "judge_goal", side_effect=fake_judge):
+        result = goals.run_kanban_goal_loop(
+            task_id="task-7",
+            goal_text="goal",
+            run_turn=lambda prompt: "still working",
+            task_status_fn=lambda: "running",
+            block_fn=lambda msg: None,
+            max_turns=2,
+            first_response="first",
+        )
+    assert result["outcome"] == "blocked_budget"
+    assert seen == ["kanban:task-7", "kanban:task-7"]
+    assert get_affinity_scope() is None