diff --git a/arvo/eyre.hoon b/arvo/eyre.hoon
index b3b8d5c09..c4215bc65 100644
--- a/arvo/eyre.hoon
+++ b/arvo/eyre.hoon
@@ -388,6 +388,8 @@
         ?^  own  [~ p.n.own]
         ~
     ?~  sur  (fail 500 "no vessel available to proxy {<him>}")
+    ?.  (gth (met 3 him) (met 3 u.sur))                 ::  very permissive
+      (fail 500 "<u.sur> cannot proxy for <him>")
     =+  ^=  rot  ^-  rote
         =+  rut=(~(get by fon) him)
         ?^  rut  u.rut