diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e619200ca..b8ffc68c3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 - CLI: remove `update`, `gateway-daemon`, `gateway {install|uninstall|start|stop|restart|daemon status|wake|send|agent}`, and `telegram` commands; use `daemon` for service control, `send`/`agent`/`wake` for RPC, and `nodes canvas` for canvas ops.
 
 ### Fixes
+- Auto-reply: keep typing indicators alive during tool execution without changing typing-mode semantics. Thanks @thesash for PR #452.
 - macOS: harden Voice Wake tester/runtime (pause trigger, mic persistence, local-only tester) and keep transcript logs private. Thanks @xadenryan for PR #438.
 - macOS: preserve node bridge tunnel port override so remote nodes connect on the bridge port. Thanks @sircrumpet for PR #364.
 - Doctor/Daemon: surface gateway runtime state + port collision diagnostics; warn on legacy workspace dirs.
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/test-helpers.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/test-helpers.ts
index c9f49ac58..2bbef29ad 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/test-helpers.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/test-helpers.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,18 @@ import { vi } from "vitest";
 
 import type { TypingController } from "./typing.js";
 
-export function createMockTypingController(): TypingController {
+export function createMockTypingController(
+  overrides: Partial<TypingController> = {},
+): TypingController {
   return {
     onReplyStart: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     startTypingLoop: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     startTypingOnText: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     refreshTypingTtl: vi.fn(),
+    isActive: vi.fn(() => false),
     markRunComplete: vi.fn(),
     markDispatchIdle: vi.fn(),
     cleanup: vi.fn(),
+    ...overrides,
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.test.ts
index 9d3f06e1e..697b97af5 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 import { createMockTypingController } from "./test-helpers.js";
 import { createTypingSignaler, resolveTypingMode } from "./typing-mode.js";
@@ -123,6 +123,36 @@ describe("createTypingSignaler", () => {
     expect(typing.startTypingOnText).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("does not start typing on tool start when inactive", async () => {
+    const typing = createMockTypingController();
+    const signaler = createTypingSignaler({
+      typing,
+      mode: "message",
+      isHeartbeat: false,
+    });
+
+    await signaler.signalToolStart();
+
+    expect(typing.refreshTypingTtl).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(typing.startTypingLoop).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("refreshes ttl on tool start when active", async () => {
+    const typing = createMockTypingController({
+      isActive: vi.fn(() => true),
+    });
+    const signaler = createTypingSignaler({
+      typing,
+      mode: "message",
+      isHeartbeat: false,
+    });
+
+    await signaler.signalToolStart();
+
+    expect(typing.refreshTypingTtl).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(typing.startTypingLoop).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("suppresses typing when disabled", async () => {
     const typing = createMockTypingController();
     const signaler = createTypingSignaler({
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.ts
index 839659c06..a445b6e2e 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/typing-mode.ts
@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ export function createTypingSignaler(params: {
 
   const signalToolStart = async () => {
     if (disabled) return;
-    // Keep typing indicator alive during tool execution
-    await typing.startTypingLoop();
+    if (!typing.isActive()) return;
+    // Keep typing indicator alive during tool execution without changing mode semantics.
+    typing.refreshTypingTtl();
   };
 
   return {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/typing.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/typing.ts
index 7aba34c85..680163a92 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/typing.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/typing.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ export type TypingController = {
   startTypingLoop: () => Promise<void>;
   startTypingOnText: (text?: string) => Promise<void>;
   refreshTypingTtl: () => void;
+  isActive: () => boolean;
   markRunComplete: () => void;
   markDispatchIdle: () => void;
   cleanup: () => void;
@@ -76,6 +77,8 @@ export function createTypingController(params: {
     }, typingTtlMs);
   };
 
+  const isActive = () => active && !sealed;
+
   const triggerTyping = async () => {
     if (sealed) return;
     await onReplyStart?.();
@@ -138,6 +141,7 @@ export function createTypingController(params: {
     startTypingLoop,
     startTypingOnText,
     refreshTypingTtl,
+    isActive,
     markRunComplete,
     markDispatchIdle,
     cleanup,
diff --git a/src/web/auto-reply.test.ts b/src/web/auto-reply.test.ts
index c5cf7544c..54e74c71c 100644
--- a/src/web/auto-reply.test.ts
+++ b/src/web/auto-reply.test.ts
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ describe("typing controller idle", () => {
       startTypingLoop: vi.fn(async () => {}),
       startTypingOnText: vi.fn(async () => {}),
       refreshTypingTtl: vi.fn(),
+      isActive: vi.fn(() => false),
       markRunComplete: vi.fn(),
       markDispatchIdle,
       cleanup: vi.fn(),