diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_notify.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_notify.py
index edab38a35041d..1fff7c0ec8154 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_notify.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_notify.py
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ async def test_notifier_wakes_origin_for_review_and_keeps_subscription(kanban_ho
     runner = object.__new__(GatewayRunner)
     runner._running = True
     runner._kanban_sub_fail_counts = {}
+    # This legacy subscription has no notifier-profile stamp. Current gateway
+    # ownership rules intentionally expose such rows only to the singleton
+    # dispatcher owner, which this focused watcher harness represents.
+    runner._kanban_dispatcher_lock_handle = object()
     delivered: list[str] = []
 
     async def _send(chat_id, message, metadata=None):