diff --git a/scripts/github/issue-gate.mjs b/scripts/github/issue-gate.mjs
index b3b5a430f..2c47112f1 100644
--- a/scripts/github/issue-gate.mjs
+++ b/scripts/github/issue-gate.mjs
@@ -139,11 +139,17 @@ export function evaluateIssue(issue, options = {}) {
     shouldReopen: false,
   };
 
+  // Disclosure labeling mirrors the body for every author, exempt or not; the
+  // exemption below only covers the template and length gates.
+  const body = String(issue.body || '');
+  base.aiAssisted = AI_DISCLOSURE.test(body);
+  if (base.aiAssisted && !labels.has(AI_LABEL)) base.labelsToAdd.push(AI_LABEL);
+  if (!base.aiAssisted && labels.has(AI_LABEL)) base.labelsToRemove.push(AI_LABEL);
+
   if (maintainers.has(author) || EXEMPT_ASSOCIATIONS.has(issue.authorAssociation)) {
     return { ...base, exempt: true };
   }
 
-  const body = String(issue.body || '');
   const bodyHeadings = new Set(extractHeadings(body));
   const anyTemplateHeading = templates.some(
     (template) => template.headings.some((heading) => bodyHeadings.has(heading)),
@@ -179,9 +185,6 @@ export function evaluateIssue(issue, options = {}) {
   if (verdict !== 'reject' && reasons.length > 0) verdict = 'needs-work';
 
   const plan = { ...base, verdict, reasons };
-  plan.aiAssisted = AI_DISCLOSURE.test(body);
-  if (plan.aiAssisted && !labels.has(AI_LABEL)) plan.labelsToAdd.push(AI_LABEL);
-  if (!plan.aiAssisted && labels.has(AI_LABEL)) plan.labelsToRemove.push(AI_LABEL);
 
   if (verdict === 'pass') {
     if (labels.has(GATE_LABEL)) plan.labelsToRemove.push(GATE_LABEL);
@@ -326,8 +329,8 @@ function runCommentGate(repo, options) {
   if (options.apply) minimizeComment(comment.nodeId);
 }
 
+// Exempt plans still reach here: they carry only disclosure-label actions.
 function applyIssuePlan(repo, plan) {
-  if (plan.exempt) return;
   if (plan.shouldReopen) reopenIssue(repo, plan.number);
   for (const label of plan.labelsToRemove) removeLabel(repo, plan.number, label);
   if (plan.labelsToAdd.length > 0) addLabels(repo, plan.number, plan.labelsToAdd);
diff --git a/tests/github-issue-gate.test.mjs b/tests/github-issue-gate.test.mjs
index 9ff8e7348..63774acff 100644
--- a/tests/github-issue-gate.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/github-issue-gate.test.mjs
@@ -238,6 +238,23 @@ describe('issue body gate', () => {
     assert.equal(member.exempt, true);
   });
 
+  it('still reconciles the AI label for exempt authors', () => {
+    const disclosed = evaluateIssue(issue({
+      authorLogin: 'pbakaus',
+      body: 'AI-assisted: yes\n\nquick note',
+    }), { templates });
+    assert.equal(disclosed.exempt, true);
+    assert.deepEqual(disclosed.labelsToAdd, [AI_LABEL]);
+
+    const undisclosed = evaluateIssue(issue({
+      authorLogin: 'pbakaus',
+      body: 'quick note',
+      labels: [AI_LABEL],
+    }), { templates });
+    assert.equal(undisclosed.exempt, true);
+    assert.deepEqual(undisclosed.labelsToRemove, [AI_LABEL]);
+  });
+
   it('warns a needs-work issue only once', () => {
     const plan = evaluateIssue(issue({
       body: FILLED_BUG_BODY + '\n' + words(700),