diff --git a/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py b/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py
index e9fdb9d931..62995b0b18 100644
--- a/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py
+++ b/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py
@@ -1356,10 +1356,8 @@ def _save_alias_map(cfg: dict, host: str, working: dict, aliases_from_root: bool
             print("  edits no longer reach this profile.")
 
     target = cfg if write_root else cfg.setdefault("hosts", {}).setdefault(host, {})
-    if working:
-        target["userPeerAliases"] = working
-    else:
-        target.pop("userPeerAliases", None)
+    # An empty host map is an explicit override; popping the key would re-inherit the root aliases.
+    target["userPeerAliases"] = working
     target_desc = f"host block [{host}]"
     if write_root:
         target_desc = "root config (shared by all profiles)"
@@ -1374,7 +1372,9 @@ def _save_alias_map(cfg: dict, host: str, working: dict, aliases_from_root: bool
             print(f"    {', '.join(names)}) — picked peers may not exist there.")
 
     _write_config(cfg)
-    print(f"\n  userPeerAliases = {working if working else '{}'}")
+    print(f"\n  userPeerAliases = {working}")
+    if not working and not write_root and cfg.get("userPeerAliases"):
+        print(f"  (empty host map: root aliases no longer apply to [{host}])")
     print(f"  written to {target_desc} in {_local_config_path()}\n")
 
 
diff --git a/tests/honcho_plugin/test_peers_map.py b/tests/honcho_plugin/test_peers_map.py
index 45aeca1703..57c9f253ff 100644
--- a/tests/honcho_plugin/test_peers_map.py
+++ b/tests/honcho_plugin/test_peers_map.py
@@ -114,12 +114,26 @@ class TestCmdPeersMap:
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("aliases, expected_host", [
         ({"111": "eri", "222": "tek"}, {"userPeerAliases": {"222": "tek"}}),
-        ({"111": "eri"}, {}),
-    ], ids=["one-of-two", "last-alias-drops-key"])
+        ({"111": "eri"}, {"userPeerAliases": {}}),
+    ], ids=["one-of-two", "last-alias-keeps-empty-map"])
     def test_dash_clears_alias(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path, aliases, expected_host):
         written = _run_map(monkeypatch, tmp_path, answers=["111", "-", ""], cfg=_cfg(userPeerAliases=aliases))
         assert written["cfg"]["hosts"]["hermes"] == expected_host
 
+    def test_cleared_host_map_does_not_resurrect_root_aliases(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path, capsys):
+        """A host block without the key inherits root, so clearing must leave an empty map behind."""
+        from plugins.memory.honcho.client import HonchoClientConfig
+
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        cfg = _cfg(root={"userPeerAliases": {"111": "root-person"}}, userPeerAliases={"111": "host-person"})
+        written = _run_map(monkeypatch, tmp_path, answers=["111", "-", ""], cfg=cfg)
+        assert written["cfg"]["hosts"]["hermes"]["userPeerAliases"] == {}
+        assert "root aliases no longer apply to [hermes]" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+        path = tmp_path / "honcho.json"
+        path.write_text(json.dumps(written["cfg"]))
+        assert HonchoClientConfig.from_global_config(host="hermes", config_path=path).user_peer_aliases == {}
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("cfg, answers, kwargs", [
         (_cfg(), [""], {}),
         (_cfg(userPeerAliases={"111": "eri"}), ["111", "eri", ""], {}),