diff --git a/src/core/auto-approval/__tests__/checkAutoApproval.spec.ts b/src/core/auto-approval/__tests__/checkAutoApproval.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8f9ddbd137f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/auto-approval/__tests__/checkAutoApproval.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { checkAutoApproval } from "../index"
+
+describe("checkAutoApproval — denied commands enforcement", () => {
+	const baseState = {
+		autoApprovalEnabled: false,
+		alwaysAllowReadOnly: false,
+		alwaysAllowReadOnlyOutsideWorkspace: false,
+		alwaysAllowWrite: false,
+		alwaysAllowWriteOutsideWorkspace: false,
+		alwaysAllowWriteProtected: false,
+		alwaysAllowExecute: false,
+		alwaysAllowMcp: false,
+		alwaysAllowModeSwitch: false,
+		alwaysAllowSubtasks: false,
+		alwaysAllowFollowupQuestions: false,
+		allowedCommands: [] as string[],
+		deniedCommands: ["rm"],
+		followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs: 0,
+		mcpServers: [] as any[],
+	}
+
+	it("should deny a denied command even when autoApprovalEnabled is false", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, autoApprovalEnabled: false },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "rm -rf /tmp/test",
+		})
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("deny")
+	})
+
+	it("should deny a denied command even when alwaysAllowExecute is false", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, autoApprovalEnabled: true, alwaysAllowExecute: false },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "rm -rf /tmp/test",
+		})
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("deny")
+	})
+
+	it("should deny a denied command when alwaysAllowExecute is true", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, autoApprovalEnabled: true, alwaysAllowExecute: true },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "rm -rf /tmp/test",
+		})
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("deny")
+	})
+
+	it("should deny a denied command inside a chained command (&&)", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, autoApprovalEnabled: false },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "echo hello && rm verify-hook-install.nu",
+		})
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("deny")
+	})
+
+	it("should deny a denied command inside a chained command with heredoc-style wrapping", async () => {
+		const command = `cat > verify.nu << 'HEREDOC'
+some content
+HEREDOC
+nu verify.nu && rm verify.nu`
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, autoApprovalEnabled: false },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: command,
+		})
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("deny")
+	})
+
+	it("should not deny commands that are not in the deny list", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, autoApprovalEnabled: false },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "git status",
+		})
+		// Should return "ask" since auto-approval is disabled and command is not denied
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("ask")
+	})
+
+	it("should not deny when deniedCommands list is empty", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: { ...baseState, deniedCommands: [], autoApprovalEnabled: false },
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "rm -rf /tmp/test",
+		})
+		// Should return "ask" since there's no deny list and auto-approval is disabled
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("ask")
+	})
+
+	it("should not deny when state is undefined", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: undefined,
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "rm -rf /tmp/test",
+		})
+		// Should return "ask" since state is undefined
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("ask")
+	})
+
+	it("should allow a more specific allowed command to override a denied prefix", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: {
+				...baseState,
+				autoApprovalEnabled: true,
+				alwaysAllowExecute: true,
+				allowedCommands: ["rm -i"],
+				deniedCommands: ["rm"],
+			},
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "rm -i file.txt",
+		})
+		// "rm -i" (length 4) is more specific than "rm" (length 2), so allowed wins
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("approve")
+	})
+
+	it("should deny when denied prefix is more specific than allowed prefix", async () => {
+		const result = await checkAutoApproval({
+			state: {
+				...baseState,
+				autoApprovalEnabled: true,
+				alwaysAllowExecute: true,
+				allowedCommands: ["git"],
+				deniedCommands: ["git push"],
+			},
+			ask: "command",
+			text: "git push origin main",
+		})
+		// "git push" (length 8) is more specific than "git" (length 3), so deny wins
+		expect(result.decision).toBe("deny")
+	})
+})
diff --git a/src/core/auto-approval/index.ts b/src/core/auto-approval/index.ts
index c8293c2a79f..ad3ff60a419 100644
--- a/src/core/auto-approval/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/auto-approval/index.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,19 @@ export async function checkAutoApproval({
 		return { decision: "approve" }
 	}
 
+	// Denied commands check runs regardless of auto-approval settings.
+	// This ensures denied commands act as an absolute safety net that
+	// cannot be bypassed by disabling auto-approval or auto-execute.
+	if (ask === "command" && text) {
+		const deniedCommands = state?.deniedCommands
+		if (deniedCommands?.length) {
+			const decision = getCommandDecision(text, state?.allowedCommands || [], deniedCommands)
+			if (decision === "auto_deny") {
+				return { decision: "deny" }
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (!state || !state.autoApprovalEnabled) {
 		return { decision: "ask" }
 	}