diff --git a/cli/src/chat.tsx b/cli/src/chat.tsx
index bafdcecf1..af83a45c9 100644
--- a/cli/src/chat.tsx
+++ b/cli/src/chat.tsx
@@ -1473,15 +1473,17 @@ export const Chat = ({
         )}
 
         {reviewMode ? (
-          // Review takes precedence over the session-ended banner: during the
-          // grace window the agent may still be asking to run tools, and
-          // those approvals must be reachable for the run to finish.
+          // Review and ask_user take precedence over the session-ended banner:
+          // during the grace window the agent may still be asking to run tools
+          // or asking the user a question, and those approvals/answers must be
+          // reachable for the run to finish — otherwise the agent hangs
+          // waiting for input that can never be given.
           <ReviewScreen
             onSelectOption={handleReviewOptionSelect}
             onCustom={handleReviewCustom}
             onCancel={handleCloseReviewScreen}
           />
-        ) : isFreebuffSessionOver ? (
+        ) : isFreebuffSessionOver && !askUserState ? (
           <SessionEndedBanner
             isStreaming={isStreaming || isWaitingForResponse}
           />
diff --git a/cli/src/hooks/helpers/send-message.ts b/cli/src/hooks/helpers/send-message.ts
index 01f6880b6..02e419b30 100644
--- a/cli/src/hooks/helpers/send-message.ts
+++ b/cli/src/hooks/helpers/send-message.ts
@@ -510,10 +510,16 @@ function handleFreebuffGateError(
   switch (kind) {
     case 'session_expired':
     case 'waiting_room_required':
-      // Our seat is gone mid-chat. Flip to `ended` instead of auto re-queuing:
-      // the Chat surface stays mounted so any in-flight agent work can finish
-      // under the server-side grace period, and the session-ended banner
-      // prompts the user to press Enter when they're ready to rejoin.
+      // Our seat is gone mid-chat. Finalize the AI message so its streaming
+      // indicator stops — otherwise `isComplete` stays false and the message
+      // keeps rendering a blinking cursor forever, making the user think the
+      // agent is still working even though the SessionEndedBanner is visible
+      // and actionable. Also disposes the batched-updater flush interval.
+      updater.markComplete()
+      // Flip to `ended` instead of auto re-queuing: the Chat surface stays
+      // mounted so any in-flight agent work can finish under the server-side
+      // grace period, and the session-ended banner prompts the user to press
+      // Enter when they're ready to rejoin.
       markFreebuffSessionEnded()
       return
     case 'waiting_room_queued':