diff --git a/agent/agent_init.py b/agent/agent_init.py
index 166f26b8aaa7..da266684767f 100644
--- a/agent/agent_init.py
+++ b/agent/agent_init.py
@@ -69,6 +69,43 @@ def _ra():
     return run_agent
 
 
+def _moa_reference_output_allowed(agent: Any) -> bool:
+    """Keep MoA display events off only the machine-readable ``-Q`` surface."""
+    return not (
+        getattr(agent, "platform", None) == "cli"
+        and getattr(agent, "tool_progress_mode", "all") == "off"
+    )
+
+
+def _relay_moa_reference_event(agent: Any, event: str, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+    """Relay MoA display events while preserving the ``-Q`` stdout contract."""
+    if not _moa_reference_output_allowed(agent):
+        return
+    cb = getattr(agent, "tool_progress_callback", None)
+    if cb is None:
+        return
+    try:
+        if event == "moa.reference":
+            cb(
+                "moa.reference",
+                str(kwargs.get("label") or ""),
+                str(kwargs.get("text") or ""),
+                None,
+                moa_index=kwargs.get("index"),
+                moa_count=kwargs.get("count"),
+            )
+        elif event == "moa.aggregating":
+            cb(
+                "moa.aggregating",
+                str(kwargs.get("aggregator") or ""),
+                None,
+                None,
+                moa_ref_count=kwargs.get("ref_count"),
+            )
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
+
 def _normalize_route_base_url(base_url: Any) -> str:
     """Canonicalize an endpoint URL for model-route identity comparisons."""
     return normalize_route_base_url(base_url)
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_moa_quiet_reference_output.py b/tests/agent/test_moa_quiet_reference_output.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2b6d48e95d52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/agent/test_moa_quiet_reference_output.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+"""Regression coverage for machine-readable MoA quiet output."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+import unittest
+
+from agent.agent_init import _relay_moa_reference_event
+
+
+class MoAQuietReferenceOutputTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @staticmethod
+    def _agent(*, platform: str, tool_progress_mode: str, quiet_mode: bool = True):
+        calls = []
+
+        def callback(*args, **kwargs):
+            calls.append((args, kwargs))
+
+        return SimpleNamespace(
+            platform=platform,
+            tool_progress_mode=tool_progress_mode,
+            quiet_mode=quiet_mode,
+            tool_progress_callback=callback,
+        ), calls
+
+    def test_machine_readable_cli_suppresses_reference_relay(self) -> None:
+        agent, calls = self._agent(platform="cli", tool_progress_mode="off")
+        _relay_moa_reference_event(
+            agent,
+            "moa.reference",
+            label="local:advisor",
+            text="hidden",
+            index=1,
+            count=1,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(calls, [])
+
+    def test_interactive_cli_delivers_reference_relay(self) -> None:
+        agent, calls = self._agent(
+            platform="cli",
+            tool_progress_mode="all",
+            quiet_mode=True,
+        )
+        _relay_moa_reference_event(
+            agent,
+            "moa.reference",
+            label="local:advisor",
+            text="visible",
+            index=1,
+            count=2,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            calls,
+            [
+                (
+                    ("moa.reference", "local:advisor", "visible", None),
+                    {"moa_index": 1, "moa_count": 2},
+                )
+            ],
+        )
+
+    def test_gateway_delivers_even_when_progress_mode_is_off(self) -> None:
+        agent, calls = self._agent(platform="discord", tool_progress_mode="off")
+        _relay_moa_reference_event(
+            agent,
+            "moa.aggregating",
+            aggregator="local:aggregator",
+            ref_count=2,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            calls,
+            [
+                (
+                    ("moa.aggregating", "local:aggregator", None, None),
+                    {"moa_ref_count": 2},
+                )
+            ],
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()