diff --git a/src/agent_comms/commander/vibe_check.py b/src/agent_comms/commander/vibe_check.py
index ee1d297645..9c87c12079 100644
--- a/src/agent_comms/commander/vibe_check.py
+++ b/src/agent_comms/commander/vibe_check.py
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def held(comms: Comms) -> tuple[str, ...]:
         return tuple(
             name
             for name, thread in comms.registry.all_threads().items()
-            if any(goal.state.lifts_on_compliance for goal in thread.goal.active())
+            if any(goal.state.lifts_on_compliance for goal in thread.goal)
         )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_chokehold_release.py b/tests/test_chokehold_release.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8301d619b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_chokehold_release.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""A unit the chokehold paused is found again, so a quoting answer can resume it."""
+
+from functools import partial
+
+from agent_comms.commander.vibe_check import ChokeholdAnswer
+from agent_comms.goal_actions import ChokeholdPausedGoalAction, PausedGoalAction
+from agent_comms.tool_caller import ThreadCaller
+from agent_comms.tools import invoke_tool
+
+
+def _unit(comms, monkeypatch, name):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("AGENT_COMMS_THREAD", name)
+    comms.registry.declare(comms.registry.new_thread(name=name, tags=frozenset(), worktree="/wt"))
+    partial(invoke_tool, caller=ThreadCaller(name))(comms, "comms_set_goal", {"text": "work"})
+
+
+def test_a_chokehold_paused_unit_is_held_and_an_owner_pause_is_not(comms, monkeypatch):
+    _unit(comms, monkeypatch, "choked")
+    _unit(comms, monkeypatch, "owner-paused")
+    _unit(comms, monkeypatch, "running")
+    comms.goals.update_goal("choked", ChokeholdPausedGoalAction())
+    comms.goals.update_goal("owner-paused", PausedGoalAction())
+
+    assert ChokeholdAnswer.held(comms) == ("choked",)