diff --git a/hive-ag3nt/src/bin/hive.rs b/hive-ag3nt/src/bin/hive.rs
index 53a5f9cb..95a60e8c 100644
--- a/hive-ag3nt/src/bin/hive.rs
+++ b/hive-ag3nt/src/bin/hive.rs
@@ -205,10 +205,6 @@ trait Surface {
     /// system-prompt block + tool registration goes into the spawned
     /// `claude` process.
     const FLAVOR: mcp::Flavor;
-    /// Fallback agent label when `HIVE_LABEL` isn't in the environment.
-    /// Real deploys always set the env var; the fallback covers
-    /// standalone `nix run .#hive` invocations.
-    const DEFAULT_LABEL: &'static str;
     /// `is_manager` flag passed to `forge_notify::run`. Picks which
     /// wire enum (`AgentRequest::Wake` vs `ManagerRequest::Wake`) the
     /// poller uses to push notifications into the harness inbox — the
@@ -271,7 +267,6 @@ struct AgentSurface;
 
 impl Surface for AgentSurface {
     const FLAVOR: mcp::Flavor = mcp::Flavor::Agent;
-    const DEFAULT_LABEL: &'static str = "hive-ag3nt";
     const FORGE_IS_MANAGER: bool = false;
 
     async fn ack_turn(socket: &Path) {
@@ -410,7 +405,6 @@ struct ManagerSurface;
 
 impl Surface for ManagerSurface {
     const FLAVOR: mcp::Flavor = mcp::Flavor::Manager;
-    const DEFAULT_LABEL: &'static str = "hm1nd";
     const FORGE_IS_MANAGER: bool = true;
 
     async fn ack_turn(socket: &Path) {
@@ -556,7 +550,14 @@ async fn serve_main<S: Surface>(socket: &Path, poll_ms: u64) -> Result<()> {
         .ok()
         .and_then(|s| s.parse::<u16>().ok())
         .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_WEB_PORT);
-    let label = std::env::var("HIVE_LABEL").unwrap_or_else(|_| S::DEFAULT_LABEL.into());
+    // `HIVE_LABEL` is set unconditionally by the meta-flake envelope
+    // for any container-deployed agent; the `"hive"` fallback here
+    // covers standalone `nix run .#hive` invocations and pre-meta
+    // dev shells. Previously this was per-role (`"hive-ag3nt"` /
+    // `"hm1nd"`) — closing #788 collapsed it: there's no semantic
+    // reason for the fallback to differ when the env var is missing,
+    // and both branches are unreachable in production.
+    let label = std::env::var("HIVE_LABEL").unwrap_or_else(|_| "hive".into());
     let claude_dir = login::default_dir();
     let initial = LoginState::from_dir(&claude_dir);
     tracing::info!(state = ?initial, claude_dir = %claude_dir.display(), "harness boot");