diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index dd20e42027..907704054e 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -1845,7 +1845,7 @@ cmd_logout = _forward_command("cmd_logout", "hermes_cli.auth", "logout_command",
 cmd_auth = _forward_command("cmd_auth", "hermes_cli.auth_commands", "auth_command", doc='Manage pooled credentials.')
 cmd_status = _forward_command("cmd_status", "hermes_cli.status", "show_status", doc='Show status of all components.')
 cmd_cron = _forward_command("cmd_cron", "hermes_cli.cron", "cron_command", forward_return=True, doc='Cron job management.')
-cmd_webhook = _forward_command("cmd_webhook", "hermes_cli.webhook", "webhook_command", doc='Webhook subscription management.')
+cmd_webhook = _forward_command("cmd_webhook", "hermes_cli.webhook", "webhook_command", forward_return=True, doc='Webhook subscription management.')
 cmd_kanban = _forward_command("cmd_kanban", "hermes_cli.kanban", "kanban_command", forward_return=True, doc='Multi-profile collaboration board.')
 cmd_project = _forward_command("cmd_project", "hermes_cli.projects_cmd", "projects_command", forward_return=True, doc='Manage projects (named, multi-folder workspaces).')
 cmd_hooks = _forward_command("cmd_hooks", "hermes_cli.hooks", "hooks_command", doc='Shell-hook inspection and management.')
diff --git a/hermes_cli/webhook.py b/hermes_cli/webhook.py
index 1a8d946c5c..b9a20df61d 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/webhook.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/webhook.py
@@ -169,17 +169,18 @@ def webhook_command(args):
         return
     if not _is_webhook_enabled():
         print(_setup_hint())
-        return
+        return 1
     handler = _ACTIONS.get(sub)
     if handler is not None:
-        handler(args)
+        # A refusal returns 1 so scripts can tell no route was written (#139332).
+        return handler(args)
 
 
 def _cmd_subscribe(args):
     name = args.name.strip().lower().replace(" ", "-")
     if not re.match(r'^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9_-]*$', name):
         print(f"Error: Invalid name '{name}'. Use lowercase alphanumeric with hyphens/underscores.")
-        return
+        return 1
 
     subs = _load_subscriptions()
     expected = subs.get(name, _MISSING_SUBSCRIPTION)
@@ -195,10 +196,10 @@ def _cmd_subscribe(args):
             validate_profile_name(profile)
         except ValueError as exc:
             print(f"Error: {exc}")
-            return
+            return 1
         if not profile_exists(profile):
             print(f"Error: Profile '{profile}' does not exist.")
-            return
+            return 1
     existing_profile = existing.get("profile", "default")
     profile_changed = is_update and profile != existing_profile
     if profile_changed and args.secret and args.secret == existing.get("secret"):
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ def _cmd_subscribe(args):
             "Error: Rebinding a webhook route requires a new HMAC secret. "
             "Omit --secret to generate one automatically, or provide a different secret."
         )
-        return
+        return 1
     secret = args.secret or (None if profile_changed else existing.get("secret")) or secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
     events = [e.strip() for e in args.events.split(",")] if args.events else []
     route = {
@@ -227,12 +228,12 @@ def _cmd_subscribe(args):
                 "--cron-job fires an existing cron job (which handles its own "
                 "delivery)."
             )
-            return
+            return 1
         if route["deliver"] == "log":
             print(
                 "Error: --deliver-only requires --deliver to be a real target "
                 "(telegram, discord, slack, github_comment, etc.) — not 'log'.")
-            return
+            return 1
         route["deliver_only"] = True
     if getattr(args, "mirror_to_session", False):
         route["mirror_to_session"] = True
@@ -244,10 +245,10 @@ def _cmd_subscribe(args):
             job = _resolve_route_cron_job(profile, cron_job)
         except AmbiguousJobReference as e:
             print(f"Error: {e}")
-            return
+            return 1
         if job is None:
             print(f"Error: no cron job matches '{cron_job}'. List jobs with: hermes cron list")
-            return
+            return 1
         route["cron_job"] = job["id"]
     script = (getattr(args, "script", "") or "").strip()
     if script:
@@ -258,7 +259,7 @@ def _cmd_subscribe(args):
         route = _replace_subscription(name, route, expected)
     except SubscriptionMutationConflict as exc:
         print(f"Error: {exc}")
-        return
+        return 1
 
     print(f"\n  {'Updated' if is_update else 'Created'} webhook subscription: {name}")
     print(f"  URL:    {_route_url(name, route)}")
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_webhook_cron_profile.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_webhook_cron_profile.py
index ae5580a38c..bc8990fca2 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_webhook_cron_profile.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_webhook_cron_profile.py
@@ -94,3 +94,29 @@ def test_bare_route_preserves_custom_caller_home(homes, monkeypatch):
     subscribe()
     assert webhook._load_subscriptions()["route"]["cron_job"] == "custom-job"
     assert not (root / "webhook_subscriptions.json").exists()
+
+
+def _hermes(monkeypatch, *argv):
+    """Run the real ``hermes`` entry point; return the process exit code."""
+    import sys
+    from hermes_cli import main as hermes_main
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", ["hermes", *argv])
+    try:
+        hermes_main.main()
+    except SystemExit as exc:
+        return exc.code or 0
+    return 0
+
+
+def test_cli_refusal_exits_nonzero_and_writes_nothing(homes, monkeypatch):
+    """#139332: a refused subscribe exited 0, so a script could not tell no route was created."""
+    root, _ = homes
+    assert _hermes(monkeypatch, "webhook", "subscribe", "route", "--route-profile", "coder",
+                   "--cron-job", "no-such-job") == 1
+    assert not (root / "webhook_subscriptions.json").exists()
+
+
+def test_cli_routed_cron_subscribe_exits_zero(homes, monkeypatch):
+    assert _hermes(monkeypatch, "webhook", "subscribe", "route", "--route-profile", "coder",
+                   "--cron-job", "coder-job") == 0
+    assert webhook._load_subscriptions()["route"]["cron_job"] == "coder-job"