diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 84735ad3d80..c7832ab3794 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -13979,7 +13979,12 @@ class HermesCLI:
             reserved_below = 6
 
             available = max(0, term_rows - reserved_below)
-            mandatory_full = chrome_full + len(choice_wrapped) + len(other_wrapped)
+            # The compact decision must reserve room for at least one question
+            # row on top of the choices, otherwise full chrome (3 blank
+            # separators) gets kept when there is no room for it and the panel
+            # overflows the viewport — HSplit then clips the panel's tail,
+            # silently dropping the choices (the reported bug).
+            mandatory_full = chrome_full + 1 + len(choice_wrapped) + len(other_wrapped)
 
             use_compact_chrome = mandatory_full > available
             chrome_rows = chrome_tight if use_compact_chrome else chrome_full
@@ -13987,9 +13992,24 @@ class HermesCLI:
             max_question_rows = max(1, available - chrome_rows - len(choice_wrapped) - len(other_wrapped))
             max_question_rows = min(max_question_rows, 12)  # soft cap on huge terminals
 
+            # When the choices alone (plus compact chrome) already exceed the
+            # viewport, drop the question entirely — the choices are the only
+            # thing the user must see to make a selection. Without this the
+            # question would still claim its 1-row floor above and push the
+            # tail of the choices off-screen (HSplit clips the overflow).
+            choices_overflow = chrome_rows + len(choice_wrapped) + len(other_wrapped) >= available
+            if choices_overflow:
+                max_question_rows = 0
+
             question_wrapped = _wrap_panel_text(question, inner_text_width)
-            if len(question_wrapped) > max_question_rows:
-                keep = max(1, max_question_rows - 1)
+            if max_question_rows <= 0:
+                question_wrapped = []
+            elif len(question_wrapped) > max_question_rows:
+                # The truncation marker is itself a row, so it must count
+                # against the budget. With a 1-row budget there is no room for
+                # both a question line and the marker — show the marker alone
+                # so the rendered question never exceeds max_question_rows.
+                keep = max(0, max_question_rows - 1)
                 question_wrapped = question_wrapped[:keep] + ["… (question truncated)"]
 
             lines = []