diff --git a/gateway/platforms/base.py b/gateway/platforms/base.py
index e57a84bb33..7ba1679fc6 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/base.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/base.py
@@ -1303,7 +1303,7 @@ class BasePlatformAdapter(ABC):
             # session lifecycle and its cleanup races with the running task
             # (see PR #4926).
             cmd = event.get_command()
-            if cmd in ("approve", "deny", "status", "stop", "new", "reset"):
+            if cmd in ("approve", "deny", "status", "stop", "new", "reset", "background"):
                 logger.debug(
                     "[%s] Command '/%s' bypassing active-session guard for %s",
                     self.name, cmd, session_key,
diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index b16374a5b8..982b9f321d 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -1991,6 +1991,11 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                     return await self._handle_approve_command(event)
                 return await self._handle_deny_command(event)
 
+            # /background must bypass the running-agent guard — it starts a
+            # parallel task and must never interrupt the active conversation.
+            if _cmd_def_inner and _cmd_def_inner.name == "background":
+                return await self._handle_background_command(event)
+
             if event.message_type == MessageType.PHOTO:
                 logger.debug("PRIORITY photo follow-up for session %s — queueing without interrupt", _quick_key[:20])
                 adapter = self.adapters.get(source.platform)