diff --git a/core/artwork/worker.go b/core/artwork/worker.go
index a66734509..9365cf50c 100644
--- a/core/artwork/worker.go
+++ b/core/artwork/worker.go
@@ -267,8 +267,9 @@ func (b *breaker) allow() bool {
 func (b *breaker) record(err error) {
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	defer b.mu.Unlock()
-	// A not-found is a definitive answer, not a fault; only real errors trip the breaker.
-	if err == nil || errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
+	// A not-found (from either package) is a definitive answer, not a fault; only real
+	// errors trip the breaker. Must stay consistent with isTransientExternal.
+	if err == nil || errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) || errors.Is(err, agents.ErrNotFound) {
 		b.failures = 0
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/core/artwork/worker_test.go b/core/artwork/worker_test.go
index 7a072aa1e..cf9b7cddf 100644
--- a/core/artwork/worker_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/worker_test.go
@@ -283,6 +283,25 @@ var _ = Describe("Worker", func() {
 			Expect(calls).To(Equal(5), "the breaker should have re-closed after the success")
 		})
 
+		It("does not open the breaker on a run of agent not-found misses", func() {
+			// Regression: agents.ErrNotFound is a definitive miss, not a fault. A run of
+			// artless items must never trip the breaker, or they'd loop in retry instead of
+			// settling absent. Uses the real gate, not passthroughGate.
+			notFound := func() (io.ReadCloser, string, error) { return nil, "", agents.ErrNotFound }
+			for range breakerThreshold + 3 {
+				_, _, err := w.gate("A", notFound)
+				Expect(err).To(MatchError(agents.ErrNotFound), "a miss passes through, never errBreakerOpen")
+			}
+
+			var calls int
+			counting := func() (io.ReadCloser, string, error) {
+				calls++
+				return nil, "", errors.New("boom")
+			}
+			_, _, _ = w.gate("A", counting)
+			Expect(calls).To(Equal(1), "the breaker stayed closed, so the step still runs")
+		})
+
 		It("isolates each agent's breaker: one open gate does not block another", func() {
 			failing := func() (io.ReadCloser, string, error) { return nil, "", errors.New("boom") }
 			for range breakerThreshold {