diff --git a/docs/reference/kiro-cli/hooks.md b/docs/reference/kiro-cli/hooks.md
index 4db61af97d1..d8bb89b6d5a 100644
--- a/docs/reference/kiro-cli/hooks.md
+++ b/docs/reference/kiro-cli/hooks.md
@@ -23,6 +23,18 @@ Hooks receive JSON via STDIN:
 - **Exit 2**: (PreToolUse only) block tool execution, STDERR returned to LLM
 - **Other**: failed, STDERR shown as warning
 
+> **Kiro Crew divergence** (script hooks in `hooks.json`, managed from the
+> dashboard's Hooks page): for a `preToolUse` hook, any exit that is neither 0
+> nor 2 — including a timeout, a crash, or an unexecutable command — **blocks
+> the tool** instead of warning. Exit 0 is a delivered allow and exit 2 a
+> delivered deny; every other outcome is an undelivered verdict, and the gate
+> fails closed (`BLOCKED:<hook>:<detail>`). There is no per-hook opt-out, so a
+> `preToolUse` hook must reserve nonzero exits for "block" — a hook that exits
+> 1 to mean "issues found, but proceed" will deny the tool. Non-gating events
+> (`postToolUse`, `userPromptSubmit`, `stop`) keep the warn-only behavior
+> above. See [learn-cron-dashboard](../../system-specs/modules/learn-cron-dashboard.md),
+> § Tool-Refusal Recovery.
+
 ## Tool matching
 
 Use `matcher` field. Supports canonical names and aliases:
@@ -45,6 +57,9 @@ Runs when user submits prompt. Receives `prompt` field. Exit 0 → STDOUT added
 ### PreToolUse
 Runs before tool execution. Can block (exit 2). Receives `tool_name`, `tool_input`.
 
+> **Kiro Crew:** any non-0/2 exit also blocks — see the divergence note under
+> [Hook output](#hook-output).
+
 ### PostToolUse
 Runs after tool execution. Receives `tool_name`, `tool_input`, `tool_response`.
 
diff --git a/src/kiro_crew/hooks.py b/src/kiro_crew/hooks.py
index fe59a10a2fe..65ad03dc88a 100644
--- a/src/kiro_crew/hooks.py
+++ b/src/kiro_crew/hooks.py
@@ -3463,10 +3463,13 @@ def _hook_subprocess_env(hook: "ScriptHook", context: str) -> dict[str, str]:
 class ScriptHook:
     """Executable hook that runs a shell command on a trigger event.
 
-    Aligned with Kiro CLI hook semantics:
+    Exit-code contract (consumed by ``chat_runner``'s inner ``_fire()``):
     - Exit 0: success (stdout → context for AgentSpawn/UserPromptSubmit)
     - Exit 2: block tool (PreToolUse only, stderr → LLM)
-    - Other: warning (stderr shown to user)
+    - Other: PreToolUse BLOCKS (fail closed — 0 and 2 are the only delivered
+      verdicts, so a timeout, crash, or any other nonzero exit resolves to
+      deny); every other event warns only (stderr shown to user). This
+      diverges from Kiro CLI's own hook semantics, which warn on non-0/2.
     """
 
     id: str = ""
diff --git a/test/test_dashboard_approval.py b/test/test_dashboard_approval.py
index e384e463fe0..636816cb82f 100644
--- a/test/test_dashboard_approval.py
+++ b/test/test_dashboard_approval.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     parse_cls_meta,
 )
 from kiro_crew.history import ConversationLog
-from kiro_crew.hooks import HOOK_EVENT_PRE_TOOL_USE, ToolHookResult
+from kiro_crew.hooks import HOOK_EVENT_PRE_TOOL_USE, ScriptHookResult, ToolHookResult
 from kiro_crew.providers.base import (
     EVENT_COMPLETE,
     EVENT_PERMISSION_REQUEST,
@@ -565,8 +565,13 @@ async def test_auto_approve_blocked_when_pretooluse_hook_delivers_no_verdict(
         """
         cb = _context_builder(ToolHookResult.auto_approve())
         hook_store = _make_hook_store()
+        # spec= pins the mock to real ScriptHookResult fields, so a renamed
+        # production field (e.g. `error`) fails here instead of silently
+        # matching a truthy child mock.
         hook_store.fire = AsyncMock(
-            return_value=[MagicMock(hook_name="policy-gate", **result_kwargs)]
+            return_value=[
+                MagicMock(spec=ScriptHookResult, hook_name="policy-gate", **result_kwargs)
+            ]
         )
         state, client = _make_state(tmp_path, context_builder=cb, hook_store=hook_store)
         slot = _make_slot()
@@ -593,7 +598,14 @@ async def test_auto_approve_allowed_when_pretooluse_hook_exits_zero(self, tmp_pa
         hook_store = _make_hook_store()
         hook_store.fire = AsyncMock(
             return_value=[
-                MagicMock(exit_code=0, stdout="", stderr="", error="", hook_name="policy-gate")
+                MagicMock(
+                    spec=ScriptHookResult,
+                    exit_code=0,
+                    stdout="",
+                    stderr="",
+                    error="",
+                    hook_name="policy-gate",
+                )
             ]
         )
         state, client = _make_state(tmp_path, context_builder=cb, hook_store=hook_store)