diff --git a/tests/tools/test_file_write_safety.py b/tests/tools/test_file_write_safety.py
index 238ca1cd4c..40951361f4 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_file_write_safety.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_file_write_safety.py
@@ -771,6 +771,84 @@ class TestMultiplexProfileWriteGuardsAreProfileScoped:
         assert err is not None
         assert "Refusing to write to Hermes config file" in err
 
+    def test_config_resolver_failure_stays_bound_to_active_profile(
+        self, tmp_path, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        """Opposite-side regression (PR #107335 review): when the primary config
+        resolver raises, the fallback must derive beta's config from beta's own
+        ``HERMES_HOME`` key — never the subprocess/default home — so beta's
+        ``config.yaml`` stays hard-blocked instead of failing open against an
+        unrelated config, and alpha's config is not spuriously protected under
+        beta's scope."""
+        import tools.file_tools_write_guards as ft
+        from hermes_constants import (
+            reset_hermes_home_override,
+            set_hermes_home_override,
+        )
+
+        a, b = self._profiles(tmp_path)
+        # alpha runs first (would poison a process memo), then the primary
+        # resolver breaks and beta's turn must fall back to beta's own home key.
+        tok = set_hermes_home_override(str(a))
+        try:
+            ft._get_hermes_config_resolved()
+        finally:
+            reset_hermes_home_override(tok)
+
+        def boom():
+            raise RuntimeError("config path unavailable")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "_config_path_resolved", boom)
+
+        tok = set_hermes_home_override(str(b))
+        try:
+            assert ft._get_hermes_config_resolved() == str(
+                (b / "config.yaml").resolve()
+            )
+            err = ft._check_sensitive_path(str(b / "config.yaml"), "default")
+            # beta scope must NOT protect alpha's unrelated config (no wrong-home
+            # compare in either direction).
+            alpha_err = ft._check_sensitive_path(str(a / "config.yaml"), "default")
+        finally:
+            reset_hermes_home_override(tok)
+        assert err is not None
+        assert "Refusing to write to Hermes config file" in err
+        assert alpha_err is None
+
+    def test_home_resolver_failure_keeps_exemption_on_active_profile(
+        self, tmp_path, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        """Opposite-side regression (PR #107335 review): when the primary home
+        resolver raises, the protected-instruction exemption must still resolve
+        against beta's own home (not the process/default home)."""
+        import tools.file_tools_write_guards as ft
+        from hermes_constants import (
+            reset_hermes_home_override,
+            set_hermes_home_override,
+        )
+
+        a, b = self._profiles(tmp_path)
+
+        def boom():
+            raise RuntimeError("home unavailable")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "_hermes_home_real", boom)
+
+        tok = set_hermes_home_override(str(b))
+        try:
+            assert ft._get_real_hermes_home() == os.path.realpath(str(b))
+            # beta's own ~/.hermes tree is exempt from the project-local
+            # instruction gate (governed by its config-level guards instead),
+            # resolved against beta — not alpha or the default home.
+            assert (
+                ft._check_protected_instruction_write(
+                    [str(b / "AGENTS.md")], "default"
+                )
+                is None
+            )
+        finally:
+            reset_hermes_home_override(tok)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     pytest.main([__file__, "-v"])
diff --git a/tools/file_tools_write_guards.py b/tools/file_tools_write_guards.py
index b567720140..1168078870 100644
--- a/tools/file_tools_write_guards.py
+++ b/tools/file_tools_write_guards.py
@@ -59,8 +59,17 @@ def _get_hermes_config_resolved() -> str | None:
     try:
         return _config_path_resolved()
     except Exception:
+        # Resolver failure must stay bound to the ACTIVE profile's home, not the
+        # subprocess HOME. ``_expand_tilde("~/...")`` follows the subprocess-HOME
+        # contract, which under host ``auto`` mode can be the real/default user
+        # home rather than the active multiplex ``HERMES_HOME`` — comparing
+        # beta's ``config.yaml`` against the default/root config would let the
+        # hard-block fail open on the exception path. Re-derive from the same
+        # ``get_hermes_home()`` key the happy path uses, and substitute no
+        # unrelated home if even that is gone (#107327 follow-up; PR #107335).
         try:
-            return str(Path(_expand_tilde("~/.hermes/config.yaml")).resolve())
+            from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
+            return str((Path(str(get_hermes_home())) / "config.yaml").resolve())
         except Exception:
             return None
 
@@ -75,8 +84,16 @@ def _get_real_hermes_home() -> str | None:
     try:
         return _hermes_home_real()
     except Exception:
+        # Same active-profile binding on the exception path (see
+        # ``_get_hermes_config_resolved``): re-derive from ``get_hermes_home()``
+        # rather than ``_expand_tilde("~/.hermes")`` so the protected-instruction
+        # exemption resolves against the active profile — not the subprocess /
+        # default home — and substitute no unrelated home if the active security
+        # path cannot be established (PR #107335). A ``None`` here fails closed at
+        # the consumer: the ``~/.hermes`` exemption is skipped, so the gate runs.
         try:
-            return os.path.realpath(_expand_tilde("~/.hermes"))
+            from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
+            return os.path.realpath(str(get_hermes_home()))
         except Exception:
             return None