fix(fleet): bounded-poll send --verify to eliminate false unverifiable on slow TUIs

Replace the single fixed 300ms capture-pane delay in `agent send --verify` with a
bounded polling loop. After sending, the loop polls `capture-pane` every 400ms
(VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS) up to a configurable total timeout (default 6000ms,
VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS). classifySendResult is called on each poll: accepted/draft
return immediately; unverifiable keeps polling until timeout, then fails closed with
the existing "no pane change after send" message.

New `--verify-timeout <ms>` option on `agent send` (default 6000ms documented).
Injectable SleepFn added to FleetCommandDeps for test isolation — no real sleeps in
tests. Exports VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS and VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS as constants.
classifySendResult and all other pure functions remain unchanged.

Tests: multi-poll acceptance on 2nd/3rd poll => exit 0; pane unchanged until timeout
=> exit 1; draft detected on first poll => exit 1. All 386 tests pass.

docs/fleet/PRD.md Known-limitations updated: verify now polls up to bounded timeout
(default ~6s, --verify-timeout); definitive acceptance still deferred to Phase-3
heartbeat-ack.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01RMoEx7hfdFGjUiCHuN1RRi

docs/fleet/PRD.md

@@ -80,14 +80,17 @@ observability and no safe way to watch a session.
 - **Verify heuristic is best-effort:** `agent send --verify` uses a `>` -prefix draft
   heuristic that is specific to pi/claude TUIs. Draft detection for codex and opencode
   TUIs is best-effort only; those runtimes may not use the same input-line indicator.
-- **Pane-change check is the best Phase-2 signal:** `agent send --verify` compares a
+- **Pane-change check is the best Phase-2 signal; verify now polls up to a bounded
-  BEFORE snapshot (captured immediately before the send) to an AFTER snapshot (captured
+  timeout:** `agent send --verify` captures a BEFORE snapshot, sends the message, then
-  after the send delay). A pane that changed and does not end in a draft line is reported
+  polls `capture-pane` every ~400 ms up to a configurable total timeout (default ~6 s,
-  as 'accepted'. A pane that did not change — including a wedged pane showing stale
+  controlled by `--verify-timeout <ms>`). On each poll it runs classifySendResult: if
-  non-empty content — is reported 'unverifiable' (exit 1, "no pane change after send").
+  the pane shows 'accepted' or 'draft' the loop exits immediately; while the result is
-  Definitive acceptance ultimately requires a runtime acknowledgement (Phase-3
+  'unverifiable' (no pane change yet) it keeps polling. After the timeout with no
-  heartbeat-ack); the pane-change check is the best signal available against an opaque
+  definitive result, it fails closed: exit 1 with "no pane change after send". This
-  TUI for Phase-2.
+  eliminates false 'unverifiable' failures for slow/loaded TUIs that were previously
+  caused by the old fixed 300 ms single-capture. Definitive acceptance ultimately
+  requires a runtime acknowledgement (Phase-3 heartbeat-ack); the bounded pane-change
+  poll is the best signal available against an opaque TUI for Phase-2.
 - **Blank AFTER capture fails closed:** Full-screen TUIs (claude, codex, opencode, pi)
   render blank for `tmux capture-pane`. When the AFTER snapshot is empty, `send --verify`
   returns non-zero with an "unverifiable" message rather than silently succeeding. This

packages/mosaic/src/commands/fleet.spec.ts

@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ import {
   parseTmuxListPanes,
   registerFleetCommand,
   resolveFleetPaths,
+  VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS,
+  VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS,
   type AgentPsRow,
   type CommandRunner,
   type InteractiveRunner,
+  type SleepFn,
 } from './fleet.js';
 import { registerAgentCommand } from './agent.js';
 
@@ -1235,7 +1238,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it('issues BEFORE-capture then send then AFTER-capture (3 calls) when --verify is passed', async () => {
+  it('issues BEFORE-capture then send then AFTER-capture (3 calls) when --verify is passed and pane changes on first poll', async () => {
     const home = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-fleet-'));
     await mkdir(join(home, 'fleet'), { recursive: true });
     await writeFile(
@@ -1245,6 +1248,9 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       ),
     );
 
+    // no-op sleep so the test doesn't take VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {};
+
     let callIndex = 0;
     const calls: string[][] = [];
     const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
@@ -1253,14 +1259,14 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       if ([command, ...args].join(' ').includes('agent-send.sh')) {
         return { stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
       }
-      // BEFORE capture: return old content; AFTER capture: return new content
+      // BEFORE capture (idx 0): return old content; first AFTER capture (idx 2): return new content
       const stdout = idx === 0 ? 'Old pane content\n' : 'New response from agent\n';
       return { stdout, stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
     };
 
     const program = new Command();
     program.exitOverride();
-    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, mosaicHome: home });
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
 
     try {
       await program.parseAsync([
@@ -1274,7 +1280,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
         '--verify',
       ]);
 
-      // 3 calls: BEFORE-capture, send, AFTER-capture
+      // 3 calls: BEFORE-capture, send, AFTER-capture (pane changed on first poll → accepted immediately)
       expect(calls).toHaveLength(3);
       expect(calls[0]).toEqual(buildAgentVerifyAcceptedCommand('coder0', 'mosaic-factory', 5));
       expect(calls[1]![0]).toContain('agent-send.sh');
@@ -1322,7 +1328,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it('send --verify: AFTER==BEFORE (stale/wedged pane) sets process.exitCode=1 (unverifiable)', async () => {
+  it('send --verify: AFTER==BEFORE (stale/wedged pane) sets process.exitCode=1 (unverifiable) after timeout', async () => {
     const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
     const stderrMessages: string[] = [];
     const stderrSpy = vi.spyOn(process.stderr, 'write').mockImplementation((msg) => {
@@ -1339,6 +1345,12 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       ),
     );
 
+    // Count sleep calls to verify polling happens; use no-op sleep for speed.
+    let sleepCalls = 0;
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {
+      sleepCalls++;
+    };
+
     const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
       const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
       if (full.includes('agent-send.sh')) return { stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
@@ -1348,9 +1360,12 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
 
     const program = new Command();
     program.exitOverride();
-    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, mosaicHome: home });
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
 
     try {
+      // Use a short verify-timeout (one poll interval worth) so the loop exits quickly.
+      // With a no-op sleep, Date.now() won't advance, so we only get 1 poll before
+      // deadline is exceeded. Use --verify-timeout=0 to force single-poll timeout.
       await program.parseAsync([
         'node',
         'mosaic',
@@ -1360,10 +1375,14 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
         '--message',
         'hello',
         '--verify',
+        '--verify-timeout',
+        '0',
       ]);
       expect(process.exitCode).toBe(1);
       // Must mention "no pane change" to distinguish from blank-capture case
       expect(stderrMessages.join('')).toMatch(/no pane change after send/i);
+      // At least one poll should have happened
+      expect(sleepCalls).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
     } finally {
       process.exitCode = originalExitCode;
       stderrSpy.mockRestore();
@@ -1371,7 +1390,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
     }
   }, 10_000);
 
-  it('send --verify: blank AFTER capture sets process.exitCode=1 (unverifiable, fails closed)', async () => {
+  it('send --verify: blank AFTER capture sets process.exitCode=1 (unverifiable, fails closed) after timeout', async () => {
     const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
     const stderrMessages: string[] = [];
     const stderrSpy = vi.spyOn(process.stderr, 'write').mockImplementation((msg) => {
@@ -1388,6 +1407,8 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       ),
     );
 
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {};
+
     let captureCallCount = 0;
     const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
       const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
@@ -1400,7 +1421,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
 
     const program = new Command();
     program.exitOverride();
-    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, mosaicHome: home });
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
 
     try {
       await program.parseAsync([
@@ -1412,6 +1433,8 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
         '--message',
         'hello',
         '--verify',
+        '--verify-timeout',
+        '0',
       ]);
       expect(process.exitCode).toBe(1);
       expect(stderrMessages.join('')).toMatch(/could not verify delivery/i);
@@ -1422,7 +1445,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
     }
   }, 10_000);
 
-  it('send --verify: AFTER differs from BEFORE with draft line sets process.exitCode=1', async () => {
+  it('send --verify: AFTER differs from BEFORE with draft line sets process.exitCode=1 (returns immediately on first poll)', async () => {
     const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
     const stderrMessages: string[] = [];
     const stderrSpy = vi.spyOn(process.stderr, 'write').mockImplementation((msg) => {
@@ -1439,6 +1462,11 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       ),
     );
 
+    let sleepCalls = 0;
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {
+      sleepCalls++;
+    };
+
     let captureCallCount = 0;
     const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
       const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
@@ -1451,7 +1479,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
 
     const program = new Command();
     program.exitOverride();
-    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, mosaicHome: home });
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
 
     try {
       await program.parseAsync([
@@ -1466,6 +1494,8 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       ]);
       expect(process.exitCode).toBe(1);
       expect(stderrMessages.join('')).toMatch(/unsubmitted draft/i);
+      // Draft is returned on the first poll — only one sleep call expected
+      expect(sleepCalls).toBe(1);
     } finally {
       process.exitCode = originalExitCode;
       stderrSpy.mockRestore();
@@ -1473,7 +1503,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
     }
   }, 10_000);
 
-  it('send --verify: AFTER differs from BEFORE with real response content sets exitCode=0 (accepted)', async () => {
+  it('send --verify: AFTER differs from BEFORE with real response content sets exitCode=0 (accepted on first poll)', async () => {
     const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
 
     const home = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-fleet-'));
@@ -1485,6 +1515,8 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       ),
     );
 
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {};
+
     let captureCallCount = 0;
     const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
       const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
@@ -1500,7 +1532,7 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
 
     const program = new Command();
     program.exitOverride();
-    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, mosaicHome: home });
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
 
     try {
       await program.parseAsync([
@@ -1520,4 +1552,199 @@ describe('agent send --verify', () => {
       await rm(home, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
   }, 10_000);
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Bounded-polling tests (FR-5 enhancement)
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  it('send --verify: accepted on 2nd poll (pane slow to respond) => exit 0', async () => {
+    // Simulates a slow/loaded TUI that only updates on the 2nd poll.
+    const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
+
+    const home = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-fleet-'));
+    await mkdir(join(home, 'fleet'), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(
+      join(home, 'fleet', 'roster.yaml'),
+      ['version: 1', 'transport: tmux', 'agents:', '  - name: coder0', '    runtime: codex'].join(
+        '\n',
+      ),
+    );
+
+    let sleepCalls = 0;
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async (ms) => {
+      sleepCalls++;
+      expect(ms).toBe(VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+    };
+
+    let captureCallCount = 0;
+    const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
+      const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
+      if (full.includes('agent-send.sh')) return { stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      captureCallCount++;
+      if (captureCallCount === 1) {
+        // BEFORE: old content
+        return { stdout: 'Old pane content\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      } else if (captureCallCount === 2) {
+        // 1st AFTER poll: still unchanged (slow TUI) => unverifiable
+        return { stdout: 'Old pane content\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      } else {
+        // 2nd AFTER poll: pane changed => accepted
+        return { stdout: 'Old pane content\nAgent accepted task.\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      }
+    };
+
+    const program = new Command();
+    program.exitOverride();
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
+
+    try {
+      // Give enough timeout for at least 2 polls (2 × VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS).
+      // With no-op sleep, Date.now() will advance between polls so we use a generous timeout.
+      await program.parseAsync([
+        'node',
+        'mosaic',
+        'agent',
+        'send',
+        'coder0',
+        '--message',
+        'hello',
+        '--verify',
+        '--verify-timeout',
+        String(VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS * 3),
+      ]);
+      // Accepted on 2nd poll — exitCode should remain unchanged
+      expect(process.exitCode).toBe(originalExitCode);
+      // At least 2 sleep calls (one per poll until accepted)
+      expect(sleepCalls).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
+    } finally {
+      process.exitCode = originalExitCode;
+      await rm(home, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  }, 10_000);
+
+  it('send --verify: accepted on 3rd poll => exit 0', async () => {
+    const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
+
+    const home = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-fleet-'));
+    await mkdir(join(home, 'fleet'), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(
+      join(home, 'fleet', 'roster.yaml'),
+      ['version: 1', 'transport: tmux', 'agents:', '  - name: coder0', '    runtime: codex'].join(
+        '\n',
+      ),
+    );
+
+    let sleepCalls = 0;
+    // Real-time advancing sleep needed so deadline check works correctly.
+    // Use a tiny delay (1ms) so the test runs fast but Date.now() still advances.
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {
+      sleepCalls++;
+      await new Promise<void>((r) => setTimeout(r, 1));
+    };
+
+    let captureCallCount = 0;
+    const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
+      const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
+      if (full.includes('agent-send.sh')) return { stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      captureCallCount++;
+      if (captureCallCount === 1) {
+        return { stdout: 'Old content\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      } else if (captureCallCount <= 3) {
+        // Polls 1 and 2: unchanged
+        return { stdout: 'Old content\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      } else {
+        // Poll 3: accepted
+        return { stdout: 'Old content\nDone!\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      }
+    };
+
+    const program = new Command();
+    program.exitOverride();
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
+
+    try {
+      // Long enough timeout to allow at least 3 polls with 1ms sleeps
+      await program.parseAsync([
+        'node',
+        'mosaic',
+        'agent',
+        'send',
+        'coder0',
+        '--message',
+        'hello',
+        '--verify',
+        '--verify-timeout',
+        '500',
+      ]);
+      expect(process.exitCode).toBe(originalExitCode);
+      expect(sleepCalls).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(3);
+    } finally {
+      process.exitCode = originalExitCode;
+      await rm(home, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  }, 10_000);
+
+  it('send --verify: pane stays unchanged until timeout => exit 1 (unverifiable)', async () => {
+    const originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
+    const stderrMessages: string[] = [];
+    const stderrSpy = vi.spyOn(process.stderr, 'write').mockImplementation((msg) => {
+      stderrMessages.push(String(msg));
+      return true;
+    });
+
+    const home = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-fleet-'));
+    await mkdir(join(home, 'fleet'), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(
+      join(home, 'fleet', 'roster.yaml'),
+      ['version: 1', 'transport: tmux', 'agents:', '  - name: coder0', '    runtime: codex'].join(
+        '\n',
+      ),
+    );
+
+    let sleepCalls = 0;
+    const sleepFn: SleepFn = async () => {
+      sleepCalls++;
+    };
+
+    const runner: CommandRunner = async (command, args) => {
+      const full = [command, ...args].join(' ');
+      if (full.includes('agent-send.sh')) return { stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+      // Always the same content — pane never changes
+      return { stdout: 'Unchanged pane content\n', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 };
+    };
+
+    const program = new Command();
+    program.exitOverride();
+    registerAgentCommand(program, { runner, sleepFn, mosaicHome: home });
+
+    try {
+      // timeout=0 means deadline is immediately exceeded after the first poll
+      await program.parseAsync([
+        'node',
+        'mosaic',
+        'agent',
+        'send',
+        'coder0',
+        '--message',
+        'hello',
+        '--verify',
+        '--verify-timeout',
+        '0',
+      ]);
+      expect(process.exitCode).toBe(1);
+      expect(stderrMessages.join('')).toMatch(/no pane change after send/i);
+      expect(sleepCalls).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+    } finally {
+      process.exitCode = originalExitCode;
+      stderrSpy.mockRestore();
+      await rm(home, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  }, 10_000);
+
+  it('send --verify: VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS and VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS are exported constants', () => {
+    expect(typeof VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS).toBe('number');
+    expect(VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS).toBe(400);
+    expect(typeof VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS).toBe('number');
+    expect(VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS).toBe(6_000);
+  });
 });

packages/mosaic/src/commands/fleet.ts

@@ -22,10 +22,23 @@ export interface CommandResult {
 
 export type CommandRunner = (command: string, args: string[]) => Promise<CommandResult>;
 
+/**
+ * Injectable sleep helper used by the send --verify polling loop.
+ * Tests stub this to avoid real delays; production uses the default
+ * implementation backed by setTimeout.
+ */
+export type SleepFn = (ms: number) => Promise<void>;
+
 export interface FleetCommandDeps {
   runner?: CommandRunner;
   /** Injectable interactive runner for commands needing inherited TTY (e.g., `tmux attach`). */
   interactiveRunner?: InteractiveRunner;
+  /**
+   * Injectable sleep function for the send --verify polling loop.
+   * Defaults to a real setTimeout-based sleep. Tests stub this to avoid
+   * real delays; the default is used in production.
+   */
+  sleepFn?: SleepFn;
   mosaicHome?: string;
   frameworkRoot?: string;
 }
@@ -101,6 +114,18 @@ type FleetServiceAction = 'start' | 'stop' | 'restart' | 'status';
 const DEFAULT_SOCKET_NAME = 'mosaic-factory';
 const DEFAULT_HOLDER_SESSION = '_holder';
 const DEFAULT_WORKING_DIRECTORY = '~/src';
+
+/**
+ * Default poll interval (ms) between capture-pane checks in `send --verify`.
+ * Kept short enough to react quickly while not hammering tmux on busy hosts.
+ */
+export const VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 400;
+
+/**
+ * Default total timeout (ms) for the `send --verify` polling loop.
+ * Configurable via `--verify-timeout <ms>` on `agent send`.
+ */
+export const VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 6_000;
 const DEFAULT_RUNTIME_RESETS: Record<string, { resetCommand: string }> = {
   claude: { resetCommand: '/clear' },
   codex: { resetCommand: '/clear' },
@@ -880,6 +905,7 @@ export function registerFleetAgentCommands(
 ): void {
   const runner = deps.runner ?? runCommand;
   const iRunner = deps.interactiveRunner ?? spawnInteractive;
+  const sleepFn = deps.sleepFn ?? defaultSleep;
 
   agentCommand
     .command('roster')
@@ -933,10 +959,21 @@ export function registerFleetAgentCommands(
       '--verify',
       'Verify message was accepted (not left as a draft); exit non-zero if unverifiable',
     )
+    .option(
+      '--verify-timeout <ms>',
+      `Maximum time (ms) to poll for pane change when --verify is set (default: ${VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS})`,
+      String(VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS),
+    )
     .action(
       async (
         agent: string,
-        opts: { message: string; sourceLabel?: string; source?: string; verify?: boolean },
+        opts: {
+          message: string;
+          sourceLabel?: string;
+          source?: string;
+          verify?: boolean;
+          verifyTimeout?: string;
+        },
       ) => {
         const roster = await loadRosterFromAgentCommand(agentCommand, deps.mosaicHome);
         getRosterAgent(roster, agent);
@@ -945,6 +982,12 @@ export function registerFleetAgentCommands(
         );
         const sourceLabel = opts.sourceLabel ?? opts.source ?? getDefaultOperatorSourceLabel();
         if (opts.verify) {
+          const parsedTimeout =
+            opts.verifyTimeout !== undefined ? Number.parseInt(opts.verifyTimeout, 10) : Number.NaN;
+          const timeoutMs = Number.isFinite(parsedTimeout)
+            ? Math.max(0, parsedTimeout)
+            : VERIFY_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS;
+
           // Capture BEFORE snapshot so we can detect stale-pane false-successes.
           // A wedged pane that still shows old non-empty content must not be reported
           // as 'accepted' — we compare BEFORE vs AFTER to guard against that case.
@@ -963,8 +1006,15 @@ export function registerFleetAgentCommands(
             buildAgentSendCommand(paths, agent, opts.message, roster.tmux.socketName, sourceLabel),
           );
 
-          // Brief pause to allow the TUI to process the send before capturing the AFTER snapshot.
+          // Bounded polling loop: poll capture-pane every VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS up to
-          await new Promise<void>((res) => setTimeout(res, 300));
+          // timeoutMs. Return immediately when the pane shows 'accepted' or 'draft';
+          // keep polling while 'unverifiable' (no pane change yet). Fail closed after
+          // timeout with the existing "no pane change after send" message.
+          const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs;
+          let verifyResult: SendVerifyResult = 'unverifiable';
+
+          while (true) {
+            await sleepFn(VERIFY_POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
             const afterResult = await runner(
               ...splitCommand(buildAgentVerifyAcceptedCommand(agent, roster.tmux.socketName)),
             );
@@ -973,8 +1023,17 @@ export function registerFleetAgentCommands(
                 `send --verify: could not capture pane output to verify acceptance (tmux exited ${afterResult.exitCode}).`,
               );
             }
-          // Classify using BEFORE/AFTER comparison to guard against stale-pane false-successes.
+            verifyResult = classifySendResult(beforeSnapshot, afterResult.stdout);
-          const verifyResult = classifySendResult(beforeSnapshot, afterResult.stdout);
+            // Definitive result — stop polling immediately.
+            if (verifyResult === 'accepted' || verifyResult === 'draft') {
+              break;
+            }
+            // Still unverifiable — check if we have time left to poll again.
+            if (Date.now() >= deadline) {
+              break;
+            }
+          }
+
           if (verifyResult === 'draft') {
             process.exitCode = 1;
             process.stderr.write(
@@ -1481,6 +1540,14 @@ function spawnInteractive(command: string, args: string[]): Promise<number> {
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Default SleepFn implementation backed by setTimeout.
+ * Tests inject a stub to avoid real delays in the send --verify polling loop.
+ */
+function defaultSleep(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise<void>((res) => setTimeout(res, ms));
+}
+
 async function canRead(path: string): Promise<boolean> {
   try {
     await access(path, constants.R_OK);