diff --git a/internal/driver/hermes/driver.go b/internal/driver/hermes/driver.go
index f8dae23..8c40d44 100644
--- a/internal/driver/hermes/driver.go
+++ b/internal/driver/hermes/driver.go
@@ -61,7 +61,14 @@ func (d *Driver) Validate(rc *driver.ResolvedClaw) error {
 		}
 	}
 	if supported == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("hermes driver: no supported HANDLE platforms enabled (add at least one of: %s)", strings.Join(supportedPlatforms, ", "))
+		if len(rc.Invocations) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("hermes driver: no supported HANDLE platforms enabled (add at least one of: %s, or configure a local-only INVOKE)", strings.Join(supportedPlatforms, ", "))
+		}
+		for i, inv := range rc.Invocations {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(inv.To) != "" {
+				return fmt.Errorf("hermes driver: handle-less INVOKE %d cannot route to %q; omit to for local-only delivery", i+1, inv.To)
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	for i, inv := range rc.Invocations {
diff --git a/internal/driver/hermes/driver_test.go b/internal/driver/hermes/driver_test.go
index 20440c2..ab018f9 100644
--- a/internal/driver/hermes/driver_test.go
+++ b/internal/driver/hermes/driver_test.go
@@ -70,6 +70,30 @@ func TestValidateRequiresSupportedHandle(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestValidateAllowsScheduledLocalOnlyServiceWithoutHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	rc, _ := newTestRC(t)
+	rc.Handles = map[string]*driver.HandleInfo{}
+	rc.Invocations = []driver.Invocation{{Schedule: "0 12 * * 1-5", Message: "Run local task"}}
+
+	if err := (&Driver{}).Validate(rc); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected local-only scheduled service to validate: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidateRejectsHandlelessRoutedInvocation(t *testing.T) {
+	rc, _ := newTestRC(t)
+	rc.Handles = map[string]*driver.HandleInfo{}
+	rc.Invocations = []driver.Invocation{{Schedule: "0 12 * * 1-5", Message: "Route task", To: "alerts"}}
+
+	err := (&Driver{}).Validate(rc)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected routed invocation without a handle to fail")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "handle-less INVOKE") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestValidateAcceptsComposeEnvTokenReference(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("ALLEN_BOT_TOKEN", "")
 
diff --git a/internal/driver/hermes/jobs_test.go b/internal/driver/hermes/jobs_test.go
index bd86a4f..64e58c2 100644
--- a/internal/driver/hermes/jobs_test.go
+++ b/internal/driver/hermes/jobs_test.go
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ func TestGenerateJobsJSONUsesWrapperAndLocalDelivery(t *testing.T) {
 		Invocations: []driver.Invocation{
 			{Schedule: "*/5 * * * *", Message: "Check status", Name: "status"},
 		},
-		Handles: map[string]*driver.HandleInfo{
-			"discord": {},
-		},
+		Handles: map[string]*driver.HandleInfo{},
 	}
 
 	data, err := GenerateJobsJSON(rc)