diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7a37de212..a82e9d3de 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
 ### Changes
 
+- Agents/Subagents: default subagent spawn depth now uses shared `maxSpawnDepth=2`, enabling depth-1 orchestrator spawning by default while keeping depth policy checks consistent across spawn and prompt paths. (#22223) Thanks @tyler6204.
 - Channels/CLI: add per-account/channel `defaultTo` outbound routing fallback so `openclaw agent --deliver` can send without explicit `--reply-to` when a default target is configured. (#16985) Thanks @KirillShchetinin.
 - iOS/Chat: clean chat UI noise by stripping inbound untrusted metadata/timestamp prefixes, formatting tool outputs into concise summaries/errors, compacting the composer while typing, and supporting tap-to-dismiss keyboard in chat view. (#22122) thanks @mbelinky.
 - iOS/Watch: bridge mirrored watch prompt notification actions into iOS quick-reply handling, including queued action handoff until app model initialization. (#22123) thanks @mbelinky.
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
 ### Fixes
 
+- Agents/Subagents: restore announce-chain delivery to agent injection, defer nested announce output until descendant follow-up content is ready, and prevent descendant deferrals from consuming announce retry budget so deep chains do not drop final completions. (#22223) Thanks @tyler6204.
 - Gateway/Auth: require `gateway.trustedProxies` to include a loopback proxy address when `auth.mode="trusted-proxy"` and `bind="loopback"`, preventing same-host proxy misconfiguration from silently blocking auth. (#22082, follow-up to #20097) thanks @mbelinky.
 - Agents/System Prompt: label allowlisted senders as authorized senders to avoid implying ownership. Thanks @thewilloftheshadow.
 - Gateway/Auth: allow trusted-proxy mode with loopback bind for same-host reverse-proxy deployments, while still requiring configured `gateway.trustedProxies`. (#20097) thanks @xinhuagu.
diff --git a/docs/concepts/session-tool.md b/docs/concepts/session-tool.md
index b44d892be..d2f4b7dec 100644
--- a/docs/concepts/session-tool.md
+++ b/docs/concepts/session-tool.md
@@ -166,12 +166,12 @@ Behavior:
 
 - Starts a new `agent:<agentId>:subagent:<uuid>` session with `deliver: false`.
 - Sub-agents default to the full tool set **minus session tools** (configurable via `tools.subagents.tools`).
-- Sub-agents are not allowed to call `sessions_spawn` (no sub-agent → sub-agent spawning).
+- Depth policy is enforced for nested spawns. With the default `maxSpawnDepth = 2`, depth-1 sub-agents can call `sessions_spawn`, depth-2 sub-agents cannot.
 - Always non-blocking: returns `{ status: "accepted", runId, childSessionKey }` immediately.
-- After completion, OpenClaw runs a sub-agent **announce step** and posts the result to the requester chat channel.
-  - If the assistant final reply is empty, the latest `toolResult` from sub-agent history is included as `Result`.
-- Reply exactly `ANNOUNCE_SKIP` during the announce step to stay silent.
-- Announce replies are normalized to `Status`/`Result`/`Notes`; `Status` comes from runtime outcome (not model text).
+- After completion, OpenClaw builds a sub-agent announce system message from the child session's latest assistant reply and injects it to the requester session.
+- Delivery stays internal (`deliver=false`) when the requester is a sub-agent, and is user-facing (`deliver=true`) when the requester is main.
+- Recipient agents can return the internal silent token to suppress duplicate outward delivery in the same turn.
+- Announce replies are normalized to runtime-derived status plus result context.
 - Sub-agent sessions are auto-archived after `agents.defaults.subagents.archiveAfterMinutes` (default: 60).
 - Announce replies include a stats line (runtime, tokens, sessionKey/sessionId, transcript path, and optional cost).
 
diff --git a/docs/tools/subagents.md b/docs/tools/subagents.md
index 3022d5519..e05bcf98e 100644
--- a/docs/tools/subagents.md
+++ b/docs/tools/subagents.md
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Use `/subagents` to inspect or control sub-agent runs for the **current session*
   - If direct delivery fails, it falls back to queue routing.
   - If queue routing is still not available, the announce is retried with a short exponential backoff before final give-up.
 - The completion message is a system message and includes:
-  - `Result` (`assistant` reply text, or latest `toolResult` if the assistant reply is empty)
+  - `Result` (latest assistant reply text from the child session, after a short settle retry)
   - `Status` (`completed successfully` / `failed` / `timed out`)
   - compact runtime/token stats
 - `--model` and `--thinking` override defaults for that specific run.
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ Auto-archive:
 
 ## Nested Sub-Agents
 
-By default, sub-agents cannot spawn their own sub-agents (`maxSpawnDepth: 1`). You can enable one level of nesting by setting `maxSpawnDepth: 2`, which allows the **orchestrator pattern**: main → orchestrator sub-agent → worker sub-sub-agents.
+By default, sub-agents can spawn one additional level (`maxSpawnDepth: 2`), enabling the **orchestrator pattern**: main → orchestrator sub-agent → worker sub-sub-agents. Set `maxSpawnDepth: 1` to disable nested spawning.
 
 ### How to enable
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ By default, sub-agents cannot spawn their own sub-agents (`maxSpawnDepth: 1`). Y
   agents: {
     defaults: {
       subagents: {
-        maxSpawnDepth: 2, // allow sub-agents to spawn children (default: 1)
+        maxSpawnDepth: 2, // allow sub-agents to spawn children (default: 2)
         maxChildrenPerAgent: 5, // max active children per agent session (default: 5)
         maxConcurrent: 8, // global concurrency lane cap (default: 8)
       },
@@ -110,11 +110,11 @@ By default, sub-agents cannot spawn their own sub-agents (`maxSpawnDepth: 1`). Y
 
 ### Depth levels
 
-| Depth | Session key shape                            | Role                                          | Can spawn?                   |
-| ----- | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
-| 0     | `agent:<id>:main`                            | Main agent                                    | Always                       |
-| 1     | `agent:<id>:subagent:<uuid>`                 | Sub-agent (orchestrator when depth 2 allowed) | Only if `maxSpawnDepth >= 2` |
-| 2     | `agent:<id>:subagent:<uuid>:subagent:<uuid>` | Sub-sub-agent (leaf worker)                   | Never                        |
+| Depth | Session key shape                            | Role                                | Can spawn?                     |
+| ----- | -------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
+| 0     | `agent:<id>:main`                            | Main agent                          | Always                         |
+| 1     | `agent:<id>:subagent:<uuid>`                 | Sub-agent (orchestrator by default) | Yes, when `maxSpawnDepth >= 2` |
+| 2     | `agent:<id>:subagent:<uuid>:subagent:<uuid>` | Sub-sub-agent (leaf worker)         | No, when `maxSpawnDepth = 2`   |
 
 ### Announce chain
 
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ Each level only sees announces from its direct children.
 
 ### Tool policy by depth
 
-- **Depth 1 (orchestrator, when `maxSpawnDepth >= 2`)**: Gets `sessions_spawn`, `subagents`, `sessions_list`, `sessions_history` so it can manage its children. Other session/system tools remain denied.
-- **Depth 1 (leaf, when `maxSpawnDepth == 1`)**: No session tools (current default behavior).
-- **Depth 2 (leaf worker)**: No session tools — `sessions_spawn` is always denied at depth 2. Cannot spawn further children.
+- **Depth 1 (orchestrator, default with `maxSpawnDepth = 2`)**: Gets `sessions_spawn`, `subagents`, `sessions_list`, `sessions_history` so it can manage its children. Other session/system tools remain denied.
+- **Depth 1 (leaf, when `maxSpawnDepth = 1`)**: No session tools.
+- **Depth 2 (leaf worker, default `maxSpawnDepth = 2`)**: No session tools, `sessions_spawn` is denied at depth 2, cannot spawn further children.
 
 ### Per-agent spawn limit
 
@@ -156,17 +156,16 @@ Note: the merge is additive, so main profiles are always available as fallbacks.
 
 ## Announce
 
-Sub-agents report back via an announce step:
+Sub-agents report back via an announce injection step:
 
-- The announce step runs inside the sub-agent session (not the requester session).
-- If the sub-agent replies exactly `ANNOUNCE_SKIP`, nothing is posted.
-- Otherwise the announce reply is posted to the requester chat channel via a follow-up `agent` call (`deliver=true`).
-- Announce replies preserve thread/topic routing when available (Slack threads, Telegram topics, Matrix threads).
-- Announce messages are normalized to a stable template:
-  - `Status:` derived from the run outcome (`success`, `error`, `timeout`, or `unknown`).
-  - `Result:` the summary content from the announce step (or `(not available)` if missing).
-  - `Notes:` error details and other useful context.
-- `Status` is not inferred from model output; it comes from runtime outcome signals.
+- OpenClaw reads the child session's latest assistant reply after completion, with a short settle retry.
+- It builds a system message with `Status`, `Result`, compact stats, and reply guidance.
+- The message is injected with a follow-up `agent` call:
+  - `deliver=false` when the requester is another sub-agent, this keeps orchestration internal.
+  - `deliver=true` when the requester is main, this produces the user-facing update.
+- Delivery context prefers captured requester origin, but non-deliverable channels (for example `webchat`) are ignored in favor of persisted deliverable routes.
+- Recipient agents can return the internal silent token to suppress duplicate outward delivery in the same turn.
+- `Status` is derived from runtime outcome signals, not inferred from model output.
 
 Announce payloads include a stats line at the end (even when wrapped):
 
@@ -184,7 +183,7 @@ By default, sub-agents get **all tools except session tools** and system tools:
 - `sessions_send`
 - `sessions_spawn`
 
-When `maxSpawnDepth >= 2`, depth-1 orchestrator sub-agents additionally receive `sessions_spawn`, `subagents`, `sessions_list`, and `sessions_history` so they can manage their children.
+With the default `maxSpawnDepth = 2`, depth-1 orchestrator sub-agents receive `sessions_spawn`, `subagents`, `sessions_list`, and `sessions_history` so they can manage their children. If you set `maxSpawnDepth = 1`, those session tools stay denied.
 
 Override via config:
 
diff --git a/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn-depth-limits.test.ts b/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn-depth-limits.test.ts
index 0cb5b62c8..08d499d94 100644
--- a/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn-depth-limits.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn-depth-limits.test.ts
@@ -94,13 +94,14 @@ describe("sessions_spawn depth + child limits", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects spawning when caller depth reaches maxSpawnDepth", async () => {
+  it("allows depth-1 callers by default (maxSpawnDepth defaults to 2)", async () => {
     const tool = createSessionsSpawnTool({ agentSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent" });
     const result = await tool.execute("call-depth-reject", { task: "hello" });
 
     expect(result.details).toMatchObject({
-      status: "forbidden",
-      error: "sessions_spawn is not allowed at this depth (current depth: 1, max: 1)",
+      status: "accepted",
+      childSessionKey: expect.stringMatching(/^agent:main:subagent:/),
+      runId: "run-depth",
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn.lifecycle.e2e.test.ts b/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn.lifecycle.e2e.test.ts
index b3fbdacf1..8f77474d1 100644
--- a/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn.lifecycle.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/openclaw-tools.subagents.sessions-spawn.lifecycle.e2e.test.ts
@@ -133,35 +133,6 @@ const waitFor = async (predicate: () => boolean, timeoutMs = 2000) => {
   );
 };
 
-function expectSingleCompletionSend(
-  calls: GatewayRequest[],
-  expected: { sessionKey: string; channel: string; to: string; message: string },
-) {
-  const sendCalls = calls.filter((call) => call.method === "send");
-  expect(sendCalls).toHaveLength(1);
-  const send = sendCalls[0]?.params as
-    | { sessionKey?: string; channel?: string; to?: string; message?: string }
-    | undefined;
-  expect(send?.sessionKey).toBe(expected.sessionKey);
-  expect(send?.channel).toBe(expected.channel);
-  expect(send?.to).toBe(expected.to);
-  expect(send?.message).toBe(expected.message);
-}
-
-function createDeleteCleanupHooks(setDeletedKey: (key: string | undefined) => void) {
-  return {
-    onAgentSubagentSpawn: (params: unknown) => {
-      const rec = params as { channel?: string; timeout?: number } | undefined;
-      expect(rec?.channel).toBe("discord");
-      expect(rec?.timeout).toBe(1);
-    },
-    onSessionsDelete: (params: unknown) => {
-      const rec = params as { key?: string } | undefined;
-      setDeletedKey(rec?.key);
-    },
-  };
-}
-
 describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     resetSessionsSpawnConfigOverride();
@@ -184,7 +155,6 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
     const tool = await getSessionsSpawnTool({
       agentSessionKey: "main",
       agentChannel: "whatsapp",
-      agentTo: "+123",
     });
 
     const result = await tool.execute("call2", {
@@ -213,7 +183,7 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
 
     await waitFor(() => ctx.waitCalls.some((call) => call.runId === child.runId));
     await waitFor(() => patchCalls.some((call) => call.label === "my-task"));
-    await waitFor(() => ctx.calls.filter((c) => c.method === "send").length >= 1);
+    await waitFor(() => ctx.calls.filter((c) => c.method === "agent").length >= 2);
 
     const childWait = ctx.waitCalls.find((call) => call.runId === child.runId);
     expect(childWait?.timeoutMs).toBe(1000);
@@ -222,21 +192,22 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
     expect(labelPatch?.key).toBe(child.sessionKey);
     expect(labelPatch?.label).toBe("my-task");
 
-    // Subagent spawn call plus direct outbound completion send.
+    // Two agent calls: subagent spawn + main agent trigger
     const agentCalls = ctx.calls.filter((c) => c.method === "agent");
-    expect(agentCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(agentCalls).toHaveLength(2);
 
     // First call: subagent spawn
     const first = agentCalls[0]?.params as { lane?: string } | undefined;
     expect(first?.lane).toBe("subagent");
 
-    // Direct send should route completion to the requester channel/session.
-    expectSingleCompletionSend(ctx.calls, {
-      sessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      channel: "whatsapp",
-      to: "+123",
-      message: "✅ Subagent main finished\n\ndone",
-    });
+    // Second call: main agent trigger (not "Sub-agent announce step." anymore)
+    const second = agentCalls[1]?.params as { sessionKey?: string; message?: string } | undefined;
+    expect(second?.sessionKey).toBe("main");
+    expect(second?.message).toContain("subagent task");
+
+    // No direct send to external channel (main agent handles delivery)
+    const sendCalls = ctx.calls.filter((c) => c.method === "send");
+    expect(sendCalls.length).toBe(0);
     expect(child.sessionKey?.startsWith("agent:main:subagent:")).toBe(true);
   });
 
@@ -245,15 +216,20 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
     callGatewayMock.mockReset();
     let deletedKey: string | undefined;
     const ctx = setupSessionsSpawnGatewayMock({
-      ...createDeleteCleanupHooks((key) => {
-        deletedKey = key;
-      }),
+      onAgentSubagentSpawn: (params) => {
+        const rec = params as { channel?: string; timeout?: number } | undefined;
+        expect(rec?.channel).toBe("discord");
+        expect(rec?.timeout).toBe(1);
+      },
+      onSessionsDelete: (params) => {
+        const rec = params as { key?: string } | undefined;
+        deletedKey = rec?.key;
+      },
     });
 
     const tool = await getSessionsSpawnTool({
       agentSessionKey: "discord:group:req",
       agentChannel: "discord",
-      agentTo: "discord:dm:u123",
     });
 
     const result = await tool.execute("call1", {
@@ -291,7 +267,7 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
     expect(childWait?.timeoutMs).toBe(1000);
 
     const agentCalls = ctx.calls.filter((call) => call.method === "agent");
-    expect(agentCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(agentCalls).toHaveLength(2);
 
     const first = agentCalls[0]?.params as
       | {
@@ -307,12 +283,19 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
     expect(first?.sessionKey?.startsWith("agent:main:subagent:")).toBe(true);
     expect(child.sessionKey?.startsWith("agent:main:subagent:")).toBe(true);
 
-    expectSingleCompletionSend(ctx.calls, {
-      sessionKey: "agent:main:discord:group:req",
-      channel: "discord",
-      to: "discord:dm:u123",
-      message: "✅ Subagent main finished",
-    });
+    const second = agentCalls[1]?.params as
+      | {
+          sessionKey?: string;
+          message?: string;
+          deliver?: boolean;
+        }
+      | undefined;
+    expect(second?.sessionKey).toBe("discord:group:req");
+    expect(second?.deliver).toBe(true);
+    expect(second?.message).toContain("subagent task");
+
+    const sendCalls = ctx.calls.filter((c) => c.method === "send");
+    expect(sendCalls.length).toBe(0);
 
     expect(deletedKey?.startsWith("agent:main:subagent:")).toBe(true);
   });
@@ -323,16 +306,21 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
     let deletedKey: string | undefined;
     const ctx = setupSessionsSpawnGatewayMock({
       includeChatHistory: true,
-      ...createDeleteCleanupHooks((key) => {
-        deletedKey = key;
-      }),
+      onAgentSubagentSpawn: (params) => {
+        const rec = params as { channel?: string; timeout?: number } | undefined;
+        expect(rec?.channel).toBe("discord");
+        expect(rec?.timeout).toBe(1);
+      },
+      onSessionsDelete: (params) => {
+        const rec = params as { key?: string } | undefined;
+        deletedKey = rec?.key;
+      },
       agentWaitResult: { status: "ok", startedAt: 3000, endedAt: 4000 },
     });
 
     const tool = await getSessionsSpawnTool({
       agentSessionKey: "discord:group:req",
       agentChannel: "discord",
-      agentTo: "discord:dm:u123",
     });
 
     const result = await tool.execute("call1b", {
@@ -350,27 +338,29 @@ describe("openclaw-tools: subagents (sessions_spawn lifecycle)", () => {
       throw new Error("missing child runId");
     }
     await waitFor(() => ctx.waitCalls.some((call) => call.runId === child.runId));
-    await waitFor(() => ctx.calls.filter((call) => call.method === "send").length >= 1);
+    await waitFor(() => ctx.calls.filter((call) => call.method === "agent").length >= 2);
     await waitFor(() => Boolean(deletedKey));
 
     const childWait = ctx.waitCalls.find((call) => call.runId === child.runId);
     expect(childWait?.timeoutMs).toBe(1000);
     expect(child.sessionKey?.startsWith("agent:main:subagent:")).toBe(true);
 
-    // One agent call for spawn, then direct completion send.
+    // Two agent calls: subagent spawn + main agent trigger
     const agentCalls = ctx.calls.filter((call) => call.method === "agent");
-    expect(agentCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(agentCalls).toHaveLength(2);
 
     // First call: subagent spawn
     const first = agentCalls[0]?.params as { lane?: string } | undefined;
     expect(first?.lane).toBe("subagent");
 
-    expectSingleCompletionSend(ctx.calls, {
-      sessionKey: "agent:main:discord:group:req",
-      channel: "discord",
-      to: "discord:dm:u123",
-      message: "✅ Subagent main finished\n\ndone",
-    });
+    // Second call: main agent trigger
+    const second = agentCalls[1]?.params as { sessionKey?: string; deliver?: boolean } | undefined;
+    expect(second?.sessionKey).toBe("discord:group:req");
+    expect(second?.deliver).toBe(true);
+
+    // No direct send to external channel (main agent handles delivery)
+    const sendCalls = ctx.calls.filter((c) => c.method === "send");
+    expect(sendCalls.length).toBe(0);
 
     // Session should be deleted
     expect(deletedKey?.startsWith("agent:main:subagent:")).toBe(true);
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-tools.policy.ts b/src/agents/pi-tools.policy.ts
index 14b0e2d29..3c363ac41 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-tools.policy.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-tools.policy.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getChannelDock } from "../channels/dock.js";
+import { DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH } from "../config/agent-limits.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { resolveChannelGroupToolsPolicy } from "../config/group-policy.js";
 import { resolveThreadParentSessionKey } from "../sessions/session-key-utils.js";
@@ -83,7 +84,8 @@ function resolveSubagentDenyList(depth: number, maxSpawnDepth: number): string[]
 
 export function resolveSubagentToolPolicy(cfg?: OpenClawConfig, depth?: number): SandboxToolPolicy {
   const configured = cfg?.tools?.subagents?.tools;
-  const maxSpawnDepth = cfg?.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth ?? 1;
+  const maxSpawnDepth =
+    cfg?.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth ?? DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH;
   const effectiveDepth = typeof depth === "number" && depth >= 0 ? depth : 1;
   const baseDeny = resolveSubagentDenyList(effectiveDepth, maxSpawnDepth);
   const deny = [...baseDeny, ...(Array.isArray(configured?.deny) ? configured.deny : [])];
diff --git a/src/agents/subagent-announce.format.e2e.test.ts b/src/agents/subagent-announce.format.e2e.test.ts
index b6e594a40..8af9bed03 100644
--- a/src/agents/subagent-announce.format.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/subagent-announce.format.e2e.test.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,13 @@ type RequesterResolution = {
   requesterOrigin?: Record<string, unknown>;
 } | null;
 
+type DescendantRun = {
+  runId: string;
+  requesterSessionKey: string;
+  childSessionKey: string;
+};
+
 const agentSpy = vi.fn(async (_req: AgentCallRequest) => ({ runId: "run-main", status: "ok" }));
-const sendSpy = vi.fn(async (_req: AgentCallRequest) => ({ runId: "send-main", status: "ok" }));
 const sessionsDeleteSpy = vi.fn((_req: AgentCallRequest) => undefined);
 const readLatestAssistantReplyMock = vi.fn(
   async (_sessionKey?: string): Promise<string | undefined> => "raw subagent reply",
@@ -22,11 +27,9 @@ const embeddedRunMock = {
 const subagentRegistryMock = {
   isSubagentSessionRunActive: vi.fn(() => true),
   countActiveDescendantRuns: vi.fn((_sessionKey: string) => 0),
+  listDescendantRunsForRequester: vi.fn((_sessionKey: string): DescendantRun[] => []),
   resolveRequesterForChildSession: vi.fn((_sessionKey: string): RequesterResolution => null),
 };
-const chatHistoryMock = vi.fn(async (_sessionKey?: string) => ({
-  messages: [] as Array<unknown>,
-}));
 let sessionStore: Record<string, Record<string, unknown>> = {};
 let configOverride: ReturnType<(typeof import("../config/config.js"))["loadConfig"]> = {
   session: {
@@ -67,15 +70,9 @@ vi.mock("../gateway/call.js", () => ({
     if (typed.method === "agent") {
       return await agentSpy(typed);
     }
-    if (typed.method === "send") {
-      return await sendSpy(typed);
-    }
     if (typed.method === "agent.wait") {
       return { status: "error", startedAt: 10, endedAt: 20, error: "boom" };
     }
-    if (typed.method === "chat.history") {
-      return await chatHistoryMock(typed.params?.sessionKey);
-    }
     if (typed.method === "sessions.patch") {
       return {};
     }
@@ -115,7 +112,6 @@ vi.mock("../config/config.js", async (importOriginal) => {
 describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     agentSpy.mockClear();
-    sendSpy.mockClear();
     sessionsDeleteSpy.mockClear();
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReset().mockReturnValue(false);
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReset().mockReturnValue(false);
@@ -123,9 +119,9 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     embeddedRunMock.waitForEmbeddedPiRunEnd.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(true);
     subagentRegistryMock.isSubagentSessionRunActive.mockReset().mockReturnValue(true);
     subagentRegistryMock.countActiveDescendantRuns.mockReset().mockReturnValue(0);
+    subagentRegistryMock.listDescendantRunsForRequester.mockReset().mockReturnValue([]);
     subagentRegistryMock.resolveRequesterForChildSession.mockReset().mockReturnValue(null);
     readLatestAssistantReplyMock.mockReset().mockResolvedValue("raw subagent reply");
-    chatHistoryMock.mockReset().mockResolvedValue({ messages: [] });
     sessionStore = {};
     configOverride = {
       session: {
@@ -209,72 +205,6 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it.each([
-    { role: "toolResult", toolOutput: "tool output line 1", childRunId: "run-tool-fallback-1" },
-    { role: "tool", toolOutput: "tool output line 2", childRunId: "run-tool-fallback-2" },
-  ] as const)(
-    "falls back to latest $role output when assistant reply is empty",
-    async (testCase) => {
-      const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-      chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-        messages: [
-          {
-            role: "assistant",
-            content: [{ type: "text", text: "" }],
-          },
-          {
-            role: testCase.role,
-            content: [{ type: "text", text: testCase.toolOutput }],
-          },
-        ],
-      });
-      readLatestAssistantReplyMock.mockResolvedValue("");
-
-      await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-        childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:worker",
-        childRunId: testCase.childRunId,
-        requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-        requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-        ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-        waitForCompletion: false,
-      });
-
-      const call = agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: { message?: string } };
-      const msg = call?.params?.message as string;
-      expect(msg).toContain(testCase.toolOutput);
-    },
-  );
-
-  it("uses latest assistant text when it appears after a tool output", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      messages: [
-        {
-          role: "tool",
-          content: [{ type: "text", text: "tool output line" }],
-        },
-        {
-          role: "assistant",
-          content: [{ type: "text", text: "assistant final line" }],
-        },
-      ],
-    });
-    readLatestAssistantReplyMock.mockResolvedValue("");
-
-    await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:worker",
-      childRunId: "run-latest-assistant",
-      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-      waitForCompletion: false,
-    });
-
-    const call = agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: { message?: string } };
-    const msg = call?.params?.message as string;
-    expect(msg).toContain("assistant final line");
-  });
-
   it("keeps full findings and includes compact stats", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     sessionStore = {
@@ -312,121 +242,6 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(msg).toContain("step-139");
   });
 
-  it("sends deterministic completion message directly for manual spawn completion", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    sessionStore = {
-      "agent:main:subagent:test": {
-        sessionId: "child-session-direct",
-        inputTokens: 12,
-        outputTokens: 34,
-        totalTokens: 46,
-      },
-      "agent:main:main": {
-        sessionId: "requester-session",
-      },
-    };
-    chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      messages: [{ role: "assistant", content: [{ type: "text", text: "final answer: 2" }] }],
-    });
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
-      childRunId: "run-direct-completion",
-      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      requesterOrigin: { channel: "discord", to: "channel:12345", accountId: "acct-1" },
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
-    expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(agentSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    const call = sendSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: Record<string, unknown> };
-    const rawMessage = call?.params?.message;
-    const msg = typeof rawMessage === "string" ? rawMessage : "";
-    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe("discord");
-    expect(call?.params?.to).toBe("channel:12345");
-    expect(call?.params?.sessionKey).toBe("agent:main:main");
-    expect(msg).toContain("✅ Subagent main finished");
-    expect(msg).toContain("final answer: 2");
-    expect(msg).not.toContain("Convert the result above into your normal assistant voice");
-  });
-
-  it("ignores stale session thread hints for manual completion direct-send", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    sessionStore = {
-      "agent:main:subagent:test": {
-        sessionId: "child-session-direct-thread",
-      },
-      "agent:main:main": {
-        sessionId: "requester-session-thread",
-        lastChannel: "discord",
-        lastTo: "channel:stale",
-        lastThreadId: 42,
-      },
-    };
-    chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      messages: [{ role: "assistant", content: [{ type: "text", text: "done" }] }],
-    });
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
-      childRunId: "run-direct-stale-thread",
-      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      requesterOrigin: { channel: "discord", to: "channel:12345", accountId: "acct-1" },
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
-    expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(agentSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    const call = sendSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: Record<string, unknown> };
-    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe("discord");
-    expect(call?.params?.to).toBe("channel:12345");
-    expect(call?.params?.threadId).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-
-  it("passes requesterOrigin.threadId for manual completion direct-send", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    sessionStore = {
-      "agent:main:subagent:test": {
-        sessionId: "child-session-direct-thread-pass",
-      },
-      "agent:main:main": {
-        sessionId: "requester-session-thread-pass",
-      },
-    };
-    chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      messages: [{ role: "assistant", content: [{ type: "text", text: "done" }] }],
-    });
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
-      childRunId: "run-direct-thread-pass",
-      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      requesterOrigin: {
-        channel: "discord",
-        to: "channel:12345",
-        accountId: "acct-1",
-        threadId: 99,
-      },
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
-    expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(agentSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    const call = sendSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: Record<string, unknown> };
-    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe("discord");
-    expect(call?.params?.to).toBe("channel:12345");
-    expect(call?.params?.threadId).toBe("99");
-  });
-
   it("steers announcements into an active run when queue mode is steer", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(true);
@@ -541,139 +356,6 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(new Set(idempotencyKeys).size).toBe(2);
   });
 
-  it("prefers direct delivery first for completion-mode and then queues on direct failure", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(true);
-    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
-    sessionStore = {
-      "agent:main:main": {
-        sessionId: "session-collect",
-        lastChannel: "whatsapp",
-        lastTo: "+1555",
-        queueMode: "collect",
-        queueDebounceMs: 0,
-      },
-    };
-    sendSpy.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("direct delivery unavailable"));
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:worker",
-      childRunId: "run-completion-direct-fallback",
-      requesterSessionKey: "main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
-    await expect.poll(() => sendSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(1);
-    await expect.poll(() => agentSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(sendSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
-      method: "send",
-      params: { sessionKey: "agent:main:main" },
-    });
-    expect(agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
-      method: "agent",
-      params: { sessionKey: "agent:main:main" },
-    });
-    expect(agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
-      method: "agent",
-      params: { channel: "whatsapp", to: "+1555", deliver: true },
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("returns failure for completion-mode when direct delivery fails and queue fallback is unavailable", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(false);
-    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
-    sessionStore = {
-      "agent:main:main": {
-        sessionId: "session-direct-only",
-        lastChannel: "whatsapp",
-        lastTo: "+1555",
-      },
-    };
-    sendSpy.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("direct delivery unavailable"));
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:worker",
-      childRunId: "run-completion-direct-fail",
-      requesterSessionKey: "main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(false);
-    expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(agentSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-  });
-
-  it("uses assistant output for completion-mode when latest assistant text exists", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      messages: [
-        {
-          role: "toolResult",
-          content: [{ type: "text", text: "old tool output" }],
-        },
-        {
-          role: "assistant",
-          content: [{ type: "text", text: "assistant completion text" }],
-        },
-      ],
-    });
-    readLatestAssistantReplyMock.mockResolvedValue("assistant ignored fallback");
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:worker",
-      childRunId: "run-completion-assistant-output",
-      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
-    await expect.poll(() => sendSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(1);
-    const call = sendSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: { message?: string } };
-    const msg = call?.params?.message as string;
-    expect(msg).toContain("assistant completion text");
-    expect(msg).not.toContain("old tool output");
-  });
-
-  it("falls back to latest tool output for completion-mode when assistant output is empty", async () => {
-    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
-    chatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      messages: [
-        {
-          role: "assistant",
-          content: [{ type: "text", text: "" }],
-        },
-        {
-          role: "toolResult",
-          content: [{ type: "text", text: "tool output only" }],
-        },
-      ],
-    });
-    readLatestAssistantReplyMock.mockResolvedValue("");
-
-    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
-      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:worker",
-      childRunId: "run-completion-tool-output",
-      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
-      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
-    });
-
-    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
-    await expect.poll(() => sendSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(1);
-    const call = sendSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: { message?: string } };
-    const msg = call?.params?.message as string;
-    expect(msg).toContain("tool output only");
-  });
-
   it("queues announce delivery back into requester subagent session", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(true);
@@ -706,24 +388,7 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(call?.params?.to).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it.each([
-    {
-      testName: "includes threadId when origin has an active topic/thread",
-      childRunId: "run-thread",
-      expectedThreadId: "42",
-      requesterOrigin: undefined,
-    },
-    {
-      testName: "prefers requesterOrigin.threadId over session entry threadId",
-      childRunId: "run-thread-override",
-      expectedThreadId: "99",
-      requesterOrigin: {
-        channel: "telegram",
-        to: "telegram:123",
-        threadId: 99,
-      },
-    },
-  ] as const)("$testName", async (testCase) => {
+  it("includes threadId when origin has an active topic/thread", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(true);
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
@@ -740,10 +405,9 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
 
     const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
       childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
-      childRunId: testCase.childRunId,
+      childRunId: "run-thread",
       requesterSessionKey: "main",
       requesterDisplayKey: "main",
-      ...(testCase.requesterOrigin ? { requesterOrigin: testCase.requesterOrigin } : {}),
       ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
     });
 
@@ -751,7 +415,42 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     const params = await getSingleAgentCallParams();
     expect(params.channel).toBe("telegram");
     expect(params.to).toBe("telegram:123");
-    expect(params.threadId).toBe(testCase.expectedThreadId);
+    expect(params.threadId).toBe("42");
+  });
+
+  it("prefers requesterOrigin.threadId over session entry threadId", async () => {
+    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
+    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(true);
+    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
+    sessionStore = {
+      "agent:main:main": {
+        sessionId: "session-thread-override",
+        lastChannel: "telegram",
+        lastTo: "telegram:123",
+        lastThreadId: 42,
+        queueMode: "collect",
+        queueDebounceMs: 0,
+      },
+    };
+
+    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
+      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
+      childRunId: "run-thread-override",
+      requesterSessionKey: "main",
+      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
+      requesterOrigin: {
+        channel: "telegram",
+        to: "telegram:123",
+        threadId: 99,
+      },
+      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
+    });
+
+    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
+    await expect.poll(() => agentSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(1);
+
+    const call = agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: Record<string, unknown> };
+    expect(call?.params?.threadId).toBe("99");
   });
 
   it("splits collect-mode queues when accountId differs", async () => {
@@ -795,31 +494,16 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(accountIds).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(["acct-a", "acct-b"]));
   });
 
-  it.each([
-    {
-      testName: "uses requester origin for direct announce when not queued",
-      childRunId: "run-direct",
-      requesterOrigin: { channel: "whatsapp", accountId: "acct-123" },
-      expectedChannel: "whatsapp",
-      expectedAccountId: "acct-123",
-    },
-    {
-      testName: "normalizes requesterOrigin for direct announce delivery",
-      childRunId: "run-direct-origin",
-      requesterOrigin: { channel: " whatsapp ", accountId: " acct-987 " },
-      expectedChannel: "whatsapp",
-      expectedAccountId: "acct-987",
-    },
-  ] as const)("$testName", async (testCase) => {
+  it("uses requester origin for direct announce when not queued", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(false);
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
 
     const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
       childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
-      childRunId: testCase.childRunId,
+      childRunId: "run-direct",
       requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
-      requesterOrigin: testCase.requesterOrigin,
+      requesterOrigin: { channel: "whatsapp", accountId: "acct-123" },
       requesterDisplayKey: "main",
       ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
     });
@@ -829,8 +513,8 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
       params?: Record<string, unknown>;
       expectFinal?: boolean;
     };
-    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe(testCase.expectedChannel);
-    expect(call?.params?.accountId).toBe(testCase.expectedAccountId);
+    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe("whatsapp");
+    expect(call?.params?.accountId).toBe("acct-123");
     expect(call?.expectFinal).toBe(true);
   });
 
@@ -933,6 +617,93 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(agentSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("waits for follow-up reply when descendant runs exist and child reply is still waiting", async () => {
+    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
+    const waitingReply = "Spawned the nested subagent. Waiting for its auto-announced result.";
+    const finalReply = "Nested subagent finished and I synthesized the final result.";
+
+    subagentRegistryMock.listDescendantRunsForRequester.mockImplementation((sessionKey: string) =>
+      sessionKey === "agent:main:subagent:parent"
+        ? [
+            {
+              runId: "run-leaf",
+              requesterSessionKey: sessionKey,
+              childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent:subagent:leaf",
+            },
+          ]
+        : [],
+    );
+    readLatestAssistantReplyMock
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(waitingReply)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(waitingReply)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(finalReply);
+
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      const announcePromise = runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
+        childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent",
+        childRunId: "run-parent",
+        requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+        requesterDisplayKey: "main",
+        ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
+      });
+
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
+      const didAnnounce = await announcePromise;
+      expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+
+    const call = agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: { message?: string } };
+    const msg = call?.params?.message as string;
+    expect(msg).toContain(finalReply);
+    expect(msg).not.toContain("Waiting for its auto-announced result.");
+  });
+
+  it("defers announce when descendant follow-up reply has not arrived yet", async () => {
+    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
+    const waitingReply = "Spawned the nested subagent. Waiting for its auto-announced result.";
+
+    subagentRegistryMock.listDescendantRunsForRequester.mockImplementation((sessionKey: string) =>
+      sessionKey === "agent:main:subagent:parent"
+        ? [
+            {
+              runId: "run-leaf",
+              requesterSessionKey: sessionKey,
+              childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent:subagent:leaf",
+            },
+          ]
+        : [],
+    );
+    readLatestAssistantReplyMock.mockResolvedValue(waitingReply);
+
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      const announcePromise = runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
+        childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent",
+        childRunId: "run-parent-still-waiting",
+        requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+        requesterDisplayKey: "main",
+        task: "nested test",
+        timeoutMs: 700,
+        cleanup: "keep",
+        waitForCompletion: false,
+        startedAt: 10,
+        endedAt: 20,
+        outcome: { status: "ok" },
+      });
+
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1200);
+      const didAnnounce = await announcePromise;
+      expect(didAnnounce).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+
+    expect(agentSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("bubbles child announce to parent requester when requester subagent already ended", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     subagentRegistryMock.isSubagentSessionRunActive.mockReturnValue(false);
@@ -1013,6 +784,26 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(agentSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("normalizes requesterOrigin for direct announce delivery", async () => {
+    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
+    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(false);
+    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
+      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
+      childRunId: "run-direct-origin",
+      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+      requesterOrigin: { channel: " whatsapp ", accountId: " acct-987 " },
+      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
+      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
+    });
+
+    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
+    const call = agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: Record<string, unknown> };
+    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe("whatsapp");
+    expect(call?.params?.accountId).toBe("acct-987");
+  });
+
   it("prefers requesterOrigin channel over stale session lastChannel in queued announce", async () => {
     const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
     embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(true);
@@ -1045,6 +836,35 @@ describe("subagent announce formatting", () => {
     expect(call?.params?.to).toBe("bluebubbles:chat_guid:123");
   });
 
+  it("falls back to persisted deliverable route when requesterOrigin channel is non-deliverable", async () => {
+    const { runSubagentAnnounceFlow } = await import("./subagent-announce.js");
+    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunActive.mockReturnValue(false);
+    embeddedRunMock.isEmbeddedPiRunStreaming.mockReturnValue(false);
+    sessionStore = {
+      "agent:main:main": {
+        sessionId: "session-webchat-origin",
+        lastChannel: "discord",
+        lastTo: "discord:channel:123",
+        lastAccountId: "acct-store",
+      },
+    };
+
+    const didAnnounce = await runSubagentAnnounceFlow({
+      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:test",
+      childRunId: "run-webchat-origin",
+      requesterSessionKey: "main",
+      requesterOrigin: { channel: "webchat", to: "ignored", accountId: "acct-live" },
+      requesterDisplayKey: "main",
+      ...defaultOutcomeAnnounce,
+    });
+
+    expect(didAnnounce).toBe(true);
+    const call = agentSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as { params?: Record<string, unknown> };
+    expect(call?.params?.channel).toBe("discord");
+    expect(call?.params?.to).toBe("discord:channel:123");
+    expect(call?.params?.accountId).toBe("acct-live");
+  });
+
   it("routes to parent subagent when parent run ended but session still exists (#18037)", async () => {
     // Scenario: Newton (depth-1) spawns Birdie (depth-2). Newton's agent turn ends
     // after spawning but Newton's SESSION still exists (waiting for Birdie's result).
diff --git a/src/agents/subagent-announce.ts b/src/agents/subagent-announce.ts
index 389ee1149..3f328e620 100644
--- a/src/agents/subagent-announce.ts
+++ b/src/agents/subagent-announce.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { resolveQueueSettings } from "../auto-reply/reply/queue.js";
 import { SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN } from "../auto-reply/tokens.js";
+import { DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH } from "../config/agent-limits.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import {
   loadSessionStore,
@@ -10,14 +11,13 @@ import {
 import { callGateway } from "../gateway/call.js";
 import { normalizeMainKey } from "../routing/session-key.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../runtime.js";
-import { extractTextFromChatContent } from "../shared/chat-content.js";
 import {
   type DeliveryContext,
   deliveryContextFromSession,
   mergeDeliveryContext,
   normalizeDeliveryContext,
 } from "../utils/delivery-context.js";
-import { isDeliverableMessageChannel } from "../utils/message-channel.js";
+import { isInternalMessageChannel } from "../utils/message-channel.js";
 import {
   buildAnnounceIdFromChildRun,
   buildAnnounceIdempotencyKey,
@@ -30,170 +30,7 @@ import {
 } from "./pi-embedded.js";
 import { type AnnounceQueueItem, enqueueAnnounce } from "./subagent-announce-queue.js";
 import { getSubagentDepthFromSessionStore } from "./subagent-depth.js";
-import { sanitizeTextContent, extractAssistantText } from "./tools/sessions-helpers.js";
-
-type ToolResultMessage = {
-  role?: unknown;
-  content?: unknown;
-};
-
-type SubagentDeliveryPath = "queued" | "steered" | "direct" | "none";
-
-type SubagentAnnounceDeliveryResult = {
-  delivered: boolean;
-  path: SubagentDeliveryPath;
-  error?: string;
-};
-
-function buildCompletionDeliveryMessage(params: {
-  findings: string;
-  subagentName: string;
-}): string {
-  const findingsText = params.findings.trim();
-  const hasFindings = findingsText.length > 0 && findingsText !== "(no output)";
-  const header = `✅ Subagent ${params.subagentName} finished`;
-  if (!hasFindings) {
-    return header;
-  }
-  return `${header}\n\n${findingsText}`;
-}
-
-function summarizeDeliveryError(error: unknown): string {
-  if (error instanceof Error) {
-    return error.message || "error";
-  }
-  if (typeof error === "string") {
-    return error;
-  }
-  if (error === undefined || error === null) {
-    return "unknown error";
-  }
-  try {
-    return JSON.stringify(error);
-  } catch {
-    return "error";
-  }
-}
-
-function extractToolResultText(content: unknown): string {
-  if (typeof content === "string") {
-    return sanitizeTextContent(content);
-  }
-  if (content && typeof content === "object" && !Array.isArray(content)) {
-    const obj = content as {
-      text?: unknown;
-      output?: unknown;
-      content?: unknown;
-      result?: unknown;
-      error?: unknown;
-      summary?: unknown;
-    };
-    if (typeof obj.text === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(obj.text);
-    }
-    if (typeof obj.output === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(obj.output);
-    }
-    if (typeof obj.content === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(obj.content);
-    }
-    if (typeof obj.result === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(obj.result);
-    }
-    if (typeof obj.error === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(obj.error);
-    }
-    if (typeof obj.summary === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(obj.summary);
-    }
-  }
-  if (!Array.isArray(content)) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  const joined = extractTextFromChatContent(content, {
-    sanitizeText: sanitizeTextContent,
-    normalizeText: (text) => text,
-    joinWith: "\n",
-  });
-  return joined?.trim() ?? "";
-}
-
-function extractInlineTextContent(content: unknown): string {
-  if (!Array.isArray(content)) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  return (
-    extractTextFromChatContent(content, {
-      sanitizeText: sanitizeTextContent,
-      normalizeText: (text) => text.trim(),
-      joinWith: "",
-    }) ?? ""
-  );
-}
-
-function extractSubagentOutputText(message: unknown): string {
-  if (!message || typeof message !== "object") {
-    return "";
-  }
-  const role = (message as { role?: unknown }).role;
-  const content = (message as { content?: unknown }).content;
-  if (role === "assistant") {
-    const assistantText = extractAssistantText(message);
-    if (assistantText) {
-      return assistantText;
-    }
-    if (typeof content === "string") {
-      return sanitizeTextContent(content);
-    }
-    if (Array.isArray(content)) {
-      return extractInlineTextContent(content);
-    }
-    return "";
-  }
-  if (role === "toolResult" || role === "tool") {
-    return extractToolResultText((message as ToolResultMessage).content);
-  }
-  if (typeof content === "string") {
-    return sanitizeTextContent(content);
-  }
-  if (Array.isArray(content)) {
-    return extractInlineTextContent(content);
-  }
-  return "";
-}
-
-async function readLatestSubagentOutput(sessionKey: string): Promise<string | undefined> {
-  const history = await callGateway<{ messages?: Array<unknown> }>({
-    method: "chat.history",
-    params: { sessionKey, limit: 50 },
-  });
-  const messages = Array.isArray(history?.messages) ? history.messages : [];
-  for (let i = messages.length - 1; i >= 0; i -= 1) {
-    const msg = messages[i];
-    const text = extractSubagentOutputText(msg);
-    if (text) {
-      return text;
-    }
-  }
-  return undefined;
-}
-
-async function readLatestSubagentOutputWithRetry(params: {
-  sessionKey: string;
-  maxWaitMs: number;
-}): Promise<string | undefined> {
-  const RETRY_INTERVAL_MS = 100;
-  const deadline = Date.now() + Math.max(0, Math.min(params.maxWaitMs, 15_000));
-  let result: string | undefined;
-  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
-    result = await readLatestSubagentOutput(params.sessionKey);
-    if (result?.trim()) {
-      return result;
-    }
-    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, RETRY_INTERVAL_MS));
-  }
-  return result;
-}
+import { readLatestAssistantReply } from "./tools/agent-step.js";
 
 function formatDurationShort(valueMs?: number) {
   if (!valueMs || !Number.isFinite(valueMs) || valueMs <= 0) {
@@ -273,8 +110,8 @@ function resolveAnnounceOrigin(
 ): DeliveryContext | undefined {
   const normalizedRequester = normalizeDeliveryContext(requesterOrigin);
   const normalizedEntry = deliveryContextFromSession(entry);
-  if (normalizedRequester?.channel && !isDeliverableMessageChannel(normalizedRequester.channel)) {
-    // Ignore internal/non-deliverable channel hints (for example webchat)
+  if (normalizedRequester?.channel && isInternalMessageChannel(normalizedRequester.channel)) {
+    // Ignore internal channel hints, for example webchat,
     // so a valid persisted route can still be used for outbound delivery.
     return mergeDeliveryContext(
       {
@@ -284,7 +121,7 @@ function resolveAnnounceOrigin(
       normalizedEntry,
     );
   }
-  // requesterOrigin (captured at spawn time) reflects the channel the user is
+  // requesterOrigin, captured at spawn time, reflects the channel the user is
   // actually on and must take priority over the session entry, which may carry
   // stale lastChannel / lastTo values from a previous channel interaction.
   return mergeDeliveryContext(normalizedRequester, normalizedEntry);
@@ -408,182 +245,6 @@ async function maybeQueueSubagentAnnounce(params: {
   return "none";
 }
 
-function queueOutcomeToDeliveryResult(
-  outcome: "steered" | "queued" | "none",
-): SubagentAnnounceDeliveryResult {
-  if (outcome === "steered") {
-    return {
-      delivered: true,
-      path: "steered",
-    };
-  }
-  if (outcome === "queued") {
-    return {
-      delivered: true,
-      path: "queued",
-    };
-  }
-  return {
-    delivered: false,
-    path: "none",
-  };
-}
-
-async function sendSubagentAnnounceDirectly(params: {
-  targetRequesterSessionKey: string;
-  triggerMessage: string;
-  completionMessage?: string;
-  expectsCompletionMessage: boolean;
-  directIdempotencyKey: string;
-  completionDirectOrigin?: DeliveryContext;
-  directOrigin?: DeliveryContext;
-  requesterIsSubagent: boolean;
-}): Promise<SubagentAnnounceDeliveryResult> {
-  const cfg = loadConfig();
-  const canonicalRequesterSessionKey = resolveRequesterStoreKey(
-    cfg,
-    params.targetRequesterSessionKey,
-  );
-  try {
-    const completionDirectOrigin = normalizeDeliveryContext(params.completionDirectOrigin);
-    const completionChannelRaw =
-      typeof completionDirectOrigin?.channel === "string"
-        ? completionDirectOrigin.channel.trim()
-        : "";
-    const completionChannel =
-      completionChannelRaw && isDeliverableMessageChannel(completionChannelRaw)
-        ? completionChannelRaw
-        : "";
-    const completionTo =
-      typeof completionDirectOrigin?.to === "string" ? completionDirectOrigin.to.trim() : "";
-    const hasCompletionDirectTarget =
-      !params.requesterIsSubagent && Boolean(completionChannel) && Boolean(completionTo);
-
-    if (
-      params.expectsCompletionMessage &&
-      hasCompletionDirectTarget &&
-      params.completionMessage?.trim()
-    ) {
-      const completionThreadId =
-        completionDirectOrigin?.threadId != null && completionDirectOrigin.threadId !== ""
-          ? String(completionDirectOrigin.threadId)
-          : undefined;
-      await callGateway({
-        method: "send",
-        params: {
-          channel: completionChannel,
-          to: completionTo,
-          accountId: completionDirectOrigin?.accountId,
-          threadId: completionThreadId,
-          sessionKey: canonicalRequesterSessionKey,
-          message: params.completionMessage,
-          idempotencyKey: params.directIdempotencyKey,
-        },
-        timeoutMs: 15_000,
-      });
-
-      return {
-        delivered: true,
-        path: "direct",
-      };
-    }
-
-    const directOrigin = normalizeDeliveryContext(params.directOrigin);
-    const threadId =
-      directOrigin?.threadId != null && directOrigin.threadId !== ""
-        ? String(directOrigin.threadId)
-        : undefined;
-    await callGateway({
-      method: "agent",
-      params: {
-        sessionKey: canonicalRequesterSessionKey,
-        message: params.triggerMessage,
-        deliver: !params.requesterIsSubagent,
-        channel: params.requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : directOrigin?.channel,
-        accountId: params.requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : directOrigin?.accountId,
-        to: params.requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : directOrigin?.to,
-        threadId: params.requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : threadId,
-        idempotencyKey: params.directIdempotencyKey,
-      },
-      expectFinal: true,
-      timeoutMs: 15_000,
-    });
-
-    return {
-      delivered: true,
-      path: "direct",
-    };
-  } catch (err) {
-    return {
-      delivered: false,
-      path: "direct",
-      error: summarizeDeliveryError(err),
-    };
-  }
-}
-
-async function deliverSubagentAnnouncement(params: {
-  requesterSessionKey: string;
-  announceId?: string;
-  triggerMessage: string;
-  completionMessage?: string;
-  summaryLine?: string;
-  requesterOrigin?: DeliveryContext;
-  completionDirectOrigin?: DeliveryContext;
-  directOrigin?: DeliveryContext;
-  targetRequesterSessionKey: string;
-  requesterIsSubagent: boolean;
-  expectsCompletionMessage: boolean;
-  directIdempotencyKey: string;
-}): Promise<SubagentAnnounceDeliveryResult> {
-  // Non-completion mode mirrors historical behavior: try queued/steered delivery first,
-  // then (only if not queued) attempt direct delivery.
-  if (!params.expectsCompletionMessage) {
-    const queueOutcome = await maybeQueueSubagentAnnounce({
-      requesterSessionKey: params.requesterSessionKey,
-      announceId: params.announceId,
-      triggerMessage: params.triggerMessage,
-      summaryLine: params.summaryLine,
-      requesterOrigin: params.requesterOrigin,
-    });
-    const queued = queueOutcomeToDeliveryResult(queueOutcome);
-    if (queued.delivered) {
-      return queued;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Completion-mode uses direct send first so manual spawns can return immediately
-  // in the common ready-to-deliver case.
-  const direct = await sendSubagentAnnounceDirectly({
-    targetRequesterSessionKey: params.targetRequesterSessionKey,
-    triggerMessage: params.triggerMessage,
-    completionMessage: params.completionMessage,
-    directIdempotencyKey: params.directIdempotencyKey,
-    completionDirectOrigin: params.completionDirectOrigin,
-    directOrigin: params.directOrigin,
-    requesterIsSubagent: params.requesterIsSubagent,
-    expectsCompletionMessage: params.expectsCompletionMessage,
-  });
-  if (direct.delivered || !params.expectsCompletionMessage) {
-    return direct;
-  }
-
-  // If completion path failed direct delivery, try queueing as a fallback so the
-  // report can still be delivered once the requester session is idle.
-  const queueOutcome = await maybeQueueSubagentAnnounce({
-    requesterSessionKey: params.requesterSessionKey,
-    announceId: params.announceId,
-    triggerMessage: params.triggerMessage,
-    summaryLine: params.summaryLine,
-    requesterOrigin: params.requesterOrigin,
-  });
-  if (queueOutcome === "steered" || queueOutcome === "queued") {
-    return queueOutcomeToDeliveryResult(queueOutcome);
-  }
-
-  return direct;
-}
-
 function loadSessionEntryByKey(sessionKey: string) {
   const cfg = loadConfig();
   const agentId = resolveAgentIdFromSessionKey(sessionKey);
@@ -592,6 +253,65 @@ function loadSessionEntryByKey(sessionKey: string) {
   return store[sessionKey];
 }
 
+async function readLatestAssistantReplyWithRetry(params: {
+  sessionKey: string;
+  initialReply?: string;
+  maxWaitMs: number;
+}): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  const RETRY_INTERVAL_MS = 100;
+  let reply = params.initialReply?.trim() ? params.initialReply : undefined;
+  if (reply) {
+    return reply;
+  }
+
+  const deadline = Date.now() + Math.max(0, Math.min(params.maxWaitMs, 15_000));
+  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, RETRY_INTERVAL_MS));
+    const latest = await readLatestAssistantReply({ sessionKey: params.sessionKey });
+    if (latest?.trim()) {
+      return latest;
+    }
+  }
+  return reply;
+}
+
+function isLikelyWaitingForDescendantResult(reply?: string): boolean {
+  const text = reply?.trim();
+  if (!text) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  const normalized = text.toLowerCase();
+  if (!normalized.includes("waiting")) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return (
+    normalized.includes("subagent") ||
+    normalized.includes("child") ||
+    normalized.includes("auto-announce") ||
+    normalized.includes("auto announced") ||
+    normalized.includes("result")
+  );
+}
+
+async function waitForAssistantReplyChange(params: {
+  sessionKey: string;
+  previousReply?: string;
+  maxWaitMs: number;
+}): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  const RETRY_INTERVAL_MS = 200;
+  const previous = params.previousReply?.trim() ?? "";
+  const deadline = Date.now() + Math.max(0, Math.min(params.maxWaitMs, 30_000));
+  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, RETRY_INTERVAL_MS));
+    const latest = await readLatestAssistantReply({ sessionKey: params.sessionKey });
+    const normalizedLatest = latest?.trim() ?? "";
+    if (normalizedLatest && normalizedLatest !== previous) {
+      return latest;
+    }
+  }
+  return undefined;
+}
+
 export function buildSubagentSystemPrompt(params: {
   requesterSessionKey?: string;
   requesterOrigin?: DeliveryContext;
@@ -608,7 +328,10 @@ export function buildSubagentSystemPrompt(params: {
       ? params.task.replace(/\s+/g, " ").trim()
       : "{{TASK_DESCRIPTION}}";
   const childDepth = typeof params.childDepth === "number" ? params.childDepth : 1;
-  const maxSpawnDepth = typeof params.maxSpawnDepth === "number" ? params.maxSpawnDepth : 1;
+  const maxSpawnDepth =
+    typeof params.maxSpawnDepth === "number"
+      ? params.maxSpawnDepth
+      : DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH;
   const canSpawn = childDepth < maxSpawnDepth;
   const parentLabel = childDepth >= 2 ? "parent orchestrator" : "main agent";
 
@@ -692,11 +415,7 @@ function buildAnnounceReplyInstruction(params: {
   remainingActiveSubagentRuns: number;
   requesterIsSubagent: boolean;
   announceType: SubagentAnnounceType;
-  expectsCompletionMessage?: boolean;
 }): string {
-  if (params.expectsCompletionMessage) {
-    return `A completed ${params.announceType} is ready for user delivery. Convert the result above into your normal assistant voice and send that user-facing update now. Keep this internal context private (don't mention system/log/stats/session details or announce type).`;
-  }
   if (params.remainingActiveSubagentRuns > 0) {
     const activeRunsLabel = params.remainingActiveSubagentRuns === 1 ? "run" : "runs";
     return `There are still ${params.remainingActiveSubagentRuns} active subagent ${activeRunsLabel} for this session. If they are part of the same workflow, wait for the remaining results before sending a user update. If they are unrelated, respond normally using only the result above.`;
@@ -723,10 +442,8 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
   label?: string;
   outcome?: SubagentRunOutcome;
   announceType?: SubagentAnnounceType;
-  expectsCompletionMessage?: boolean;
 }): Promise<boolean> {
   let didAnnounce = false;
-  const expectsCompletionMessage = params.expectsCompletionMessage === true;
   let shouldDeleteChildSession = params.cleanup === "delete";
   try {
     let targetRequesterSessionKey = params.requesterSessionKey;
@@ -742,7 +459,7 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
     let outcome: SubagentRunOutcome | undefined = params.outcome;
     // Lifecycle "end" can arrive before auto-compaction retries finish. If the
     // subagent is still active, wait for the embedded run to fully settle.
-    if (!expectsCompletionMessage && childSessionId && isEmbeddedPiRunActive(childSessionId)) {
+    if (childSessionId && isEmbeddedPiRunActive(childSessionId)) {
       const settled = await waitForEmbeddedPiRunEnd(childSessionId, settleTimeoutMs);
       if (!settled && isEmbeddedPiRunActive(childSessionId)) {
         // The child run is still active (e.g., compaction retry still in progress).
@@ -787,26 +504,22 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
           outcome = { status: "timeout" };
         }
       }
-      reply = await readLatestSubagentOutput(params.childSessionKey);
+      reply = await readLatestAssistantReply({ sessionKey: params.childSessionKey });
     }
 
     if (!reply) {
-      reply = await readLatestSubagentOutput(params.childSessionKey);
+      reply = await readLatestAssistantReply({ sessionKey: params.childSessionKey });
     }
 
     if (!reply?.trim()) {
-      reply = await readLatestSubagentOutputWithRetry({
+      reply = await readLatestAssistantReplyWithRetry({
         sessionKey: params.childSessionKey,
+        initialReply: reply,
         maxWaitMs: params.timeoutMs,
       });
     }
 
-    if (
-      !expectsCompletionMessage &&
-      !reply?.trim() &&
-      childSessionId &&
-      isEmbeddedPiRunActive(childSessionId)
-    ) {
+    if (!reply?.trim() && childSessionId && isEmbeddedPiRunActive(childSessionId)) {
       // Avoid announcing "(no output)" while the child run is still producing output.
       shouldDeleteChildSession = false;
       return false;
@@ -823,12 +536,46 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
     } catch {
       // Best-effort only; fall back to direct announce behavior when unavailable.
     }
-    if (!expectsCompletionMessage && activeChildDescendantRuns > 0) {
+    if (activeChildDescendantRuns > 0) {
       // The finished run still has active descendant subagents. Defer announcing
       // this run until descendants settle so we avoid posting in-progress updates.
       shouldDeleteChildSession = false;
       return false;
     }
+    // If the subagent reply is still a "waiting for nested result" placeholder,
+    // hold this announce and wait for the follow-up turn that synthesizes child output.
+    let hasAnyChildDescendantRuns = false;
+    try {
+      const { listDescendantRunsForRequester } = await import("./subagent-registry.js");
+      hasAnyChildDescendantRuns = listDescendantRunsForRequester(params.childSessionKey).length > 0;
+    } catch {
+      // Best-effort only; fall back to existing behavior when unavailable.
+    }
+    if (hasAnyChildDescendantRuns && isLikelyWaitingForDescendantResult(reply)) {
+      const followupReply = await waitForAssistantReplyChange({
+        sessionKey: params.childSessionKey,
+        previousReply: reply,
+        maxWaitMs: settleTimeoutMs,
+      });
+      if (!followupReply?.trim()) {
+        shouldDeleteChildSession = false;
+        return false;
+      }
+      reply = followupReply;
+      try {
+        const { countActiveDescendantRuns } = await import("./subagent-registry.js");
+        activeChildDescendantRuns = Math.max(0, countActiveDescendantRuns(params.childSessionKey));
+      } catch {
+        activeChildDescendantRuns = 0;
+      }
+      if (
+        activeChildDescendantRuns > 0 ||
+        (hasAnyChildDescendantRuns && isLikelyWaitingForDescendantResult(reply))
+      ) {
+        shouldDeleteChildSession = false;
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
 
     // Build status label
     const statusLabel =
@@ -843,14 +590,12 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
     // Build instructional message for main agent
     const announceType = params.announceType ?? "subagent task";
     const taskLabel = params.label || params.task || "task";
-    const subagentName = resolveAgentIdFromSessionKey(params.childSessionKey);
     const announceSessionId = childSessionId || "unknown";
     const findings = reply || "(no output)";
-    let completionMessage = "";
     let triggerMessage = "";
 
     let requesterDepth = getSubagentDepthFromSessionStore(targetRequesterSessionKey);
-    let requesterIsSubagent = !expectsCompletionMessage && requesterDepth >= 1;
+    let requesterIsSubagent = requesterDepth >= 1;
     // If the requester subagent has already finished, bubble the announce to its
     // requester (typically main) so descendant completion is not silently lost.
     // BUT: only fallback if the parent SESSION is deleted, not just if the current
@@ -903,31 +648,43 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
       remainingActiveSubagentRuns,
       requesterIsSubagent,
       announceType,
-      expectsCompletionMessage,
     });
     const statsLine = await buildCompactAnnounceStatsLine({
       sessionKey: params.childSessionKey,
       startedAt: params.startedAt,
       endedAt: params.endedAt,
     });
-    completionMessage = buildCompletionDeliveryMessage({
-      findings,
-      subagentName,
-    });
-    const internalSummaryMessage = [
+    triggerMessage = [
       `[System Message] [sessionId: ${announceSessionId}] A ${announceType} "${taskLabel}" just ${statusLabel}.`,
       "",
       "Result:",
       findings,
       "",
       statsLine,
+      "",
+      replyInstruction,
     ].join("\n");
-    triggerMessage = [internalSummaryMessage, "", replyInstruction].join("\n");
 
     const announceId = buildAnnounceIdFromChildRun({
       childSessionKey: params.childSessionKey,
       childRunId: params.childRunId,
     });
+    const queued = await maybeQueueSubagentAnnounce({
+      requesterSessionKey: targetRequesterSessionKey,
+      announceId,
+      triggerMessage,
+      summaryLine: taskLabel,
+      requesterOrigin: targetRequesterOrigin,
+    });
+    if (queued === "steered") {
+      didAnnounce = true;
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (queued === "queued") {
+      didAnnounce = true;
+      return true;
+    }
+
     // Send to the requester session. For nested subagents this is an internal
     // follow-up injection (deliver=false) so the orchestrator receives it.
     let directOrigin = targetRequesterOrigin;
@@ -939,26 +696,26 @@ export async function runSubagentAnnounceFlow(params: {
     // catches duplicates if this announce is also queued by the gateway-
     // level message queue while the main session is busy (#17122).
     const directIdempotencyKey = buildAnnounceIdempotencyKey(announceId);
-    const delivery = await deliverSubagentAnnouncement({
-      requesterSessionKey: targetRequesterSessionKey,
-      announceId,
-      triggerMessage,
-      completionMessage,
-      summaryLine: taskLabel,
-      requesterOrigin: targetRequesterOrigin,
-      completionDirectOrigin: targetRequesterOrigin,
-      directOrigin,
-      targetRequesterSessionKey,
-      requesterIsSubagent,
-      expectsCompletionMessage: expectsCompletionMessage,
-      directIdempotencyKey,
+    await callGateway({
+      method: "agent",
+      params: {
+        sessionKey: targetRequesterSessionKey,
+        message: triggerMessage,
+        deliver: !requesterIsSubagent,
+        channel: requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : directOrigin?.channel,
+        accountId: requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : directOrigin?.accountId,
+        to: requesterIsSubagent ? undefined : directOrigin?.to,
+        threadId:
+          !requesterIsSubagent && directOrigin?.threadId != null && directOrigin.threadId !== ""
+            ? String(directOrigin.threadId)
+            : undefined,
+        idempotencyKey: directIdempotencyKey,
+      },
+      expectFinal: true,
+      timeoutMs: 15_000,
     });
-    didAnnounce = delivery.delivered;
-    if (!delivery.delivered && delivery.path === "direct" && delivery.error) {
-      defaultRuntime.error?.(
-        `Subagent completion direct announce failed for run ${params.childRunId}: ${delivery.error}`,
-      );
-    }
+
+    didAnnounce = true;
   } catch (err) {
     defaultRuntime.error?.(`Subagent announce failed: ${String(err)}`);
     // Best-effort follow-ups; ignore failures to avoid breaking the caller response.
diff --git a/src/agents/subagent-registry.announce-loop-guard.test.ts b/src/agents/subagent-registry.announce-loop-guard.test.ts
index 9c2545228..7064b25b9 100644
--- a/src/agents/subagent-registry.announce-loop-guard.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/subagent-registry.announce-loop-guard.test.ts
@@ -151,4 +151,57 @@ describe("announce loop guard (#18264)", () => {
     const stored = runs.find((run) => run.runId === entry.runId);
     expect(stored?.cleanupCompletedAt).toBeDefined();
   });
+
+  test("does not consume retry budget while descendants are still active", async () => {
+    announceFn.mockClear();
+    registry.resetSubagentRegistryForTests();
+
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const parentEntry = {
+      runId: "test-parent-ended",
+      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent-ended",
+      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+      requesterDisplayKey: "agent:main:main",
+      task: "parent task",
+      cleanup: "keep" as const,
+      createdAt: now - 30_000,
+      startedAt: now - 20_000,
+      endedAt: now - 10_000,
+      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
+      cleanupHandled: false,
+    };
+    const activeDescendant = {
+      runId: "test-desc-active",
+      childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent-ended:subagent:leaf",
+      requesterSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent-ended",
+      requesterDisplayKey: "agent:main:subagent:parent-ended",
+      task: "leaf task",
+      cleanup: "keep" as const,
+      createdAt: now - 5_000,
+      startedAt: now - 5_000,
+      expectsCompletionMessage: true,
+      cleanupHandled: false,
+    };
+
+    loadSubagentRegistryFromDisk.mockReturnValue(
+      new Map([
+        [parentEntry.runId, parentEntry],
+        [activeDescendant.runId, activeDescendant],
+      ]),
+    );
+
+    registry.initSubagentRegistry();
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(announceFn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ childRunId: parentEntry.runId }),
+    );
+    const parent = registry
+      .listSubagentRunsForRequester("agent:main:main")
+      .find((run) => run.runId === parentEntry.runId);
+    expect(parent?.announceRetryCount).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(parent?.cleanupCompletedAt).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(parent?.cleanupHandled).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/agents/subagent-registry.ts b/src/agents/subagent-registry.ts
index 0e14a2aaa..479a176fb 100644
--- a/src/agents/subagent-registry.ts
+++ b/src/agents/subagent-registry.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ function startSubagentAnnounceCleanupFlow(runId: string, entry: SubagentRunRecor
     requesterOrigin,
     requesterDisplayKey: entry.requesterDisplayKey,
     task: entry.task,
-    expectsCompletionMessage: entry.expectsCompletionMessage,
     timeoutMs: SUBAGENT_ANNOUNCE_TIMEOUT_MS,
     cleanup: entry.cleanup,
     waitForCompletion: false,
@@ -324,12 +323,34 @@ function finalizeSubagentCleanup(runId: string, cleanup: "delete" | "keep", didA
   }
   if (!didAnnounce) {
     const now = Date.now();
+    const endedAgo = typeof entry.endedAt === "number" ? now - entry.endedAt : 0;
+    // Normal defer: the run ended, but descendant runs are still active.
+    // Don't consume retry budget in this state or we can give up before
+    // descendants finish and before the parent synthesizes the final reply.
+    const activeDescendantRuns = Math.max(0, countActiveDescendantRuns(entry.childSessionKey));
+    if (entry.expectsCompletionMessage === true && activeDescendantRuns > 0) {
+      if (endedAgo > ANNOUNCE_EXPIRY_MS) {
+        logAnnounceGiveUp(entry, "expiry");
+        entry.cleanupCompletedAt = now;
+        persistSubagentRuns();
+        retryDeferredCompletedAnnounces(runId);
+        return;
+      }
+      entry.lastAnnounceRetryAt = now;
+      entry.cleanupHandled = false;
+      resumedRuns.delete(runId);
+      persistSubagentRuns();
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        resumeSubagentRun(runId);
+      }, MIN_ANNOUNCE_RETRY_DELAY_MS).unref?.();
+      return;
+    }
+
     const retryCount = (entry.announceRetryCount ?? 0) + 1;
     entry.announceRetryCount = retryCount;
     entry.lastAnnounceRetryAt = now;
 
     // Check if the announce has exceeded retry limits or expired (#18264).
-    const endedAgo = typeof entry.endedAt === "number" ? now - entry.endedAt : 0;
     if (retryCount >= MAX_ANNOUNCE_RETRY_COUNT || endedAgo > ANNOUNCE_EXPIRY_MS) {
       // Give up: mark as completed to break the infinite retry loop.
       logAnnounceGiveUp(entry, retryCount >= MAX_ANNOUNCE_RETRY_COUNT ? "retry-limit" : "expiry");
diff --git a/src/agents/subagent-spawn.ts b/src/agents/subagent-spawn.ts
index f14e9e50e..e65e53a79 100644
--- a/src/agents/subagent-spawn.ts
+++ b/src/agents/subagent-spawn.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import crypto from "node:crypto";
 import { formatThinkingLevels, normalizeThinkLevel } from "../auto-reply/thinking.js";
+import { DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH } from "../config/agent-limits.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { callGateway } from "../gateway/call.js";
 import { normalizeAgentId, parseAgentSessionKey } from "../routing/session-key.js";
@@ -107,7 +108,8 @@ export async function spawnSubagentDirect(
   });
 
   const callerDepth = getSubagentDepthFromSessionStore(requesterInternalKey, { cfg });
-  const maxSpawnDepth = cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth ?? 1;
+  const maxSpawnDepth =
+    cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth ?? DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH;
   if (callerDepth >= maxSpawnDepth) {
     return {
       status: "forbidden",
diff --git a/src/agents/system-prompt.e2e.test.ts b/src/agents/system-prompt.e2e.test.ts
index a03ac2833..630405313 100644
--- a/src/agents/system-prompt.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/system-prompt.e2e.test.ts
@@ -575,14 +575,15 @@ describe("buildSubagentSystemPrompt", () => {
     expect(prompt).toContain("instead of full-file `cat`");
   });
 
-  it("defaults to depth 1 and maxSpawnDepth 1 when not provided", () => {
+  it("defaults to depth 1 and maxSpawnDepth 2 when not provided", () => {
     const prompt = buildSubagentSystemPrompt({
       childSessionKey: "agent:main:subagent:abc",
       task: "basic task",
     });
 
-    // Should not include spawning guidance (default maxSpawnDepth is 1, depth 1 is leaf)
-    expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Sub-Agent Spawning");
+    // Default maxSpawnDepth is 2, so depth-1 subagents are orchestrators.
+    expect(prompt).toContain("## Sub-Agent Spawning");
+    expect(prompt).toContain("You CAN spawn your own sub-agents");
     expect(prompt).toContain("spawned by the main agent");
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/agents/tools/subagents-tool.ts b/src/agents/tools/subagents-tool.ts
index bf88212d6..9b0b75ce8 100644
--- a/src/agents/tools/subagents-tool.ts
+++ b/src/agents/tools/subagents-tool.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   sortSubagentRuns,
   type SubagentTargetResolution,
 } from "../../auto-reply/reply/subagents-utils.js";
+import { DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH } from "../../config/agent-limits.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import type { SessionEntry } from "../../config/sessions.js";
 import { loadSessionStore, resolveStorePath, updateSessionStore } from "../../config/sessions.js";
@@ -199,7 +200,8 @@ function resolveRequesterKey(params: {
   // Check if this sub-agent can spawn children (orchestrator).
   // If so, it should see its own children, not its parent's children.
   const callerDepth = getSubagentDepthFromSessionStore(callerSessionKey, { cfg: params.cfg });
-  const maxSpawnDepth = params.cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth ?? 1;
+  const maxSpawnDepth =
+    params.cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth ?? DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH;
   if (callerDepth < maxSpawnDepth) {
     // Orchestrator sub-agent: use its own session key as requester
     // so it sees children it spawned.
diff --git a/src/config/agent-limits.ts b/src/config/agent-limits.ts
index 53df535eb..aa6119920 100644
--- a/src/config/agent-limits.ts
+++ b/src/config/agent-limits.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { OpenClawConfig } from "./types.js";
 
 export const DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT = 4;
 export const DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT = 8;
+export const DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH = 2;
 
 export function resolveAgentMaxConcurrent(cfg?: OpenClawConfig): number {
   const raw = cfg?.agents?.defaults?.maxConcurrent;
diff --git a/src/config/config.agent-concurrency-defaults.test.ts b/src/config/config.agent-concurrency-defaults.test.ts
index d2fc38539..acffd872a 100644
--- a/src/config/config.agent-concurrency-defaults.test.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.agent-concurrency-defaults.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
   DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT,
+  DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH,
   DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT,
   resolveAgentMaxConcurrent,
   resolveSubagentMaxConcurrent,
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ describe("agent concurrency defaults", () => {
 
       expect(cfg.agents?.defaults?.maxConcurrent).toBe(DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT);
       expect(cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxConcurrent).toBe(DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT);
+      expect(cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth).toBe(DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH);
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/config/config.identity-defaults.test.ts b/src/config/config.identity-defaults.test.ts
index 6c3d15f9b..edefe2c87 100644
--- a/src/config/config.identity-defaults.test.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.identity-defaults.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT, DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT } from "./agent-limits.js";
+import {
+  DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT,
+  DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT,
+  DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH,
+} from "./agent-limits.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "./config.js";
 import { withTempHome } from "./home-env.test-harness.js";
 
@@ -53,6 +57,7 @@ describe("config identity defaults", () => {
       expect(cfg.agents?.list).toBeUndefined();
       expect(cfg.agents?.defaults?.maxConcurrent).toBe(DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT);
       expect(cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxConcurrent).toBe(DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT);
+      expect(cfg.agents?.defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth).toBe(DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH);
       expect(cfg.session).toBeUndefined();
     });
   });
diff --git a/src/config/defaults.ts b/src/config/defaults.ts
index 09605388a..bebdeaf8c 100644
--- a/src/config/defaults.ts
+++ b/src/config/defaults.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import { DEFAULT_CONTEXT_TOKENS } from "../agents/defaults.js";
 import { parseModelRef } from "../agents/model-selection.js";
-import { DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT, DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT } from "./agent-limits.js";
+import {
+  DEFAULT_AGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT,
+  DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT,
+  DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH,
+} from "./agent-limits.js";
 import { resolveTalkApiKey } from "./talk.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "./types.js";
 import type { ModelDefinitionConfig } from "./types.models.js";
@@ -299,7 +303,10 @@ export function applyAgentDefaults(cfg: OpenClawConfig): OpenClawConfig {
   const hasSubMax =
     typeof defaults?.subagents?.maxConcurrent === "number" &&
     Number.isFinite(defaults.subagents.maxConcurrent);
-  if (hasMax && hasSubMax) {
+  const hasMaxSpawnDepth =
+    typeof defaults?.subagents?.maxSpawnDepth === "number" &&
+    Number.isFinite(defaults.subagents.maxSpawnDepth);
+  if (hasMax && hasSubMax && hasMaxSpawnDepth) {
     return cfg;
   }
 
@@ -315,6 +322,10 @@ export function applyAgentDefaults(cfg: OpenClawConfig): OpenClawConfig {
     nextSubagents.maxConcurrent = DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_CONCURRENT;
     mutated = true;
   }
+  if (!hasMaxSpawnDepth) {
+    nextSubagents.maxSpawnDepth = DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_SPAWN_DEPTH;
+    mutated = true;
+  }
 
   if (!mutated) {
     return cfg;
diff --git a/src/config/types.agent-defaults.ts b/src/config/types.agent-defaults.ts
index aa3fbe419..75e715c73 100644
--- a/src/config/types.agent-defaults.ts
+++ b/src/config/types.agent-defaults.ts
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ export type AgentDefaultsConfig = {
   subagents?: {
     /** Max concurrent sub-agent runs (global lane: "subagent"). Default: 1. */
     maxConcurrent?: number;
-    /** Maximum depth allowed for sessions_spawn chains. Default behavior: 1 (no nested spawns). */
+    /** Maximum depth allowed for sessions_spawn chains. Default behavior: 2 (allows nested spawns). */
     maxSpawnDepth?: number;
     /** Maximum active children a single requester session may spawn. Default behavior: 5. */
     maxChildrenPerAgent?: number;
diff --git a/src/config/zod-schema.agent-defaults.ts b/src/config/zod-schema.agent-defaults.ts
index 4ec06f66b..201706ac9 100644
--- a/src/config/zod-schema.agent-defaults.ts
+++ b/src/config/zod-schema.agent-defaults.ts
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ export const AgentDefaultsSchema = z
           .max(5)
           .optional()
           .describe(
-            "Maximum nesting depth for sub-agent spawning. 1 = no nesting (default), 2 = sub-agents can spawn sub-sub-agents.",
+            "Maximum nesting depth for sub-agent spawning. Default is 2 (sub-agents can spawn sub-sub-agents).",
           ),
         maxChildrenPerAgent: z
           .number()
diff --git a/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.test.ts b/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.test.ts
index ead8313ee..75dec7080 100644
--- a/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.test.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,9 @@ import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 vi.mock("../../config/sessions.js", () => ({
   loadSessionStore: vi.fn(),
   resolveStorePath: vi.fn().mockReturnValue("/tmp/test-store.json"),
-  evaluateSessionFreshness: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ fresh: true }),
-  resolveSessionResetPolicy: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ mode: "idle", idleMinutes: 60 }),
 }));
 
-import { loadSessionStore, evaluateSessionFreshness } from "../../config/sessions.js";
+import { loadSessionStore } from "../../config/sessions.js";
 import { resolveCronSession } from "./session.js";
 
 const NOW_MS = 1_737_600_000_000;
@@ -17,25 +15,18 @@ type SessionStore = ReturnType<typeof loadSessionStore>;
 type SessionStoreEntry = SessionStore[string];
 type MockSessionStoreEntry = Partial<SessionStoreEntry>;
 
-function resolveWithStoredEntry(params?: {
-  sessionKey?: string;
-  entry?: MockSessionStoreEntry;
-  forceNew?: boolean;
-  fresh?: boolean;
-}) {
+function resolveWithStoredEntry(params?: { sessionKey?: string; entry?: MockSessionStoreEntry }) {
   const sessionKey = params?.sessionKey ?? "webhook:stable-key";
   const store: SessionStore = params?.entry
     ? ({ [sessionKey]: params.entry as SessionStoreEntry } as SessionStore)
     : {};
   vi.mocked(loadSessionStore).mockReturnValue(store);
-  vi.mocked(evaluateSessionFreshness).mockReturnValue({ fresh: params?.fresh ?? true });
 
   return resolveCronSession({
     cfg: {} as OpenClawConfig,
     sessionKey,
     agentId: "main",
     nowMs: NOW_MS,
-    forceNew: params?.forceNew,
   });
 }
 
@@ -85,76 +76,51 @@ describe("resolveCronSession", () => {
     expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  // New tests for session reuse behavior (#18027)
-  describe("session reuse for webhooks/cron", () => {
-    it("reuses existing sessionId when session is fresh", () => {
-      const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
-        entry: {
-          sessionId: "existing-session-id-123",
-          updatedAt: NOW_MS - 1000,
-          systemSent: true,
-        },
-        fresh: true,
-      });
-
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).toBe("existing-session-id-123");
-      expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(false);
-      expect(result.systemSent).toBe(true);
+  it("always creates a new sessionId for cron/webhook runs", () => {
+    const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
+      entry: {
+        sessionId: "existing-session-id-123",
+        updatedAt: NOW_MS - 1000,
+        systemSent: true,
+      },
     });
 
-    it("creates new sessionId when session is stale", () => {
-      const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
-        entry: {
-          sessionId: "old-session-id",
-          updatedAt: NOW_MS - 86_400_000, // 1 day ago
-          systemSent: true,
-          modelOverride: "gpt-4.1-mini",
-          providerOverride: "openai",
-          sendPolicy: "allow",
-        },
-        fresh: false,
-      });
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).not.toBe("existing-session-id-123");
+    expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.systemSent).toBe(false);
+  });
 
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).not.toBe("old-session-id");
-      expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
-      expect(result.systemSent).toBe(false);
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.modelOverride).toBe("gpt-4.1-mini");
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.providerOverride).toBe("openai");
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.sendPolicy).toBe("allow");
+  it("preserves overrides while rolling a new sessionId", () => {
+    const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
+      entry: {
+        sessionId: "old-session-id",
+        updatedAt: NOW_MS - 86_400_000,
+        systemSent: true,
+        modelOverride: "gpt-4.1-mini",
+        providerOverride: "openai",
+        sendPolicy: "allow",
+      },
     });
 
-    it("creates new sessionId when forceNew is true", () => {
-      const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
-        entry: {
-          sessionId: "existing-session-id-456",
-          updatedAt: NOW_MS - 1000,
-          systemSent: true,
-          modelOverride: "sonnet-4",
-          providerOverride: "anthropic",
-        },
-        fresh: true,
-        forceNew: true,
-      });
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).not.toBe("old-session-id");
+    expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.systemSent).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.modelOverride).toBe("gpt-4.1-mini");
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.providerOverride).toBe("openai");
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.sendPolicy).toBe("allow");
+  });
 
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).not.toBe("existing-session-id-456");
-      expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
-      expect(result.systemSent).toBe(false);
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.modelOverride).toBe("sonnet-4");
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.providerOverride).toBe("anthropic");
+  it("creates new sessionId when entry exists but has no sessionId", () => {
+    const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
+      entry: {
+        updatedAt: NOW_MS - 1000,
+        modelOverride: "some-model",
+      },
     });
 
-    it("creates new sessionId when entry exists but has no sessionId", () => {
-      const result = resolveWithStoredEntry({
-        entry: {
-          updatedAt: NOW_MS - 1000,
-          modelOverride: "some-model",
-        },
-      });
-
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).toBeDefined();
-      expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
-      // Should still preserve other fields from entry
-      expect(result.sessionEntry.modelOverride).toBe("some-model");
-    });
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.sessionId).toBeDefined();
+    expect(result.isNewSession).toBe(true);
+    // Should still preserve other fields from entry
+    expect(result.sessionEntry.modelOverride).toBe("some-model");
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.ts b/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.ts
index 0f23c836c..f9fec3ce8 100644
--- a/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.ts
+++ b/src/cron/isolated-agent/session.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
 import crypto from "node:crypto";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
-import {
-  evaluateSessionFreshness,
-  loadSessionStore,
-  resolveSessionResetPolicy,
-  resolveStorePath,
-  type SessionEntry,
-} from "../../config/sessions.js";
+import { loadSessionStore, resolveStorePath, type SessionEntry } from "../../config/sessions.js";
 
 export function resolveCronSession(params: {
   cfg: OpenClawConfig;
   sessionKey: string;
   nowMs: number;
   agentId: string;
-  forceNew?: boolean;
 }) {
   const sessionCfg = params.cfg.session;
   const storePath = resolveStorePath(sessionCfg?.store, {
@@ -21,42 +14,8 @@ export function resolveCronSession(params: {
   });
   const store = loadSessionStore(storePath);
   const entry = store[params.sessionKey];
-
-  // Check if we can reuse an existing session
-  let sessionId: string;
-  let isNewSession: boolean;
-  let systemSent: boolean;
-
-  if (!params.forceNew && entry?.sessionId) {
-    // Evaluate freshness using the configured reset policy
-    // Cron/webhook sessions use "direct" reset type (1:1 conversation style)
-    const resetPolicy = resolveSessionResetPolicy({
-      sessionCfg,
-      resetType: "direct",
-    });
-    const freshness = evaluateSessionFreshness({
-      updatedAt: entry.updatedAt,
-      now: params.nowMs,
-      policy: resetPolicy,
-    });
-
-    if (freshness.fresh) {
-      // Reuse existing session
-      sessionId = entry.sessionId;
-      isNewSession = false;
-      systemSent = entry.systemSent ?? false;
-    } else {
-      // Session expired, create new
-      sessionId = crypto.randomUUID();
-      isNewSession = true;
-      systemSent = false;
-    }
-  } else {
-    // No existing session or forced new
-    sessionId = crypto.randomUUID();
-    isNewSession = true;
-    systemSent = false;
-  }
+  const sessionId = crypto.randomUUID();
+  const systemSent = false;
 
   const sessionEntry: SessionEntry = {
     // Preserve existing per-session overrides even when rolling to a new sessionId.
@@ -66,5 +25,5 @@ export function resolveCronSession(params: {
     updatedAt: params.nowMs,
     systemSent,
   };
-  return { storePath, store, sessionEntry, systemSent, isNewSession };
+  return { storePath, store, sessionEntry, systemSent, isNewSession: true };
 }