diff --git a/lib/ship-queue-train.ts b/lib/ship-queue-train.ts
index f8f26fcf7..698b78817 100644
--- a/lib/ship-queue-train.ts
+++ b/lib/ship-queue-train.ts
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ function admitSlots(env: TrainEnv, pins: Array<{ pr: string; sha: string }>): {
     if (!ready) return outRefused({ code: 'QUEUE_NOT_READY', message: `no READY receipt for #${p.pr} at ${info.headRefOid.slice(0, 12)} (local state or ${'refs/notes/gstack-trains'})` }, [], `the lane runs ${Q} ready --pr ${p.pr} --screen|--no-screen`, 'none');
     let screen = ready.screen;
     if (screen.choice === 'screen' && screen.run && slug === undefined) slug = repoSlug(ctx);
-    const plan = screen.choice === 'screen' && screen.run && slug ? hollowScreen(ctx, slug, screen.run) : null;
+    const plan = screen.choice === 'screen' && screen.run ? (slug ? hollowScreen(ctx, slug, screen.run) : { kind: 'unknown' as const, reason: 'the repository slug is unreadable' }) : null;
     if (plan?.kind === 'hollow') { lines.push(`SCREEN: #${p.pr} ${plan.reason}; counted as not-run, the slot rides unscreened`); screen = { ...screen, choice: 'no-screen' }; }
     else if (plan?.kind === 'unknown') lines.push(`SCREEN: #${p.pr} ${plan.reason}; counted as screened, unverified`);
     slots.push({ pr: p.pr, head: info.headRefOid, ready_at: ready.ready_at, screen });