diff --git a/pkg/agent/loop.go b/pkg/agent/loop.go
index df8c392c7..85f165d55 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/loop.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/loop.go
@@ -222,23 +222,26 @@ func registerSharedTools(
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Spawn tool with allowlist checker
-		if cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("spawn") {
-			if cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("subagent") {
-				subagentManager := tools.NewSubagentManager(provider, agent.Model, agent.Workspace)
-				subagentManager.SetLLMOptions(agent.MaxTokens, agent.Temperature)
+		// Spawn and spawn_status tools share a SubagentManager.
+		// Construct it when either tool is enabled (both require subagent).
+		spawnEnabled := cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("spawn")
+		spawnStatusEnabled := cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("spawn_status")
+		if (spawnEnabled || spawnStatusEnabled) && cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("subagent") {
+			subagentManager := tools.NewSubagentManager(provider, agent.Model, agent.Workspace)
+			subagentManager.SetLLMOptions(agent.MaxTokens, agent.Temperature)
+			if spawnEnabled {
 				spawnTool := tools.NewSpawnTool(subagentManager)
 				currentAgentID := agentID
 				spawnTool.SetAllowlistChecker(func(targetAgentID string) bool {
 					return registry.CanSpawnSubagent(currentAgentID, targetAgentID)
 				})
 				agent.Tools.Register(spawnTool)
-				if cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("spawn_status") {
-					agent.Tools.Register(tools.NewSpawnStatusTool(subagentManager))
-				}
-			} else {
-				logger.WarnCF("agent", "spawn tool requires subagent to be enabled", nil)
 			}
+			if spawnStatusEnabled {
+				agent.Tools.Register(tools.NewSpawnStatusTool(subagentManager))
+			}
+		} else if (spawnEnabled || spawnStatusEnabled) && !cfg.Tools.IsToolEnabled("subagent") {
+			logger.WarnCF("agent", "spawn/spawn_status tools require subagent to be enabled", nil)
 		}
 	}
 }