diff --git a/src/toad/goal_interaction.py b/src/toad/goal_interaction.py
index 37cfa8418..21307f419 100644
--- a/src/toad/goal_interaction.py
+++ b/src/toad/goal_interaction.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from abc import abstractmethod
+from collections.abc import Iterator
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import ClassVar, TYPE_CHECKING
 from weakref import ref
 
@@ -11,6 +13,7 @@
 from agent_comms.goal_actions import ClearGoalAction, GoalAction
 from agent_comms.goal_presentation import ControlledExecution, GoalExecution
 from agent_comms.goal_history import RecordedGoalHistory
+from toad.agent_binding import AgentConnection
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from toad.widgets.conversation import Conversation
@@ -161,12 +164,18 @@ async def activate(self, action: type[GoalInteraction]) -> None:
         if not action.enabled(self):
             view.feedback.flash(view.goal_display.heading(view.goal_execution))
             return
-        try:
+        with self.reporting_refusals(agent):
             await action.apply(self)
+
+    @contextmanager
+    def reporting_refusals(self, agent: AgentConnection) -> Iterator[None]:
+        """Buttons and slash controls report once, only to their original source."""
+        try:
+            yield
         except Refused as error:
             if not self.owns(agent):
                 raise
-            view.app.show_error(error, "Goal action failed")
+            self.view.app.show_error(error, "Goal action failed")
 
     async def change(self, action: type[GoalAction], text: str = "") -> None:
         view = self.view
@@ -175,9 +184,10 @@ async def change(self, action: type[GoalAction], text: str = "") -> None:
             raise GoalRefused("The goal presentation changed; reopen its controls.")
         # The existing Agent boundary encodes the declared goal operation.
         # Goal state governs continuation, never interruption of an active turn.
-        await self.write(agent, agent.update_goal(action, text))
-        if self.owns(agent):
-            view.prompt.focus()
+        with self.reporting_refusals(agent):
+            await self.write(agent, agent.update_goal(action, text))
+            if self.owns(agent):
+                view.prompt.focus()
 
     async def write(self, agent, operation):
         """Every write settles by reading the owner, including rejected writes."""
diff --git a/tests/textual/test_goal_owner_views.py b/tests/textual/test_goal_owner_views.py
index 06d7595b3..2db788dea 100644
--- a/tests/textual/test_goal_owner_views.py
+++ b/tests/textual/test_goal_owner_views.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from agent_comms.acp_extension import GoalChangedUpdate
-from agent_comms.goal_actions import ClearGoalAction
+from agent_comms.goal_actions import ClearGoalAction, RetryGoalAction
 from agent_comms.nominal.field_codec import FieldCodec, MalformedRecord, TurnId
 from agent_comms.goal_failure_observation import FailedTurnEvidence
 from agent_comms.goal_history import (
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 from toad.navigation_target import SelectTarget
 from toad.screens.goal_details import GoalDetails
 from toad.screens.goal_edit import GoalEdit
+from toad.command_catalog import CommandCatalog
 from toad.widgets.goal_bar import GoalBar, GoalControl
 
 
@@ -186,17 +187,23 @@ async def test_goal_history_lists_earlier_revisions(workspace):
         assert view.prompt.text == "Composer draft stays"
 
 
-async def test_refused_goal_control_preserves_owner_state_and_composer(workspace):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("command, expected_action", (
+    ("", ClearGoalAction),
+    ("/goal retry", RetryGoalAction),
+))
+async def test_refused_goal_control_preserves_owner_state_and_composer(workspace, command, expected_action):
     async with workspace.app(size=(100, 35), notifications=True) as ui:
         owner, view, bar, _status = await shown_goal(workspace, ui)
         original = owner.goal
-        clear = bar.query_one("#goal-clear", GoalControl)
-        hit = ui.app.screen.get_widget_at(*clear.region.offset)[0]
-        print(f"Goal clear region={clear.region!r}; hit={hit!r}; disabled={clear.disabled}")
-        assert await ui.pilot.click(clear), "the real clear control must receive the click"
-        await ui.until(lambda: owner.requests == [("update", ClearGoalAction)],
-                       why="one goal-clear request at the scripted owner")
+        if command:
+            assert await CommandCatalog.execute(command, view)
+        else:
+            clear = bar.query_one("#goal-clear", GoalControl)
+            assert await ui.pilot.click(clear), "the real clear control must receive the click"
+        await ui.until(lambda: owner.requests == [("update", expected_action)],
+                       why="one goal-control request at the scripted owner")
         await ui.until_shows("Goal action failed")
+        assert sum(note.title == "Goal action failed" for note in ui.app._notifications) == 1
         assert owner.goal == original
         assert view.goal_display.snapshot == original
         assert view.prompt.text == "Composer draft stays"