diff --git a/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/gate/__init__.py b/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/gate/__init__.py
index 8882af48a4..e686a6a247 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/gate/__init__.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/gate/__init__.py
@@ -168,7 +168,11 @@ def _prompt(message: str, options: list[str]) -> str:
             except (EOFError, KeyboardInterrupt):
                 print()
                 return options[-1]  # default to last (usually reject)
-            if raw.isdigit() and 1 <= int(raw) <= len(options):
+            # isdecimal() (not isdigit()): int() accepts exactly the decimal-digit
+            # set, whereas isdigit() also returns True for superscripts/subscripts
+            # (e.g. "²") that int() then rejects with ValueError — crashing
+            # this interactive loop.
+            if raw.isdecimal() and 1 <= int(raw) <= len(options):
                 return options[int(raw) - 1]
             # Also accept the option name directly
             if raw.lower() in [o.lower() for o in options]:
diff --git a/tests/test_workflows.py b/tests/test_workflows.py
index cd1b235411..20aee888ff 100644
--- a/tests/test_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/test_workflows.py
@@ -1985,6 +1985,19 @@ def test_interactive_prompt_renders_show_file(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsy
         assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
         assert result.output["choice"] == "approve"
 
+    def test_interactive_prompt_rejects_non_decimal_digit(self, monkeypatch, capsys):
+        """A Unicode digit int() can't parse — e.g. the superscript '²', which
+        str.isdigit() accepts but int() rejects — must be treated as an invalid
+        choice, not crash the prompt loop with an uncaught ValueError."""
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.gate import GateStep
+
+        _force_gate_stdin(monkeypatch, tty=True)
+        inputs = iter(["²", "1"])  # superscript-two, then a real "1"
+        monkeypatch.setattr("builtins.input", lambda _prompt="": next(inputs))
+
+        choice = GateStep._prompt("Review the spec.", ["approve", "reject"])
+        assert choice == "approve"
+
     def test_interactive_prompt_missing_show_file_does_not_crash(
         self, tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys
     ):