diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-core.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-core.ts
index 6f173a11145..2c0bd6d5f36 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-core.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-core.ts
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ export async function handleCommands(params: HandleCommandsParams): Promise<Comm
     }
 
     // Trigger learning before reset/new commands (after ACP target resolution)
-    // Run in background - don't await, so reset happens immediately
+    // Run in background with dedicated lane to avoid blocking user interactions
     if (targetSessionEntry?.sessionId && targetSessionEntry.sessionFile) {
       const thinkLevel = params.resolvedThinkLevel ?? (await params.resolveDefaultThinkingLevel());
       runLearnForSession({
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ export async function handleCommands(params: HandleCommandsParams): Promise<Comm
           "What insights and lessons should be remembered before starting a new session?",
         senderIsOwner: params.command.senderIsOwner,
         ownerNumbers: params.command.ownerList.length > 0 ? params.command.ownerList : undefined,
+        lane: "learn",
       }).then((learnResult) => {
         if (learnResult.ok) {
           logVerbose(`Background pre-reset learning completed for session ${targetSessionKey}`);
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-learn.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-learn.ts
index 7c10ca2e0c9..6e6242d9c15 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-learn.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/commands-learn.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ export async function runLearnForSession(params: {
   customFocus?: string;
   senderIsOwner: boolean;
   ownerNumbers?: string[];
+  lane?: string;
 }): Promise<{ ok: boolean; message?: string }> {
   const prompt = params.customFocus
     ? `Focus area: ${params.customFocus}. ${LEARN_DEFAULT_PROMPT}`
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ export async function runLearnForSession(params: {
       extraSystemPrompt: LEARN_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
       trigger: "memory",
       timeoutMs: 5 * 60 * 1000, // 5 minutes
+      lane: params.lane,
       senderIsOwner: params.senderIsOwner,
       ownerNumbers: params.ownerNumbers,
     });