diff --git a/audit-hermes-config.py b/audit-hermes-config.py
index 8a3afb6..369a06e 100644
--- a/audit-hermes-config.py
+++ b/audit-hermes-config.py
@@ -114,11 +114,19 @@ def audit(path):
     )
 
     # --- Rule 5: Main Config Base URL ---
-    expected_base = "http://192.168.68.116/v1"
+    # Canonical internal base (hermes-key-enforcement.prose.md:19/38/57/84/91/96)
+    # and public base (serves /v1 only, per 2026-09-19 probe from CT 116).
+    # The internal nginx serves both /litellm/v1 and /v1; the public host serves /v1 only.
+    # FAIL anything else (do not widen to accept any path ending in /v1).
+    allowed_bases = (
+        "http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1",   # canonical internal
+        "https://litellm.sysloggh.net/v1",     # public host
+    )
+    actual_base = model.get("base_url")
     check(
-        model.get("base_url") == expected_base,
+        actual_base in allowed_bases,
         "Rule 5",
-        f"model.base_url must be {expected_base} (got {model.get('base_url')!r}) — /v1 not /litellm/v1",
+        f"model.base_url must be one of {allowed_bases} (got {actual_base!r})",
     )
 
     # --- Rule 6: max_tokens Is Required ---
diff --git a/tests/test_audit_hermes_config_alias.py b/tests/test_audit_hermes_config_alias.py
index d1c479e..93825f3 100644
--- a/tests/test_audit_hermes_config_alias.py
+++ b/tests/test_audit_hermes_config_alias.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ BASE = """
 model:
   api_key: ""
   api_key_env: LITELLM_API_KEY
-  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/v1
+  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1
   max_tokens: 4096
   default: syslog-auto
   provider: harness
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ delegation:
 custom_providers:
   - name: harness
     key_env: LITELLM_API_KEY
-    base_url: http://192.168.68.116/v1
+    base_url: http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1
 """
 
 
@@ -189,3 +189,65 @@ def test_retired_alias_in_nested_auxiliary_block_is_rejected(tmp_path):
     assert code == 1, out
     assert "auxiliary.tasks.summarize.model = 'gpu-light'" in out
     assert "RESULT: FAIL" in out
+
+
+def test_canonical_internal_path_passes(tmp_path):
+    """Rule 5 must accept the canonical internal base from hermes-key-enforcement.prose.md."""
+    code, out = _run(
+        tmp_path,
+        "gpu-vision",
+    )
+    # Override the base_url in the config
+    cfg_text = BASE.format(alias="gpu-vision").replace(
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/v1",
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1",
+    )
+    code, out = _run_config(tmp_path, "canonical-internal.yaml", cfg_text)
+    assert code == 0, out
+    assert "RESULT: PASS" in out
+    # Verify the correct message is shown
+    assert "model.base_url must be one of" in out
+
+
+def test_wrong_base_url_fails(tmp_path):
+    """Rule 5 must reject paths outside the allowed list."""
+    cfg_text = BASE.format(alias="gpu-vision").replace(
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1",
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1/responses",
+    )
+    code, out = _run_config(tmp_path, "wrong-base.yaml", cfg_text)
+    assert code == 1, out
+    assert "RESULT: FAIL" in out
+    assert "model.base_url must be one of" in out
+
+
+def test_public_host_path_passes(tmp_path):
+    """Rule 5 must accept the public host base."""
+    cfg_text = BASE.format(alias="gpu-vision").replace(
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/v1",
+        "  base_url: https://litellm.sysloggh.net/v1",
+    )
+    code, out = _run_config(tmp_path, "public-host.yaml", cfg_text)
+    assert code == 0, out
+    assert "RESULT: PASS" in out
+
+
+def test_old_rule5_check_would_fail_canonical(tmp_path):
+    """
+    Proof that the OLD Rule 5 check would fail the canonical internal path.
+    This proves the bug existed before the fix.
+    """
+    # OLD check expected /v1, so this would have failed before the fix
+    old_cfg = BASE.format(alias="gpu-vision").replace(
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/litellm/v1",
+        "  base_url: http://192.168.68.116/v1",
+    )
+    code, out = _run_config(tmp_path, "old-check-test.yaml", old_cfg)
+    # OLD check expected /v1, so this SHOULD fail
+    assert code == 1, out
+    assert "RESULT: FAIL" in out
+    # NEW check should pass
+    new_cfg = BASE.format(alias="gpu-vision")
+    code, out = _run_config(tmp_path, "new-check-test.yaml", new_cfg)
+    assert code == 0, out
+    assert "RESULT: PASS" in out