diff --git a/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts b/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts
index aa27dea2841..27401b41880 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts
@@ -386,7 +386,12 @@ export function useMainApp(gw: GatewayClient) {
   // and error paths never emit message.complete, so anything enqueued while
   // `!sleep` / a failed turn was running would stay stuck forever.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!ui.sid || ui.busy || composerRefs.queueEditRef.current !== null) {
+    if (
+      !ui.sid ||
+      ui.busy ||
+      composerRefs.queueEditRef.current !== null ||
+      composerRefs.queueRef.current.length === 0
+    ) {
       return
     }