diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index bb91aa4fc37dc..105bc9e1b2b33 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -17389,10 +17389,10 @@ def _task_status() -> "str | None":
             except Exception:
                 pass
 
-    def _block(reason: str) -> None:
+    def _block(reason: str, kind: str | None = None) -> None:
         c = _kb.connect()
         try:
-            _kb.block_task(c, task_id, reason=reason)
+            _kb.block_task(c, task_id, reason=reason, kind=kind)
         finally:
             try:
                 c.close()
diff --git a/hermes_cli/goals.py b/hermes_cli/goals.py
index be99bbdc9e83e..b4da52dcfb65b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/goals.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/goals.py
@@ -1750,7 +1750,8 @@ def _log(msg: str) -> None:
                 try:
                     block_fn(
                         f"Goal-mode worker's output looked complete but it never "
-                        f"called kanban_complete after a finalize nudge ({reason})."
+                        f"called kanban_complete after a finalize nudge ({reason}).",
+                        kind="transient",
                     )
                 except Exception as exc:
                     _log(f"kanban goal loop: block_fn failed ({exc})")
@@ -1767,7 +1768,8 @@ def _log(msg: str) -> None:
                 block_fn(
                     f"Goal-mode worker exhausted its turn budget "
                     f"({turns_used}/{max_turns}) without completing the task. "
-                    f"Last judge verdict: {_truncate(reason, 300)}"
+                    f"Last judge verdict: {_truncate(reason, 300)}",
+                    kind="transient",
                 )
             except Exception as exc:
                 _log(f"kanban goal loop: block_fn failed ({exc})")
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_mode.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_mode.py
index 61ece645ff4bf..b626f33d780b5 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_mode.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_goal_mode.py
@@ -128,8 +128,86 @@ def test_loop_stops_when_worker_already_completed(monkeypatch):
     assert turns == []  # no extra turns
 
 
+def test_loop_blocks_budget_exhaustion_as_transient(monkeypatch):
+    _patch_judge(monkeypatch, ["continue"] * 3)
+    blocked = {}
 
+    def _block(reason, kind=None):
+        blocked.update(reason=reason, kind=kind)
 
+    res = goals.run_kanban_goal_loop(
+        task_id="t3",
+        goal_text="endless task",
+        run_turn=lambda p: "still going",
+        task_status_fn=lambda: "running",
+        block_fn=_block,
+        max_turns=3,
+        first_response="turn1",
+    )
+
+    assert res["outcome"] == "blocked_budget"
+    assert "turn budget" in blocked["reason"].lower()
+    assert blocked["kind"] == "transient"
+
+
+def test_loop_blocks_failed_finalize_as_transient(monkeypatch):
+    _patch_judge(monkeypatch, ["done", "done"])
+    blocked = {}
+
+    def _block(reason, kind=None):
+        blocked.update(reason=reason, kind=kind)
+
+    res = goals.run_kanban_goal_loop(
+        task_id="t5",
+        goal_text="task",
+        run_turn=lambda p: "still not finalizing",
+        task_status_fn=lambda: "running",
+        block_fn=_block,
+        max_turns=10,
+        first_response="looks done",
+    )
+
+    assert res["outcome"] == "blocked_budget"
+    assert "finalize" in blocked["reason"].lower()
+    assert blocked["kind"] == "transient"
+
+
+def test_cli_goal_loop_forwards_block_kind(monkeypatch):
+    import types
+
+    import cli as cli_mod
+
+    class _Conn:
+        def close(self):
+            pass
+
+    task = types.SimpleNamespace(title="task", body=None, goal_max_turns=3)
+    block_calls = []
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_KANBAN_TASK", "t1")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(kb, "connect", lambda: _Conn())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(kb, "get_task", lambda conn, task_id: task)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        kb,
+        "block_task",
+        lambda conn, task_id, **kwargs: block_calls.append((task_id, kwargs)) or True,
+    )
+
+    def _fake_loop(**kwargs):
+        kwargs["block_fn"]("budget", kind="transient")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(goals, "run_kanban_goal_loop", _fake_loop)
+    fake_cli = types.SimpleNamespace(
+        agent=types.SimpleNamespace(),
+        conversation_history=[],
+        session_id=None,
+    )
+
+    cli_mod._run_kanban_goal_loop_q(fake_cli, "first")
+
+    assert block_calls == [
+        ("t1", {"reason": "budget", "kind": "transient"}),
+    ]
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------