diff --git a/src/ops_mason/kubernetes_plane.py b/src/ops_mason/kubernetes_plane.py
index 7e8a2f3..e9a202d 100644
--- a/src/ops_mason/kubernetes_plane.py
+++ b/src/ops_mason/kubernetes_plane.py
@@ -311,10 +311,20 @@ def _find_keys(value: Any, forbidden: set[str], prefix: str = "") -> list[str]:
     return found
 
 
-def _run(runner: Runner, args: Sequence[str], *, allow_not_found: bool = False) -> CommandResult:
+def _run(
+    runner: Runner,
+    args: Sequence[str],
+    *,
+    allow_not_found: bool = False,
+    allow_capability_denial: bool = False,
+) -> CommandResult:
     result = runner(args)
     if result.returncode == 0:
         return result
+    # kubectl auth can-i exits 1 and prints "no" for a denial. That is the
+    # answer, not a broken command. Any other non-zero exit still fails.
+    if allow_capability_denial and result.stdout.strip().lower() == "no":
+        return result
     if allow_not_found and "notfound" in result.stderr.lower().replace(" ", ""):
         return result
     command = " ".join(args)
@@ -510,6 +520,7 @@ def verify(bundle: PlaneBundle, runner: Runner = subprocess_runner) -> dict[str,
                 "kubectl", "auth", "can-i", "get", resource,
                 "-n", bundle.expected_namespace,
             ],
+            allow_capability_denial=True,
         ).stdout.strip().lower()
         if allowed != "yes":
             negative_scope[resource] = 0
diff --git a/tests/test_kubernetes_plane.py b/tests/test_kubernetes_plane.py
index b49e3a2..cd90447 100644
--- a/tests/test_kubernetes_plane.py
+++ b/tests/test_kubernetes_plane.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from ops_mason.readiness import inspect_readiness, resolve_tier
 from ops_mason.kubernetes_plane import (
     CommandResult,
     PlaneBundle,
+    PlaneError,
     PlaneRefused,
     _json_path,
     apply,
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ class FakeCluster:
             return CommandResult(0, self.context + "\n")
         if command[:3] == ["kubectl", "auth", "can-i"]:
             if command[3] == "get" and not self.can_get_negative:
-                return CommandResult(0, "no\n")
+                return CommandResult(1, "no\n")
             return CommandResult(0, "yes\n")
         if "apply" in command:
             if "--dry-run=client" not in command and "--dry-run=server" not in command:
@@ -294,6 +295,26 @@ def test_apply_records_negative_scope_when_get_is_denied(tmp_path: Path) -> None
     assert [call[4] for call in denied] == ["pods", "secrets"]
 
 
+def test_apply_rejects_a_broken_can_i_instead_of_a_negative_scope(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    bundle = PlaneBundle.load(_fixture(tmp_path))
+    cluster = FakeCluster()
+
+    def runner(args):
+        command = list(args)
+        if command[:4] == ["kubectl", "auth", "can-i", "get"]:
+            cluster.calls.append(command)
+            return CommandResult(1, "", "the server rejected the capability query")
+        return cluster(args)
+
+    with pytest.raises(PlaneError, match="failed"):
+        apply(
+            bundle,
+            confirm_plan_id="plane",
+            expected_digest=bundle.digest,
+            runner=runner,
+        )
+
+
 def test_preflight_refuses_unmanaged_live_drift(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     bundle = PlaneBundle.load(_fixture(tmp_path))
     cluster = FakeCluster(drift=True)