diff --git a/cmd/picoclaw/internal/agent/helpers.go b/cmd/picoclaw/internal/agent/helpers.go
index 9f234bb4e..2d6fc4c48 100644
--- a/cmd/picoclaw/internal/agent/helpers.go
+++ b/cmd/picoclaw/internal/agent/helpers.go
@@ -97,6 +97,18 @@ func interactiveMode(agentLoop *agent.AgentLoop, sessionKey string) {
 	}
 	defer rl.Close()
 
+	// Listen for outbound messages on the bus (e.g. from the 'message' tool)
+	// and print them to the console.
+	go func() {
+		for outbound := range agentLoop.GetBus().OutboundChan() {
+			if outbound.Content != "" {
+				fmt.Printf("\n%s %s\n", internal.Logo, outbound.Content)
+				// Re-print the prompt to keep it at the bottom
+				rl.Refresh()
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
 	for {
 		line, err := rl.Readline()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -130,6 +142,15 @@ func interactiveMode(agentLoop *agent.AgentLoop, sessionKey string) {
 }
 
 func simpleInteractiveMode(agentLoop *agent.AgentLoop, sessionKey string) {
+	// Listen for outbound messages on the bus
+	go func() {
+		for outbound := range agentLoop.GetBus().OutboundChan() {
+			if outbound.Content != "" {
+				fmt.Printf("\n%s %s\n\n%s You: ", internal.Logo, outbound.Content, internal.Logo)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
 	reader := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
 	for {
 		fmt.Print(fmt.Sprintf("%s You: ", internal.Logo))
diff --git a/pkg/agent/loop_test.go b/pkg/agent/loop_test.go
index 90025df3e..b22a5aebc 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/loop_test.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/loop_test.go
@@ -3693,8 +3693,8 @@ func TestProcessMessage_MessageToolPublishesOutboundWithTurnMetadata(t *testing.
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("processMessage() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if response == "" {
-		t.Fatal("expected processMessage() to return a final loop response")
+	if response != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty loop response when tool handles delivery, got %q", response)
 	}
 
 	select {