diff --git a/src/backend/operations/approvals.ts b/src/backend/operations/approvals.ts
index 8e9c10fcd..2ad8ad9d8 100644
--- a/src/backend/operations/approvals.ts
+++ b/src/backend/operations/approvals.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ export function clearApprovalPolicies(): void {
 }
 
 const RANK = { allow: 0, approve: 1, deny: 2 } as const;
-const TRUSTED_VIA = new Set(["automation", "rollout", "fleet"]);
+// approved: a person approved this exact request in the plugin's own UI.
+const TRUSTED_VIA = new Set(["automation", "rollout", "fleet", "approved"]);
 const SELF_APPROVE_VIA = new Set(["assistant", "mcp", "automation"]);
 
 /** A person is the check when the request came from something else. */
diff --git a/src/backend/tests/operations/gate.test.ts b/src/backend/tests/operations/gate.test.ts
index cb862cfdc..47accad2e 100644
--- a/src/backend/tests/operations/gate.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/tests/operations/gate.test.ts
@@ -451,6 +451,15 @@ describe("policy", () => {
     expect(outcome.status).toBe("success");
   });
 
+  it("lets a request a person approved in a plugin go by RBAC", async () => {
+    register();
+    const outcome = await runOperation({
+      ...base,
+      origin: { kind: "plugin", pluginId: "x", via: "approved" },
+    });
+    expect(outcome.status).toBe("success");
+  });
+
   it("treats a community read as a change", async () => {
     state.plugin.source = "user";
     state.plugin.signedTier = "community";