diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index c87d3f0..a2e30cc 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -1033,10 +1033,10 @@ def _run_kanban_agent(task_id: str):
     # Runs in a daemon thread: any unhandled exception would be lost and leave
     # the task stuck in "in_progress" forever, so catch failures and surface
     # them by marking the task blocked with the error.
-    path = kanban_task_path(task_id)
-    if not path.exists():
-        return
     try:
+        path = kanban_task_path(task_id)
+        if not path.exists():
+            return
         task = json.loads(path.read_text())
         agent = task.get("assignee")
         prompt = task["title"] if not task.get("body") else f"{task['title']}\n\n{task['body']}"