diff --git a/examples/claude-goalmode-hook-policy-smoke.py b/examples/claude-goalmode-hook-policy-smoke.py
index c89759246e..13cfe9b17f 100644
--- a/examples/claude-goalmode-hook-policy-smoke.py
+++ b/examples/claude-goalmode-hook-policy-smoke.py
@@ -125,6 +125,59 @@ def capture_health_failure(command, **_kwargs):
     assert decision("Bash", True, command="make test") == "allow", "non-destructive bash allowed"
     assert decision("Read", True, file_path="/anywhere") == "allow", "read-only allowed"
 
+    # An event with no session cwd (what an unreadable event becomes in main)
+    # cannot be attributed to an armed project, so the gate must refuse it
+    # rather than defer: rc=1 with no decision is a non-blocking hook error to
+    # Claude Code, which then runs the tool with no gate at all.
+    assert goal_policy.decide({}).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "deny", \
+        "a cwd-less/unreadable event must be DENIED, not deferred"
+
+    # A non-read-only tool whose tool_input is not an object is unreadable the
+    # same way: decide must refuse it rather than crash on `ti.get` (rc=1 with
+    # no decision, which Claude Code reports and then runs the tool ungated).
+    goal_policy.active_context = lambda cwd: CTX
+    goal_policy.should_run = lambda *a, **k: True
+    non_object_input = goal_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": "not-an-object"})
+    assert non_object_input.get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "deny", \
+        "a non-object tool_input must be DENIED, not crash the gate (rc=1 fail-open)"
+    assert goal_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Read", "tool_input": "not-an-object"}
+    ).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "allow", \
+        "read-only tools keep their unconditional allow"
+
+    # A decoded cwd can still be unusable as a path: an embedded NUL raises
+    # ValueError inside active_context, which would escape decide as the same
+    # rc=1/no-decision fail-open. The gate must refuse it instead.
+    assert goal_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/bad\u0000cwd", "tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": {"command": "ls"}}
+    ).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "deny", \
+        "a session cwd that cannot be resolved as a path must be DENIED"
+
+    # `tool_input` is type-checked before any default: only absent/null gets {};
+    # a present falsy non-object (`[]`, `false`, `0`, `""`) is unreadable and
+    # refused, so an open gate cannot allow it as if it carried no input.
+    for falsy_input in ([], False, 0, ""):
+        assert goal_policy.decide(
+            {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": falsy_input}
+        ).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "deny", \
+            f"falsy non-object tool_input {falsy_input!r} must be DENIED, not coerced"
+    assert goal_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Bash"}
+    ).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "allow", \
+        "an absent tool_input keeps the documented empty-input default"
+
+    # A decoded value the gate cannot use is refused the same way instead of
+    # crashing on `.lower()` / set membership or silently matching the scope.
+    assert goal_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": ["Bash"], "tool_input": {}}
+    ).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "deny", \
+        "a non-string tool_name must be DENIED, not crash the gate"
+    assert goal_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": {"command": ["rm", "-rf", "/"]}}
+    ).get("hookSpecificOutput", {}).get("permissionDecision") == "deny", \
+        "a non-string command must be DENIED, not crash the gate"
+
     print("claude-goalmode-hook-policy-smoke ok")
     return 0
 
diff --git a/loopx/claude_goal_mode/README.md b/loopx/claude_goal_mode/README.md
index fd3c99b9cf..b5eb721071 100644
--- a/loopx/claude_goal_mode/README.md
+++ b/loopx/claude_goal_mode/README.md
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ armed, for each tool call it:
   before consulting the gate;
 - otherwise consults `should_run` and **denies** the (non-read-only) tool when
   `should_run` is `false`, or when the probe is unreachable (fail-closed);
+- **denies** an event it cannot read at all (undecodable stdin, malformed or
+  non-object JSON, a missing or unusable session `cwd`, a missing/non-string
+  tool name, or - for a non-read-only tool - a non-object `tool_input` or a
+  `command` / `file_path` / `notebook_path` field that is present but not a
+  string) rather than exiting with no decision, which Claude Code reports as a
+  non-blocking hook error and follows with an ungated tool call;
 - when `should_run` is `true`: **allows** `Edit` / `Write` whose path is inside
   `write_scope` and **denies** them outside it; gates `Bash` only by a
   **denylist** of destructive commands (everything else is allowed); and **defers
diff --git a/loopx/claude_goal_mode/hooks/goal_policy.py b/loopx/claude_goal_mode/hooks/goal_policy.py
index dc1ccf59a9..19dbe868dc 100644
--- a/loopx/claude_goal_mode/hooks/goal_policy.py
+++ b/loopx/claude_goal_mode/hooks/goal_policy.py
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@
 
 Behavior (only while goal-mode is ARMED for the event's project):
 - no goal here / goal-mode off            -> {} (no-op; normal permission flow)
+- event unreadable                        -> deny (FAIL-CLOSED)
+  (no usable session cwd, no usable tool_name)
 - read-only/safe tools                    -> allow
+- non-read-only tool, unreadable event value -> deny (FAIL-CLOSED)
+  (non-object tool_input, non-string command/file path)
 - should_run == false (quota/gate closed) -> deny
 - should_run probe unavailable (error)    -> deny for non-read-only tools (FAIL-CLOSED)
 - should_run == true:
@@ -31,6 +35,13 @@
 Fail-closed: if the deterministic ``should_run`` probe cannot be reached, a
 non-read-only tool is denied rather than allowed, so a flaky/broken control
 plane pauses delivery instead of running ungated. Read-only tools stay allowed.
+An event this hook cannot read joins that rule: ``rc=1`` with no decision is a
+non-blocking hook error to Claude Code, which then continues the tool call with
+no gate at all, so an unreadable event (undecodable stdin, malformed or
+non-object JSON, no session cwd or one that cannot be resolved as a path, no
+usable tool name, or - for a non-read-only tool - a non-object ``tool_input`` or
+a non-string command/file path field) is answered with an explicit deny instead
+of dying. Read-only tools keep their unconditional allow.
 
 Identity-aware: when the active goal registered an agent (loopx
 ``coordination.registered_agents``), the context carries ``agent_id`` and this
@@ -83,6 +94,22 @@ def within(path: str, root: str) -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+def _usable_cwd(value: str) -> bool:
+    """True if a decoded session cwd can be resolved as a filesystem path.
+
+    A string can still be unusable as a path: an embedded NUL makes
+    ``Path.resolve`` raise ``ValueError``, and a lone surrogate raises
+    ``UnicodeEncodeError`` (a ``ValueError``) against the filesystem encoding.
+    ``active_context`` must never receive such a value, or the exception escapes
+    ``decide`` as the rc=1/no-decision hook error the module docstring refuses.
+    """
+    try:
+        Path(value).resolve()
+    except (OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError):
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
 def _gh_prefix():
     _exe = shutil.which("loopx")
     return [_exe] if _exe else [__import__("sys").executable, "-m", "loopx.cli"]
@@ -152,11 +179,38 @@ def decide(ev: dict) -> dict:
     (or {} for no-op). Reused by the CLI hook AND the Agent SDK in-process hook.
 
     The hook is the whole gate (no OS sandbox): should_run (fail-closed) +
-    Edit/Write write_scope + a destructive-Bash denylist."""
+    Edit/Write write_scope + a destructive-Bash denylist. An event value this
+    gate cannot use - no usable session cwd or tool name, or a non-object
+    tool_input / non-string command or file path on a non-read-only tool - is
+    refused rather than deferred, because the event cannot be classified (the
+    module docstring states the fail-closed rule)."""
+    def d(decision, reason):
+        return {"hookSpecificOutput": {
+            "hookEventName": "PreToolUse",
+            "permissionDecision": decision,
+            "permissionDecisionReason": reason}}
+
     # Claude Code feeds the session's working directory on the event; resolve the
     # goal from THAT project's registry, and gate only while goal-mode is armed
     # (the project's .claude/loop.md exists). Unrelated/unarmed projects -> no-op.
-    cwd = ev.get("cwd") or (ev.get("workspace") or {}).get("current_dir")
+    cwd = ev.get("cwd")
+    workspace = ev.get("workspace")
+    if not isinstance(cwd, str) or not cwd:
+        cwd = workspace.get("current_dir") if isinstance(workspace, dict) else None
+    if not isinstance(cwd, str) or not cwd:
+        # Every real PreToolUse event carries the session cwd. Without one this
+        # hook cannot tell an armed project from an unrelated one, so it cannot
+        # decide to stay out of the way: refusing is the same fail-closed rule
+        # the unreachable-should_run branch below applies. Unreadable events
+        # (see main) arrive here as an empty dict.
+        return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (no session cwd) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+    if not _usable_cwd(cwd):
+        # A decoded cwd can still be unusable as a path (embedded NUL, lone
+        # surrogate, OS-level resolution failure). active_context cannot
+        # attribute the event to a project then, so the event stays unreadable
+        # for this gate and is refused instead of raising out of decide.
+        return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (session cwd is not a usable path) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+
     ctx = active_context(cwd)
     if not ctx:
         return {}  # no goal here, or goal-mode off -> defer to normal flow
@@ -165,18 +219,43 @@ def decide(ev: dict) -> dict:
     registry = ctx.get("registry")
     agent_id = ctx.get("agent_id")
     scope = ctx.get("write_scope") or []
-    tool = ev.get("tool_name", "")
-    ti = ev.get("tool_input", {}) or {}
-
-    def d(decision, reason):
-        return {"hookSpecificOutput": {
-            "hookEventName": "PreToolUse",
-            "permissionDecision": decision,
-            "permissionDecisionReason": reason}}
+    tool = ev.get("tool_name")
+    if not isinstance(tool, str) or not tool:
+        # Every real PreToolUse event names its tool; without a usable name the
+        # gate cannot apply its read-only/gated classification (and the set
+        # membership tests below would raise on an unhashable value).
+        return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (tool_name is not a usable string) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+    ti = ev.get("tool_input")
+    if ti is None:
+        # Only an absent/null field takes the empty-input default. Other falsy
+        # values (`[]`, `false`, `0`, `""`) are present non-objects and must
+        # stay visible to the check below instead of being hidden by `or {}`.
+        ti = {}
 
     if tool in READONLY_TOOLS:
         return d("allow", "read-only/safe tool under goal-mode")
 
+    if not isinstance(ti, dict):
+        # A tool_input that is present but not an object cannot be read: refuse
+        # the non-read-only tool instead of crashing on `ti.get` (same
+        # fail-closed rule as an unreachable `should_run` probe).
+        return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (tool_input is not an object) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+
+    # Every value the gate reads below must be readable before the probe is
+    # consulted, so an unreadable event is refused whether or not the gate is
+    # open (an absent/null field keeps its empty default).
+    if tool in WRITE_TOOLS:
+        file_path = ti.get("file_path")
+        notebook_path = ti.get("notebook_path")
+        if file_path is not None and not isinstance(file_path, str):
+            return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (tool_input.file_path is not a string) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+        if notebook_path is not None and not isinstance(notebook_path, str):
+            return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (tool_input.notebook_path is not a string) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+    elif tool == "Bash":
+        command = ti.get("command")
+        if command is not None and not isinstance(command, str):
+            return d("deny", "unreadable PreToolUse event (tool_input.command is not a string) - failing closed under goal-mode")
+
     sr = should_run(registry, goal_id, agent_id)  # True / False / None
     if sr is False:
         return d("deny", f"goal '{goal_id}' should_run=false (quota/gate closed)")
@@ -200,10 +279,15 @@ def d(decision, reason):
 
 
 def main():
-    raw = sys.stdin.read() or "{}"
     try:
-        ev = json.loads(raw)
-    except Exception:
+        # `ValueError` also covers `UnicodeDecodeError`: the strict stdin pin
+        # (stdio_utf8) never repairs a bad byte into a different event, so an
+        # event that cannot be read becomes the explicit deny in decide()
+        # instead of a traceback with no decision.
+        ev = json.loads(sys.stdin.read())
+    except ValueError:
+        ev = {}
+    if not isinstance(ev, dict):
         ev = {}
     result = decide(ev)
     sys.stdout.write(json.dumps(result) if result else "{}")
diff --git a/tests/test_claude_goal_mode_hook_fail_closed.py b/tests/test_claude_goal_mode_hook_fail_closed.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1427965849
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_claude_goal_mode_hook_fail_closed.py
@@ -0,0 +1,411 @@
+"""The Claude Code goal-mode gate must refuse an event it cannot read.
+
+``hooks/goal_policy.py`` documents itself as fail-closed around the
+deterministic ``should_run`` probe: when the probe cannot be reached, a
+non-read-only tool is denied so the gate never silently disappears. The event
+read was the one boundary outside that rule. With the strict stdin pin
+(``test_claude_goal_mode_stdio_utf8.py``) an undecodable byte raises
+``UnicodeDecodeError`` at the read, and a decodable-but-malformed payload raised
+inside ``active_context``: the hook exited ``rc=1`` with a traceback and printed
+no decision. Claude Code treats a hook that fails that way as a non-blocking
+error and continues the tool call, so the gate vanished exactly when the hook
+could not verify anything. #6166 named this as its deliberately deferred
+successor.
+
+The same read boundary also covers values that decode but cannot be used: a
+session ``cwd`` string that is not a resolvable path (an embedded NUL raises
+``ValueError`` inside ``active_context``), a missing/non-string ``tool_name``,
+a falsy non-object ``tool_input`` (``[]`` / ``false`` / ``0`` / ``""``, which
+the old ``or {}`` coerced before the type check), and a non-string
+``command`` / ``file_path`` / ``notebook_path`` on a gated tool. Those are
+refused the same way; the read-only exception and the absent-``tool_input``
+default are pinned so the refusal does not widen onto valid events.
+
+These cases run the shipped script the way Claude Code invokes it - own process,
+event on stdin, answer read back as JSON - and assert the rc/decision contract,
+so the regression fails on the real entry point rather than on an in-process
+approximation. The decision-level cases drive ``decide`` directly against an
+armed context with the gate open (``should_run`` stubbed true), which is what
+made the falsy-coercion failure visible. The unarmed case pins the other
+direction: the refusal must not widen the gate onto projects where goal-mode is
+off.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+HOOK = REPO_ROOT / "loopx/claude_goal_mode/hooks/goal_policy.py"
+
+GOAL_ID = "hook-fail-closed-goal"
+
+
+def _project(root: Path, *, armed: bool) -> Path:
+    """A project with one registry goal; armed also carries `.claude/loop.md`."""
+
+    registry = root / ".loopx" / "registry.json"
+    registry.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    registry.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "schema_version": "0.1",
+                "goals": [
+                    {
+                        "id": GOAL_ID,
+                        "repo": str(root),
+                        "coordination": {"registered_agents": ["cc"]},
+                    }
+                ],
+            }
+        ),
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    if armed:
+        (root / ".claude").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        (root / ".claude" / "loop.md").write_text("# loop\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    return root
+
+
+def _run(
+    project: Path, payload: bytes, *, force_armed: bool
+) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess[bytes]:
+    environment = {**os.environ}
+    if force_armed:
+        environment["LOOPX_GOAL_FORCE"] = "1"
+    else:
+        environment.pop("LOOPX_GOAL_FORCE", None)
+    return subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, str(HOOK)],
+        cwd=project,
+        env=environment,
+        input=payload,
+        capture_output=True,
+        timeout=120,
+    )
+
+
+UNREADABLE_EVENT_PAYLOADS = [
+    pytest.param(b"\xff\xfe{", id="undecodable-stdin"),
+    pytest.param(b"{not json", id="malformed-json"),
+    pytest.param(b"[]", id="json-not-an-object"),
+    pytest.param(b"", id="empty-stdin"),
+    pytest.param(
+        json.dumps({"tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": {"command": "rm -rf /"}}).encode(
+            "utf-8"
+        ),
+        id="object-without-cwd",
+    ),
+    pytest.param(
+        json.dumps({"tool_name": "Bash", "workspace": "not-an-object"}).encode("utf-8"),
+        id="non-object-workspace",
+    ),
+]
+
+UNUSABLE_CWD_EVENTS = [
+    pytest.param(
+        {
+            "tool_name": "Bash",
+            "cwd": "/bad\u0000cwd",
+            "tool_input": {"command": "ls"},
+        },
+        id="cwd-nul-byte",
+    ),
+    pytest.param(
+        {
+            "tool_name": "Bash",
+            "workspace": {"current_dir": "/bad\u0000cwd"},
+            "tool_input": {"command": "ls"},
+        },
+        id="workspace-current-dir-nul-byte",
+    ),
+]
+
+FALSY_NON_OBJECT_TOOL_INPUTS = [
+    pytest.param([], id="empty-list"),
+    pytest.param(False, id="false"),
+    pytest.param(0, id="zero"),
+    pytest.param("", id="empty-string"),
+]
+
+UNREADABLE_EVENT_VALUES = [
+    pytest.param(
+        {"tool_name": ["Bash"], "tool_input": {"command": "ls"}},
+        "tool_name",
+        id="non-string-tool-name",
+    ),
+    pytest.param(
+        {"tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": {"command": ["rm", "/"]}},
+        "command",
+        id="non-string-command",
+    ),
+    pytest.param(
+        {"tool_name": "Write", "tool_input": {"file_path": ["/proj/notes.md"]}},
+        "file_path",
+        id="non-string-file-path",
+    ),
+    pytest.param(
+        {
+            "tool_name": "NotebookEdit",
+            "tool_input": {"notebook_path": {"p": "/proj/n.ipynb"}},
+        },
+        "notebook_path",
+        id="non-string-notebook-path",
+    ),
+]
+
+ARMED_CTX = {
+    "goal_id": GOAL_ID,
+    "registry": "/tech/registry.json",
+    "agent_id": "cc",
+    "write_scope": ["/proj"],
+    "project_root": "/proj",
+}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("payload", UNREADABLE_EVENT_PAYLOADS)
+def test_unreadable_event_is_refused_with_an_explicit_deny(
+    tmp_path: Path, payload: bytes
+) -> None:
+    project = _project(tmp_path / "armed", armed=True)
+
+    result = _run(project, payload, force_armed=True)
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    assert b"Traceback" not in result.stderr, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    decision = json.loads(result.stdout.decode("utf-8"))
+    output = decision["hookSpecificOutput"]
+    assert output["hookEventName"] == "PreToolUse"
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("event", UNUSABLE_CWD_EVENTS)
+def test_unusable_cwd_is_refused_with_an_explicit_deny(
+    tmp_path: Path, event: dict
+) -> None:
+    """A decoded cwd string can still be unusable as a path.
+
+    ``Path.resolve`` on a string with an embedded NUL raises ``ValueError``
+    inside ``active_context``, so the pre-fix hook exited rc=1 with no decision
+    and a traceback - the same fail-open signature the unreadable-event refusal
+    removes. The reason substring pins the refusal to the usable-path rule, so
+    a deny from another branch (for example the closed gate) cannot satisfy the
+    regression.
+    """
+
+    project = _project(tmp_path / "armed", armed=True)
+
+    result = _run(project, json.dumps(event).encode("utf-8"), force_armed=True)
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    assert b"Traceback" not in result.stderr, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    output = json.loads(result.stdout.decode("utf-8"))["hookSpecificOutput"]
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert "usable path" in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+def test_non_object_tool_input_for_a_gated_tool_is_refused(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """A truthy non-object `tool_input` is an unreadable event, not a crash.
+
+    ``decide`` reads the tool input with ``ti.get`` for the gated tools, so on
+    the pre-fix hook a Bash event carrying a non-object input died with a
+    traceback (rc=1, no decision) as soon as ``should_run`` returned true. The
+    reason substring pins the refusal to the unreadable-input rule: a deny from
+    the probe path carries a different reason, so the regression fails against
+    the old hook whichever branch the probe takes.
+    """
+
+    project = _project(tmp_path / "armed", armed=True)
+    event = json.dumps(
+        {
+            "tool_name": "Bash",
+            "cwd": str(project),
+            "tool_input": "not-an-object",
+        }
+    ).encode("utf-8")
+
+    result = _run(project, event, force_armed=True)
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    assert b"Traceback" not in result.stderr, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    output = json.loads(result.stdout.decode("utf-8"))["hookSpecificOutput"]
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert "tool_input" in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+    # Read-only tools keep their unconditional allow even then: the refusal
+    # must not widen the gate past the tools it was meant to gate.
+    read_event = json.dumps(
+        {
+            "tool_name": "Read",
+            "cwd": str(project),
+            "tool_input": "not-an-object",
+        }
+    ).encode("utf-8")
+    read_result = _run(project, read_event, force_armed=True)
+    assert read_result.returncode == 0, read_result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    read_output = json.loads(read_result.stdout.decode("utf-8"))["hookSpecificOutput"]
+    assert read_output["permissionDecision"] == "allow"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("tool_input", FALSY_NON_OBJECT_TOOL_INPUTS)
+def test_falsy_non_object_tool_input_is_refused_not_coerced(
+    tmp_path: Path, tool_input
+) -> None:
+    """``tool_input`` must be type-checked before any default is applied.
+
+    The pre-review hook read ``ev.get("tool_input", {}) or {}``, so a present
+    falsy non-object (``[]`` / ``false`` / ``0`` / ``""``) became ``{}`` before
+    the non-object check; with an open gate the pre-review ``decide`` answered
+    "allow / bash permitted under goal policy" for it. The reason substring
+    proves the deny comes from the unreadable-input rule rather than the
+    closed-gate branch.
+    """
+
+    project = _project(tmp_path / "armed", armed=True)
+    event = json.dumps(
+        {"tool_name": "Bash", "cwd": str(project), "tool_input": tool_input}
+    ).encode("utf-8")
+
+    result = _run(project, event, force_armed=True)
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    assert b"Traceback" not in result.stderr, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    output = json.loads(result.stdout.decode("utf-8"))["hookSpecificOutput"]
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert "tool_input" in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("partial,field", UNREADABLE_EVENT_VALUES)
+def test_unreadable_event_value_is_refused_with_an_explicit_deny(
+    tmp_path: Path, partial: dict, field: str
+) -> None:
+    """A decoded event value the gate cannot use is refused, never a traceback.
+
+    A non-string ``tool_name`` crashed the set membership tests, a non-string
+    ``command`` crashed ``.lower()``, and a non-string file path silently
+    resolved to the project root - all variations of the same fail-open event
+    that the gate must refuse instead.
+    """
+
+    project = _project(tmp_path / "armed", armed=True)
+    event = json.dumps({"cwd": str(project), **partial}).encode("utf-8")
+
+    result = _run(project, event, force_armed=True)
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    assert b"Traceback" not in result.stderr, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    output = json.loads(result.stdout.decode("utf-8"))["hookSpecificOutput"]
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert field in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def hook_policy():
+    """The shipped hook module, imported in-process for ``decide`` cases."""
+
+    hooks_dir = REPO_ROOT / "loopx" / "claude_goal_mode" / "hooks"
+    if str(hooks_dir) not in sys.path:
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(hooks_dir))
+    import goal_policy
+
+    return goal_policy
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def armed_decide(hook_policy, monkeypatch):
+    """``decide`` against an armed project with the gate OPEN (should_run=true)."""
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hook_policy, "active_context", lambda cwd: ARMED_CTX)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hook_policy, "should_run", lambda *a, **k: True)
+    return hook_policy.decide
+
+
+def test_decide_refuses_an_unusable_cwd_before_resolving_the_project(
+    hook_policy, monkeypatch
+) -> None:
+    def never_active(cwd):
+        pytest.fail(f"active_context received an unusable cwd: {cwd!r}")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hook_policy, "active_context", never_active)
+
+    output = hook_policy.decide(
+        {"cwd": "/bad\u0000cwd", "tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": {"command": "ls"}}
+    )["hookSpecificOutput"]
+
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert "usable path" in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+def test_decide_keeps_the_empty_input_default_for_an_absent_tool_input(
+    armed_decide,
+) -> None:
+    """Only an absent/null field takes the permitted ``{}`` default."""
+
+    output = armed_decide({"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Bash"})["hookSpecificOutput"]
+
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "allow"
+    assert output["permissionDecisionReason"] == "bash permitted under goal policy"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("tool_input", FALSY_NON_OBJECT_TOOL_INPUTS)
+def test_decide_refuses_falsy_non_object_tool_input_when_the_gate_is_open(
+    armed_decide, tool_input
+) -> None:
+    """With should_run=true the pre-review ``decide`` allowed these (P2)."""
+
+    output = armed_decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Bash", "tool_input": tool_input}
+    )["hookSpecificOutput"]
+
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert "tool_input" in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("partial,field", UNREADABLE_EVENT_VALUES)
+def test_decide_refuses_unreadable_event_values_when_the_gate_is_open(
+    armed_decide, partial: dict, field: str
+) -> None:
+    output = armed_decide({"cwd": "/proj", **partial})["hookSpecificOutput"]
+
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "deny"
+    assert field in output["permissionDecisionReason"]
+
+
+def test_decide_keeps_the_read_only_exception_for_unreadable_input(
+    armed_decide,
+) -> None:
+    """The gated-tool refusal must not capture read-only tools."""
+
+    output = armed_decide(
+        {"cwd": "/proj", "tool_name": "Read", "tool_input": []}
+    )["hookSpecificOutput"]
+
+    assert output["permissionDecision"] == "allow"
+    assert output["permissionDecisionReason"] == "read-only/safe tool under goal-mode"
+
+
+def test_unarmed_project_still_defers_to_the_normal_flow(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    project = _project(tmp_path / "unarmed", armed=False)
+
+    # A valid event in a project with a registry goal but no `.claude/loop.md`
+    # (goal-mode off): its write tool must still defer to Claude Code's normal
+    # permission flow, not be captured by the new refusal.
+    event = json.dumps(
+        {
+            "tool_name": "Edit",
+            "cwd": str(project),
+            "tool_input": {"file_path": str(project / "notes.txt")},
+        }
+    ).encode("utf-8")
+    result = _run(project, event, force_armed=False)
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace")
+    # `{}` is Claude Code's "defer to the normal permission flow".
+    assert result.stdout == b"{}"