diff --git a/backend/node/base.py b/backend/node/base.py
index 59d46e5f6..ab4fb8c0d 100644
--- a/backend/node/base.py
+++ b/backend/node/base.py
@@ -717,12 +717,7 @@ def _set_vote(self, receipt: Receipt) -> Receipt:
             receipt.vote = Vote.DISAGREE
             return receipt
 
-        # 3. VM crash (exit_code, OOM, etc.) — validator couldn't validate
-        if result_code == public_abi.ResultCode.VM_ERROR:
-            receipt.vote = Vote.DISAGREE
-            return receipt
-
-        # 4. Deterministic violation: execution outcome or state diverges from leader
+        # 3. Deterministic violation: execution outcome or state diverges from leader
         leader_receipt = self.leader_receipt
         if (
             leader_receipt.execution_result != receipt.execution_result
@@ -732,7 +727,7 @@ def _set_vote(self, receipt: Receipt) -> Receipt:
             receipt.vote = Vote.DETERMINISTIC_VIOLATION
             return receipt
 
-        # 5. Valid execution (RETURN or USER_ERROR) with matching state → agree
+        # 4. Valid execution with matching state → agree
         receipt.vote = Vote.AGREE
         return receipt
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_set_vote.py b/tests/unit/test_set_vote.py
index 413856551..ba9ec96a4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_set_vote.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_set_vote.py
@@ -218,11 +218,11 @@ def test_none_error_code_not_timeout():
     assert result.vote == Vote.DETERMINISTIC_VIOLATION
 
 
-# --- VM crash (non-timeout) → DISAGREE ---
+# --- VM error (non-timeout) → compared like any other result ---
 
 
-def test_vm_error_exit_code_votes_disagree():
-    """VM crash (exit_code) should be DISAGREE — validator couldn't validate."""
+def test_vm_error_exit_code_mismatching_leader_votes_deterministic_violation():
+    """VM error with different result from leader should be DETERMINISTIC_VIOLATION."""
     leader_receipt = _make_success_receipt()
     node = _make_node(leader_receipt)
 
@@ -232,11 +232,11 @@ def test_vm_error_exit_code_votes_disagree():
     )
 
     result = node._set_vote(receipt)
-    assert result.vote == Vote.DISAGREE
+    assert result.vote == Vote.DETERMINISTIC_VIOLATION
 
 
-def test_vm_error_oom_votes_disagree():
-    """VM OOM should be DISAGREE."""
+def test_vm_error_oom_mismatching_leader_votes_deterministic_violation():
+    """VM OOM with different result from leader should be DETERMINISTIC_VIOLATION."""
     leader_receipt = _make_success_receipt()
     node = _make_node(leader_receipt)
 
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@ def test_vm_error_oom_votes_disagree():
     )
 
     result = node._set_vote(receipt)
-    assert result.vote == Vote.DISAGREE
+    assert result.vote == Vote.DETERMINISTIC_VIOLATION
 
 
-def test_vm_error_matching_leader_still_disagree():
-    """Even if leader and validator crash with same VM error, validator votes DISAGREE."""
+def test_vm_error_matching_leader_votes_agree():
+    """If leader and validator both get same VM error with same state, validator votes AGREE."""
     leader_receipt = _make_receipt(
         ResultCode.VM_ERROR,
         b"exit_code 1",
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def test_vm_error_matching_leader_still_disagree():
     )
 
     result = node._set_vote(validator_receipt)
-    assert result.vote == Vote.DISAGREE
+    assert result.vote == Vote.AGREE
 
 
 # --- Nondet disagree takes precedence ---