diff --git a/hermes_cli/kanban_ops.py b/hermes_cli/kanban_ops.py
index 1f80b45302..078fc44bba 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/kanban_ops.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/kanban_ops.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def _cmd_daemon(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
 def _cmd_watch(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     """Live-stream task_events to the terminal."""
     kinds = {k.strip() for k in args.kinds.split(",") if k.strip()} if args.kinds else None
-    print(f"Watching kanban events on board '{kb.get_current_board()}'. Ctrl-C to stop.", flush=True)
+    print(f"Watching kanban events (initial board '{kb.get_current_board()}'). Ctrl-C to stop.", flush=True)
     # Seed cursor at the latest id so we don't replay history.
     with kbc.connect_closing() as conn:
         cursor = int(conn.execute("SELECT COALESCE(MAX(id), 0) AS m FROM task_events").fetchone()["m"])
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_watch_banner.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_watch_banner.py
index 2a91e0e661..94c9643c2d 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_watch_banner.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_watch_banner.py
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ def test_watch_names_resolved_board(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys, environment,
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(kanban_ops.time, "sleep", interrupt)
     assert kanban_command(parser.parse_args(argv)) == 0
-    assert f"board '{expected}'" in capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert f"initial board '{expected}'" in capsys.readouterr().out