diff --git a/.github/time/test_time.py b/.github/time/test_time.py
index 7641765..0b874f1 100644
--- a/.github/time/test_time.py
+++ b/.github/time/test_time.py
@@ -58,8 +58,9 @@ class World:
         path = url.replace(tm.GH, "")
         self.calls.append((method, path, body))
         if path.endswith("/branches") and method == "POST": self.branches = getattr(self, "branches", []) + [body["new_branch_name"]]; return {}
-        if "/collaborators/" in path and path.endswith("/permission"):
-            return {"permission": "write" if path.split("/")[-2] in self.trusted else "read"}
+        if "/collaborators/" in path:
+            if path.split("/")[-1] in self.trusted: return {}
+            raise RuntimeError(f"GET {path} -> 404: not a collaborator")
         if "/git/trees/" in path: return {"tree": [{"path": k, "type": "blob"} for k in self.files]}
         if "/contents/" in path:
             fp = path.split("/contents/")[1].split("?")[0]
diff --git a/.github/time/time.py b/.github/time/time.py
index 2bad224..6a5f877 100644
--- a/.github/time/time.py
+++ b/.github/time/time.py
@@ -94,17 +94,23 @@ _trust: dict[str, bool] = {}
 
 
 def trusted(login: str | None) -> bool:
-    """Write access to this repo (owner, org team, collaborator). Strangers on a public repo can comment; they can't
-    approve, object or retry. Time's own user never counts as a reviewer."""
+    """May this login approve, object, retry or spend seat credits? Yes for the repo's owner, for anyone listed in
+    TIME_TRUSTED (comma-separated logins; org owners go here, since the Actions token cannot read org membership),
+    and for repo collaborators. Strangers on a public repo can comment; none of that counts. Time's own user never
+    counts as a reviewer."""
     if not login or login == TIME_BOT:
         return False
     if login not in _trust:
-        try:
-            perm = gh("GET", f"/repos/{REPO}/collaborators/{login}/permission").get("permission")
-        except RuntimeError as e:
-            print(f"trust({login}): {e}")
-            perm = None
-        _trust[login] = perm in ("admin", "write", "owner")
+        names = {n.strip() for n in (os.environ.get("TIME_TRUSTED") or "").split(",") if n.strip()}
+        ok = login == REPO.split("/")[0] or login in names
+        if not ok:
+            try:
+                gh("GET", f"/repos/{REPO}/collaborators/{login}")  # 204 when a collaborator, 404 otherwise
+                ok = True
+            except RuntimeError as e:
+                if "-> 404" not in str(e):
+                    print(f"trust({login}): {e}")
+        _trust[login] = ok
     return _trust[login]
 
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml b/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml
index 2d838db..5bcf8e1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           CURSOR_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.CURSOR_API_KEY }}
           VENICE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.VENICE_API_KEY }}
+          TIME_TRUSTED: ${{ vars.TIME_TRUSTED }}   # org owners etc.; collaborators are trusted without being listed
           TIME_RUN_IMAGE: node:22-bookworm   # the worker's shell runs in a throwaway container, not next to these secrets
           TIME_MODE: ${{ vars.TIME_MODE }}
           TIME_DAILY_CAP: ${{ vars.TIME_DAILY_CAP }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mention.yml b/.github/workflows/mention.yml
index 4b45038..1ec9392 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mention.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mention.yml
@@ -30,3 +30,4 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           VENICE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.VENICE_API_KEY }}
+          TIME_TRUSTED: ${{ vars.TIME_TRUSTED }}   # org owners etc.; collaborators are trusted without being listed