diff --git a/gateway/platforms/base.py b/gateway/platforms/base.py
index 9bbd5a9f5367..96a728abd7c1 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/base.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/base.py
@@ -1826,14 +1826,15 @@ class MessageEvent:
     
     def is_command(self) -> bool:
         """Check if this is a command message (e.g., /new, /reset)."""
-        return self.text.startswith("/")
+        return (self.text or "").lstrip().startswith("/")
     
     def get_command(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """Extract command name if this is a command message."""
         if not self.is_command():
             return None
         # Split on space and get first word, strip the /
-        parts = self.text.split(maxsplit=1)
+        command_text = (self.text or "").lstrip()
+        parts = command_text.split(maxsplit=1)
         raw = parts[0][1:].lower() if parts else None
         if raw and "@" in raw:
             raw = raw.split("@", 1)[0]
@@ -1846,7 +1847,8 @@ class MessageEvent:
         """Get the arguments after a command."""
         if not self.is_command():
             return self.text
-        parts = self.text.split(maxsplit=1)
+        command_text = (self.text or "").lstrip()
+        parts = command_text.split(maxsplit=1)
         args = parts[1] if len(parts) > 1 else ""
         # iOS auto-corrects -- to — (em dash) and - to – (en dash)
         args = args.replace("\u2014\u2014", "--").replace("\u2014", "--").replace("\u2013", "-")
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/slack/adapter.py b/plugins/platforms/slack/adapter.py
index bf76bd85021a..0f87a7092e5d 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/slack/adapter.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/slack/adapter.py
@@ -3788,11 +3788,12 @@ class SlackAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         # gateway dispatcher) handles it like a normal slash command.  Only
         # rewrite when the first token resolves to a known gateway command
         # so casual messages like "!nice work" pass through unchanged.
-        if original_text.startswith("!"):
+        command_probe_text = original_text.lstrip()
+        if command_probe_text.startswith("!"):
             try:
                 from hermes_cli.commands import is_gateway_known_command
 
-                first_token = original_text[1:].split(maxsplit=1)[0]
+                first_token = command_probe_text[1:].split(maxsplit=1)[0]
                 # Strip "@suffix" the same way get_command() does, so
                 # forms like ``!stop@hermes`` still resolve.
                 cmd_name = first_token.split("@", 1)[0].lower()
@@ -3801,10 +3802,12 @@ class SlackAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
                     and "/" not in cmd_name
                     and is_gateway_known_command(cmd_name)
                 ):
-                    original_text = "/" + original_text[1:]
+                    original_text = "/" + command_probe_text[1:]
+                    command_probe_text = original_text
             except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
                 pass
 
+        is_command_text = command_probe_text.startswith("/")
         text = original_text
 
         # Extract quoted/forwarded content from Slack blocks.
@@ -4163,9 +4166,15 @@ class SlackAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
 
         # Determine message type
         msg_type = MessageType.TEXT
-        if (original_text or "").startswith("/"):
+        if is_command_text:
             msg_type = MessageType.COMMAND
 
+        # Commands typed as Slack text messages often intentionally carry a
+        # leading space (`` /stop``) so Slack itself does not intercept the
+        # slash. Once classified as a command, pass only the command text into
+        # the gateway dispatcher; do not prepend fetched thread context or
+        # block/attachment rendering before the leading slash.
+
         # Handle file attachments
         media_urls = []
         media_types = []
@@ -4514,7 +4523,7 @@ class SlackAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         )
 
         msg_event = MessageEvent(
-            text=text,
+            text=(command_probe_text if is_command_text else text),
             message_type=msg_type,
             source=source,
             raw_message=event,
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py b/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py
index 4924eed6a9e2..ffd9db601fcf 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_platform_commands.py
@@ -56,6 +56,16 @@ class TestSlashCommands:
         response_lower = response_text.lower()
         assert "no" in response_lower or "stop" in response_lower or "not running" in response_lower
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_leading_space_stop_is_still_a_command(self, adapter, platform):
+        """Slack users type `` /stop`` to avoid native Slack slash interception."""
+        send = await send_and_capture(adapter, " /stop", platform)
+
+        send.assert_called_once()
+        response_text = send.call_args[1].get("content") or send.call_args[0][1]
+        response_lower = response_text.lower()
+        assert "no" in response_lower or "stop" in response_lower or "not running" in response_lower
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_commands_shows_listing(self, adapter, platform):
         send = await send_and_capture(adapter, "/commands", platform)