fix: preserve busy steer env override

gateway/run.py

@@ -1563,8 +1563,16 @@ if _config_path.exists():
                 os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_TEXT_MODE"] = str(_display_cfg["busy_text_mode"])
             if "busy_ack_enabled" in _display_cfg:
                 os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_ACK_ENABLED"] = str(_display_cfg["busy_ack_enabled"])
-            if "busy_steer_ack_enabled" in _display_cfg:
-                os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_STEER_ACK_ENABLED"] = str(_display_cfg["busy_steer_ack_enabled"])
+            # This process-level env var is documented as an override for
+            # service managers, so preserve it when already set. Other display
+            # bridges stay config-authoritative for backwards compatibility.
+            if (
+                "busy_steer_ack_enabled" in _display_cfg
+                and "HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_STEER_ACK_ENABLED" not in os.environ
+            ):
+                os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_STEER_ACK_ENABLED"] = str(
+                    _display_cfg["busy_steer_ack_enabled"]
+                )
         # Timezone: bridge config.yaml → HERMES_TIMEZONE env var.
         _tz_cfg = _cfg.get("timezone", "")
         if _tz_cfg and isinstance(_tz_cfg, str):
@@ -5332,6 +5340,15 @@ class GatewayRunner(GatewayAuthorizationMixin, GatewayKanbanWatchersMixin, Gatew
             logger.debug("Busy ack suppressed for session %s", session_key)
             return True  # input still processed, just no ack sent
 
+        # Debounce before consulting config-heavy display settings. Rapid
+        # follow-ups should be processed but should not trigger another config
+        # read just to discover that no ack will be sent.
+        _BUSY_ACK_COOLDOWN = 30
+        now = time.time()
+        last_ack = self._busy_ack_ts.get(session_key, 0)
+        if now - last_ack < _BUSY_ACK_COOLDOWN:
+            return True  # interrupt sent (if not queue), ack already delivered recently
+
         from gateway.display_config import resolve_display_setting
         platform_key = _platform_config_key(event.source.platform)
 
@@ -5356,14 +5373,6 @@ class GatewayRunner(GatewayAuthorizationMixin, GatewayKanbanWatchersMixin, Gatew
                 logger.debug("Busy steer ack suppressed for session %s", session_key)
                 return True
 
-        # Debounce: only send an acknowledgment once every 30 seconds per session
-        # to avoid spamming the user when they send multiple messages quickly
-        _BUSY_ACK_COOLDOWN = 30
-        now = time.time()
-        last_ack = self._busy_ack_ts.get(session_key, 0)
-        if now - last_ack < _BUSY_ACK_COOLDOWN:
-            return True  # interrupt sent (if not queue), ack already delivered recently
-
         self._busy_ack_ts[session_key] = now
 
         # Build a status-rich acknowledgment. Mobile chat defaults keep this

tests/gateway/test_busy_session_ack.py

@@ -358,6 +358,36 @@ class TestBusySessionAck:
         adapter._send_with_retry.assert_not_called()
         assert sk not in adapter._pending_messages
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_busy_ack_debounce_skips_steer_ack_config_load(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Rapid follow-ups should not reload display config when ack is debounced."""
+        import gateway.run as _gr
+
+        def _boom():
+            raise AssertionError("config should not be loaded inside ack cooldown")
+
+        monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_GATEWAY_BUSY_STEER_ACK_ENABLED", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(_gr, "_load_gateway_config", _boom)
+
+        runner, sentinel = _make_runner()
+        runner._busy_input_mode = "steer"
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+
+        event = _make_event(text="rapid steer")
+        sk = build_session_key(event.source)
+        runner.adapters[event.source.platform] = adapter
+
+        agent = MagicMock()
+        agent.steer = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+        runner._running_agents[sk] = agent
+        runner._busy_ack_ts[sk] = time.time()
+
+        result = await runner._handle_active_session_busy_message(event, sk)
+
+        assert result is True
+        agent.steer.assert_called_once_with("rapid steer")
+        adapter._send_with_retry.assert_not_called()
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_steer_mode_falls_back_to_queue_when_agent_rejects(self):
         """If agent.steer() returns False, fall back to queue behavior."""