fix(gateway): enhance message handling during agent tasks with queue mode support

gateway/run.py

@@ -1551,27 +1551,23 @@ class GatewayRunner:
             )
             return True
 
-        # --- Normal busy case (agent actively running a task) ---
+        # Normal busy case (agent actively running a task)
-        # The user sent a message while the agent is working.  Interrupt the
-        # agent immediately so it stops the current tool-calling loop and
-        # processes the new message.  The pending message is stored in the
-        # adapter so the base adapter picks it up once the interrupted run
-        # returns.  A brief ack tells the user what's happening (debounced
-        # to avoid spam when they fire multiple messages quickly).
-
         adapter = self.adapters.get(event.source.platform)
         if not adapter:
             return False  # let default path handle it
 
         # Store the message so it's processed as the next turn after the
-        # interrupt causes the current run to exit.
+        # current run finishes (or is interrupted).
         from gateway.platforms.base import merge_pending_message_event
         merge_pending_message_event(adapter._pending_messages, session_key, event)
 
-        # Interrupt the running agent — this aborts in-flight tool calls and
+        is_queue_mode = self._busy_input_mode == "queue"
-        # causes the agent loop to exit at the next check point.
+
+        # If not in queue mode, interrupt the running agent immediately.
+        # This aborts in-flight tool calls and causes the agent loop to exit
+        # at the next check point.
         running_agent = self._running_agents.get(session_key)
-        if running_agent and running_agent is not _AGENT_PENDING_SENTINEL:
+        if not is_queue_mode and running_agent and running_agent is not _AGENT_PENDING_SENTINEL:
             try:
                 running_agent.interrupt(event.text)
             except Exception:
@@ -1583,7 +1579,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         now = time.time()
         last_ack = self._busy_ack_ts.get(session_key, 0)
         if now - last_ack < _BUSY_ACK_COOLDOWN:
-            return True  # interrupt sent, ack already delivered recently
+            return True  # interrupt sent (if not queue), ack already delivered recently
 
         self._busy_ack_ts[session_key] = now
 
@@ -1608,10 +1604,16 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                 pass
 
         status_detail = f" ({', '.join(status_parts)})" if status_parts else ""
-        message = (
+        if is_queue_mode:
-            f"⚡ Interrupting current task{status_detail}. "
+            message = (
-            f"I'll respond to your message shortly."
+                f"⏳ Queued for the next turn{status_detail}. "
-        )
+                f"I'll respond once the current task finishes."
+            )
+        else:
+            message = (
+                f"⚡ Interrupting current task{status_detail}. "
+                f"I'll respond to your message shortly."
+            )
 
         thread_meta = {"thread_id": event.source.thread_id} if event.source.thread_id else None
         try:

tests/gateway/test_busy_session_ack.py

@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
     async def test_sends_ack_when_agent_running(self):
         """First message during busy session should get a status ack."""
         runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "interrupt"
         adapter = _make_adapter()
 
         event = _make_event(text="Are you working?")
@@ -127,16 +128,42 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
         assert "Interrupting" in content or "respond" in content
         assert "/stop" not in content  # no need — we ARE interrupting
 
-        # Verify message was queued in adapter pending
-        assert sk in adapter._pending_messages
-
         # Verify agent interrupt was called
         agent.interrupt.assert_called_once_with("Are you working?")
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_queue_mode_suppresses_interrupt_and_updates_ack(self):
+        """When busy_input_mode is 'queue', message is queued WITHOUT interrupt."""
+        runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "queue"
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+
+        event = _make_event(text="Add this to queue")
+        sk = build_session_key(event.source)
+        runner.adapters[event.source.platform] = adapter
+
+        agent = MagicMock()
+        runner._running_agents[sk] = agent
+
+        with patch("gateway.run.merge_pending_message_event"):
+            await runner._handle_active_session_busy_message(event, sk)
+
+        # VERIFY: Agent was NOT interrupted
+        agent.interrupt.assert_not_called()
+
+        # VERIFY: Ack sent with queue-specific wording
+        adapter._send_with_retry.assert_called_once()
+        call_kwargs = adapter._send_with_retry.call_args
+        content = call_kwargs.kwargs.get("content") or call_kwargs[1].get("content", "")
+        assert "Queued for the next turn" in content
+        assert "respond once the current task finishes" in content
+        assert "Interrupting" not in content
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_debounce_suppresses_rapid_acks(self):
         """Second message within 30s should NOT send another ack."""
         runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "interrupt"
         adapter = _make_adapter()
 
         event1 = _make_event(text="hello?")
@@ -172,13 +199,14 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
         assert result2 is True
         assert adapter._send_with_retry.call_count == 1  # still 1, no new ack
 
-        # But interrupt should still be called for both
+        # But interrupt should still be called for both (since we are in interrupt mode)
         assert agent.interrupt.call_count == 2
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_ack_after_cooldown_expires(self):
         """After 30s cooldown, a new message should send a fresh ack."""
         runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "interrupt"
         adapter = _make_adapter()
 
         event = _make_event(text="hello?")
@@ -212,6 +240,7 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
     async def test_includes_status_detail(self):
         """Ack message should include iteration and tool info when available."""
         runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "interrupt"
         adapter = _make_adapter()
 
         event = _make_event(text="yo")
@@ -243,6 +272,7 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
         """Draining case should still produce the drain-specific message."""
         runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
         runner._draining = True
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "interrupt"
         adapter = _make_adapter()
 
         event = _make_event(text="hello")
@@ -264,6 +294,7 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
     async def test_pending_sentinel_no_interrupt(self):
         """When agent is PENDING_SENTINEL, don't call interrupt (it has no method)."""
         runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "interrupt"
         adapter = _make_adapter()
 
         event = _make_event(text="hey")