diff --git a/src/va_agent/governance.py b/src/va_agent/governance.py
index d94801a..1366068 100644
--- a/src/va_agent/governance.py
+++ b/src/va_agent/governance.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class GovernancePlugin:
         combined_pattern = re.compile(
             rf"{person_pattern}{tone_pattern}\u200d❤️?\u200d💋\u200d{person_pattern}{tone_pattern}"  # kiss
             rf"|{person_pattern}{tone_pattern}\u200d❤️?\u200d{person_pattern}{tone_pattern}"  # lovers
-            rf"|🖕[\U0001F3FB-\U0001F3FF]?"  # middle finger with all skin tone variations
+            rf"|🖕{tone_pattern}"  # middle finger with all skin tone variations
             rf"|{'|'.join(map(re.escape, sorted(FORBIDDEN_EMOJIS, key=len, reverse=True)))}"  # simple emojis
             rf"|\u200d|\uFE0F"  # residual ZWJ and variation selectors
         )