diff --git a/gateway/platforms/base.py b/gateway/platforms/base.py
index 0bf7b9a2ad9..ad9dac170ee 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/base.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/base.py
@@ -1774,8 +1774,12 @@ class BasePlatformAdapter(ABC):
         The default implementation falls back to a numbered text list,
         which works on every platform — the user replies with a number
         ("2") or with the literal choice text, and the gateway intercepts
-        and resolves.  Adapters with native button UIs (Telegram, Discord)
-        SHOULD override this for a richer UX.
+        and resolves.  For the text fallback path, the default calls
+        ``mark_awaiting_text()`` so that the gateway text-intercept
+        (:meth:`GatewayRunner._maybe_intercept_clarify_text`) catches the
+        user's reply instead of timing out.
+        Adapters with native button UIs (Telegram, Discord) SHOULD
+        override this for a richer UX.
         """
         if choices:
             lines = [f"❓ {question}", ""]
@@ -1784,6 +1788,10 @@ class BasePlatformAdapter(ABC):
             lines.append("")
             lines.append("Reply with the number, the option text, or your own answer.")
             text = "\n".join(lines)
+            # Text fallback: enable text-capture so the gateway intercept
+            # picks up the user's typed reply (e.g. "2" or choice text).
+            from tools.clarify_gateway import mark_awaiting_text
+            mark_awaiting_text(clarify_id)
         else:
             text = f"❓ {question}"
         return await self.send(
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py b/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py
index 61ea55c8cfc..86385be3571 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py
@@ -205,3 +205,23 @@ class TestGatewayTextIntercept:
         pending2 = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk")
         assert pending2 is not None
         assert pending2.clarify_id == "first"
+    def test_text_fallback_enables_awaiting_text_for_multi_choice(self):
+        """When base send_clarify renders choices as text, mark_awaiting_text
+        is called so the gateway text-intercept can capture the reply."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        entry = cm.register("id-tf", "sk-tf", "Pick one", ["A", "B", "C"])
+        # Initially, multi-choice does NOT await text (button path)
+        assert entry.awaiting_text is False
+
+        # After the base send_clarify text fallback calls mark_awaiting_text:
+        flipped = cm.mark_awaiting_text("id-tf")
+        assert flipped is True
+
+        # Now get_pending_for_session should find it
+        pending = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk-tf")
+        assert pending is not None
+        assert pending.clarify_id == "id-tf"
+        
+        # Clean up
+        cm.clear_session("sk-tf")