diff --git a/static/panels.js b/static/panels.js
index f160ac42..f61144c6 100644
--- a/static/panels.js
+++ b/static/panels.js
@@ -2771,9 +2771,12 @@ async function submitKanbanTaskModal(){
     if (titleEl) titleEl.focus();
     return;
   }
-  // Validate workspace path for non-scratch workspace kinds
+  // Build payload — for create we omit defaulted fields so the backend chooses;
+  // for edit we send every field so users can clear assignee/tenant/body.
+  const isEdit = _kanbanTaskModalMode === 'edit';
+  // Validate workspace path for non-scratch workspace kinds (create mode only)
   const workspaceKind = workspaceKindEl ? workspaceKindEl.value : 'scratch';
-  if (workspaceKind !== 'scratch') {
+  if (!isEdit && workspaceKind !== 'scratch') {
     const workspacePath = workspacePathEl ? workspacePathEl.value.trim() : '';
     if (!workspacePath) {
       if (errEl) errEl.textContent = t('kanban_workspace_path_required') || 'Workspace path is required for non-scratch workspaces.';
@@ -2781,9 +2784,6 @@ async function submitKanbanTaskModal(){
       return;
     }
   }
-  // Build payload — for create we omit defaulted fields so the backend chooses;
-  // for edit we send every field so users can clear assignee/tenant/body.
-  const isEdit = _kanbanTaskModalMode === 'edit';
   const payload = {title};
   const bodyVal = bodyEl ? bodyEl.value : '';
   const assigneeVal = assigneeEl ? assigneeEl.value.trim() : '';
diff --git a/tests/test_issue3797_kanban_cli_parity.py b/tests/test_issue3797_kanban_cli_parity.py
index f604cdff..ff87df7c 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue3797_kanban_cli_parity.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue3797_kanban_cli_parity.py
@@ -54,18 +54,17 @@ class TestWorkspacePathValidation:
     """Test client-side validation of workspace paths."""
 
     def test_submit_blocks_empty_worktree_path(self):
-        """submitKanbanTaskModal must reject non-scratch workspaces with empty paths."""
-        # The function must check if workspace_kind is not 'scratch' and
-        # workspace_path is empty, then set error and return early
-        assert 'if (workspaceKind !== \'scratch\')' in PANELS_JS
+        """submitKanbanTaskModal must reject non-scratch workspaces with empty paths on create."""
+        # The validation must skip edit mode and only fire on create
+        assert "workspaceKind !== 'scratch'" in PANELS_JS
         assert "kanban_workspace_path_required" in PANELS_JS
         # Must call focus() on the path input for UX
         assert "workspacePathEl.focus()" in PANELS_JS
 
     def test_submit_accepts_scratch_without_path(self):
         """submitKanbanTaskModal must accept scratch workspace even without a path."""
-        # When workspace_kind === 'scratch', skip path validation
-        assert "if (workspaceKind !== 'scratch')" in PANELS_JS
+        # Validation is guarded by !isEdit so it only fires on create
+        assert "workspaceKind !== 'scratch'" in PANELS_JS
 
     def test_workspace_fields_sent_in_payload(self):
         """The create/edit payload must include workspace_kind and workspace_path on create only."""