fix(run): prevent early exit when no todos exist yet

src/cli/run/poll-for-completion.test.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ describe("pollForCompletion", () => {
     const result = await pollForCompletion(ctx, eventState, abortController, {
       pollIntervalMs: 10,
       requiredConsecutive: 3,
+      minStabilizationMs: 0,
     })
 
     //#then - exits with 0 but only after 3 consecutive checks
@@ -53,6 +54,30 @@ describe("pollForCompletion", () => {
     expect(todoCallCount).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(3)
   })
 
+  it("does not check completion during stabilization period after first meaningful work", async () => {
+    //#given - 0 todos, 0 children, session idle, meaningful work done, short stabilization
+    spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {})
+    spyOn(console, "error").mockImplementation(() => {})
+    const ctx = createMockContext()
+    const eventState = createEventState()
+    eventState.mainSessionIdle = true
+    eventState.hasReceivedMeaningfulWork = true
+    const abortController = new AbortController()
+
+    //#when - abort before stabilization period ends
+    setTimeout(() => abortController.abort(), 50)
+    const result = await pollForCompletion(ctx, eventState, abortController, {
+      pollIntervalMs: 10,
+      requiredConsecutive: 3,
+      minStabilizationMs: 200,
+    })
+
+    //#then - should be aborted (130) because stabilization hadn't elapsed yet
+    expect(result).toBe(130)
+    const todoCallCount = (ctx.client.session.todo as ReturnType<typeof mock>).mock.calls.length
+    expect(todoCallCount).toBe(0)
+  })
+
   it("does not exit when currentTool is set - resets consecutive counter", async () => {
     //#given
     spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {})
@@ -110,6 +135,7 @@ describe("pollForCompletion", () => {
     const result = await pollForCompletion(ctx, eventState, abortController, {
       pollIntervalMs: 10,
       requiredConsecutive: 3,
+      minStabilizationMs: 0,
     })
     const elapsedMs = Date.now() - startMs
 

src/cli/run/poll-for-completion.ts

@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ import { checkCompletionConditions } from "./completion"
 const DEFAULT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 500
 const DEFAULT_REQUIRED_CONSECUTIVE = 3
 const ERROR_GRACE_CYCLES = 3
+const MIN_STABILIZATION_MS = 10_000
 
 export interface PollOptions {
   pollIntervalMs?: number
   requiredConsecutive?: number
+  minStabilizationMs?: number
 }
 
 export async function pollForCompletion(
@@ -21,8 +23,11 @@ export async function pollForCompletion(
   const pollIntervalMs = options.pollIntervalMs ?? DEFAULT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS
   const requiredConsecutive =
     options.requiredConsecutive ?? DEFAULT_REQUIRED_CONSECUTIVE
+  const minStabilizationMs =
+    options.minStabilizationMs ?? MIN_STABILIZATION_MS
   let consecutiveCompleteChecks = 0
   let errorCycleCount = 0
+  let firstWorkTimestamp: number | null = null
 
   while (!abortController.signal.aborted) {
     await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, pollIntervalMs))
@@ -61,6 +66,20 @@ export async function pollForCompletion(
       continue
     }
 
+    // Track when first meaningful work was received
+    if (firstWorkTimestamp === null) {
+      firstWorkTimestamp = Date.now()
+    }
+
+    // Don't check completion until stabilization period has elapsed.
+    // Agents need time to set up todos and spawn child sessions after
+    // their first output. Without this, empty todos + no children
+    // triggers a false "all complete" within ~1.5s of starting.
+    if (Date.now() - firstWorkTimestamp < minStabilizationMs) {
+      consecutiveCompleteChecks = 0
+      continue
+    }
+
     const shouldExit = await checkCompletionConditions(ctx)
     if (shouldExit) {
       consecutiveCompleteChecks++