diff --git a/bridge.py b/bridge.py
index c1fd237..ffa0056 100644
--- a/bridge.py
+++ b/bridge.py
@@ -380,11 +380,30 @@ def comment(state: dict, ledger_id: str, content: str, what: str,
 
 # ── Intake: Pulse posts -> ledger + kanban ───────────────────────────────────
 
+def kanban_cmd() -> list[str]:
+    """How to invoke hermes' kanban CLI, resolved fresh on every call.
+
+    The shared checkout's venv is not stable: a release cutover can delete or
+    replace it mid-run (observed 2026-08-23 — every intake tick failed with
+    ENOENT on `<checkout>/venv/bin/python`). The `~/.local/bin/hermes` shim is
+    repointed by the release recipe itself, so it is the durable entry point;
+    the checkout venv stays as a fallback for installs that have no shim.
+    """
+    override = cfg("PULSE_BRIDGE_HERMES_PY", "")
+    if override:
+        return [override, "-m", "shiva_cli.main"]
+    shim = HOME / ".local/bin/hermes"
+    if os.access(shim, os.X_OK):
+        return [str(shim)]
+    return [f"{HERMES_DIR}/venv/bin/python", "-m", "shiva_cli.main"]
+
+
 def kanban(*args: str, timeout: int = 60) -> str:
+    cmd = kanban_cmd()
+    cwd = HERMES_DIR if os.path.isdir(HERMES_DIR) else str(HOME)
     out = subprocess.run(
-        [f"{HERMES_DIR}/venv/bin/python", "-m", "shiva_cli.main",
-         "kanban", *args],
-        capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout, cwd=HERMES_DIR,
+        [*cmd, "kanban", *args],
+        capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout, cwd=cwd,
         env={**os.environ, "HERMES_HOME": HERMES_HOME_DIR})
     if out.returncode != 0:
         raise RuntimeError(f"kanban {args[0]} rc={out.returncode}: "