diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 4890ebe66f9..acf712e484b 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -381,6 +381,8 @@ if _config_path.exists():
         if _display_cfg and isinstance(_display_cfg, dict):
             if "busy_input_mode" in _display_cfg and "HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_INPUT_MODE" not in os.environ:
                 os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_INPUT_MODE"] = str(_display_cfg["busy_input_mode"])
+            if "busy_ack_enabled" in _display_cfg and "HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_ACK_ENABLED" not in os.environ:
+                os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_ACK_ENABLED"] = str(_display_cfg["busy_ack_enabled"])
         # Timezone: bridge config.yaml → HERMES_TIMEZONE env var.
         # HERMES_TIMEZONE from .env takes precedence (already in os.environ).
         _tz_cfg = _cfg.get("timezone", "")
@@ -1971,6 +1973,12 @@ class GatewayRunner:
 
         self._busy_ack_ts[session_key] = now
 
+        # Check if busy ack is disabled — skip sending but still process the input
+        busy_ack_enabled = os.environ.get("HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_ACK_ENABLED", "true").lower() == "true"
+        if not busy_ack_enabled:
+            logger.debug("Busy ack suppressed for session %s", session_key)
+            return True  # input still processed, just no ack sent
+
         # Build a status-rich acknowledgment
         status_parts = []
         if running_agent and running_agent is not _AGENT_PENDING_SENTINEL: