diff --git a/hermes_cli/goals.py b/hermes_cli/goals.py
index d0b754f99a..cb9b52454e 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/goals.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/goals.py
@@ -1362,6 +1362,8 @@ class GoalManager:
         pid = int(pid)
         if pid <= 0:
             raise ValueError("pid must be a positive integer")
+        if not _pid_alive(pid):
+            raise ValueError("pid is not alive on this host")
         return self._park(reason, waiting_on_pid=pid)
 
     def wait_on_session(self, session_id: str, reason: str = "") -> GoalState:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_goals.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_goals.py
index 17c320913d..421e447ac7 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_goals.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_goals.py
@@ -454,6 +454,20 @@ class TestWaitBarrier:
             proc.terminate()
             proc.wait(timeout=10)
 
+    def test_wait_on_rejects_a_pid_not_alive_on_this_host(self, hermes_home, monkeypatch):
+        """Regression for #110826: do not persist a barrier for remote/dead PIDs."""
+        from hermes_cli import goals
+        from hermes_cli.goals import GoalManager
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(goals, "_pid_alive", lambda pid: False)
+        mgr = GoalManager(session_id="wb-dead")
+        mgr.set("ship it")
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="not alive on this host"):
+            mgr.wait_on(4242, reason="remote CI")
+
+        assert mgr.state.waiting_on_pid is None
+
 
     def test_stop_waiting_clears_barrier(self, hermes_home):
         from hermes_cli.goals import GoalManager