diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner-execution.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner-execution.ts
index c25342e4a28..e88c227d0a1 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner-execution.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner-execution.ts
@@ -394,11 +394,17 @@ export async function runAgentTurnWithFallback(params: {
                       await params.opts?.onToolStart?.({ name, phase });
                     }
                   }
-                  // Track auto-compaction completion and notify UI layer.
+                  // Track auto-compaction and notify higher layers.
                   if (evt.stream === "compaction") {
                     const phase = typeof evt.data.phase === "string" ? evt.data.phase : "";
                     if (phase === "start") {
-                      await params.opts?.onCompactionStart?.();
+                      if (params.opts?.onCompactionStart) {
+                        await params.opts.onCompactionStart();
+                      } else {
+                        // Use the universal in-run block reply path so every
+                        // channel sees a notice while compaction is pausing the run.
+                        await params.opts?.onBlockReply?.({ text: "🧹 Compacting context..." });
+                      }
                     }
                     const completed = evt.data?.completed === true;
                     if (phase === "end" && completed) {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner.ts
index fbdad1be160..fba204eccad 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner.ts
@@ -697,8 +697,16 @@ export async function runReplyAgent(params: {
           });
       }
 
+      // Always notify the user when compaction completes — not just in verbose
+      // mode. The "🧹 Compacting context..." notice was already sent at start,
+      // so the completion message closes the loop for every user regardless of
+      // their verbose setting.
+      const suffix = typeof count === "number" ? ` (count ${count})` : "";
+      verboseNotices.push({ text: `✅ Context compacted${suffix}.` });
       if (verboseEnabled) {
-        const suffix = typeof count === "number" ? ` (count ${count})` : "";
+        // Verbose mode already gets the completion — keep the legacy notice
+        // text only for verbose so power users see the traditional wording.
+        verboseNotices.pop();
         verboseNotices.push({ text: `🧹 Auto-compaction complete${suffix}.` });
       }
     }