diff --git a/src/agent_loop.py b/src/agent_loop.py
index 86c3418c2..091b33323 100644
--- a/src/agent_loop.py
+++ b/src/agent_loop.py
@@ -8647,6 +8647,11 @@ def _web_search_unavailable_for_turn(
     """
     if "web" not in set(intent_domains or ()):
         return False
+    # Mentioning web only to forbid its use is not affirmative web demand.
+    # Keep the web tools disabled, but let the normal model-only path answer
+    # instead of claiming the request cannot proceed without web access.
+    if _explicitly_avoids_web_lookup(text):
+        return False
     # A turn is unavailable only when every public-web route is disabled.
     # Exact-URL turns intentionally expose web_fetch while keeping broad
     # web_search disabled; the former intersection check incorrectly
diff --git a/tests/test_runtime_behavior_regressions.py b/tests/test_runtime_behavior_regressions.py
index ed860dc23..73f9852c3 100644
--- a/tests/test_runtime_behavior_regressions.py
+++ b/tests/test_runtime_behavior_regressions.py
@@ -146,15 +146,8 @@ def test_negative_web_wording_withholds_the_web_tools(monkeypatch, phrasing):
     _assert_negative_web_turn(monkeypatch, phrasing)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(
-    strict=True,
-    raises=_MemoryOnlyTurnBlocked,
-    reason="negative web wording is recognized but the memory-only turn is "
-           "misclassified as web-dependent and blocked before the model call; "
-           "production intent/short-circuit correction is outside test isolation",
-)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("phrasing", BLOCKED_MEMORY_ONLY)
-def test_negative_web_wording_withholds_the_web_tools_unhandled(monkeypatch, phrasing):
+def test_negative_web_wording_withholds_the_web_tools_memory_only(monkeypatch, phrasing):
     _assert_negative_web_turn(monkeypatch, phrasing)