diff --git a/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts b/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts
index 260db9d67..cd943d3b4 100644
--- a/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,41 @@ describe("promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle", () => {
     expect(promptCalls).toBe(1)
   })
 
+  test("#given settle is disabled and status is unavailable #when a second promptAsync starts after the first dispatch resolves #then the default dispatch hold keeps the session reserved", async () => {
+    // given
+    let promptCalls = 0
+    const client = {
+      session: {
+        promptAsync: async () => {
+          promptCalls += 1
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    // when
+    const first = promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle({
+      client,
+      sessionID: "ses_hold_after_dispatch",
+      input: { path: { id: "ses_hold_after_dispatch" }, body: { parts: [] } },
+      source: "test:hold:first",
+      settleMs: 0,
+    })
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0))
+    const second = await promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle({
+      client,
+      sessionID: "ses_hold_after_dispatch",
+      input: { path: { id: "ses_hold_after_dispatch" }, body: { parts: [] } },
+      source: "test:hold:second",
+      settleMs: 0,
+    })
+    const firstResult = await first
+
+    // then
+    expect(firstResult.status).toBe("dispatched")
+    expect(second.status).toBe("reserved")
+    expect(promptCalls).toBe(1)
+  })
+
   test("#given session.status reports busy #when an internal promptAsync is requested #then no prompt is sent", async () => {
     // given
     let promptCalls = 0
@@ -126,4 +161,39 @@ describe("promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle", () => {
     expect(second.status).toBe("reserved")
     expect(promptCalls).toBe(1)
   })
+
+  test("#given settle is disabled and status is unavailable #when a second prompt starts after the first dispatch resolves #then the default dispatch hold keeps the session reserved", async () => {
+    // given
+    let promptCalls = 0
+    const client = {
+      session: {
+        prompt: async () => {
+          promptCalls += 1
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    // when
+    const first = promptAfterSessionIdle({
+      client,
+      sessionID: "ses_prompt_hold_after_dispatch",
+      input: { path: { id: "ses_prompt_hold_after_dispatch" }, body: { parts: [] } },
+      source: "test:prompt-hold:first",
+      settleMs: 0,
+    })
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0))
+    const second = await promptAfterSessionIdle({
+      client,
+      sessionID: "ses_prompt_hold_after_dispatch",
+      input: { path: { id: "ses_prompt_hold_after_dispatch" }, body: { parts: [] } },
+      source: "test:prompt-hold:second",
+      settleMs: 0,
+    })
+    const firstResult = await first
+
+    // then
+    expect(firstResult.status).toBe("dispatched")
+    expect(second.status).toBe("reserved")
+    expect(promptCalls).toBe(1)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts b/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts
index 806b2178d..7f2f57553 100644
--- a/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts
+++ b/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts
@@ -60,9 +60,7 @@ export async function promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle<TInput = PromptAsyncInput>(arg
     source,
     settleMs = DEFAULT_SESSION_IDLE_SETTLE_MS,
   } = args
-  const postDispatchHoldMs = args.postDispatchHoldMs ?? (
-    settleMs > 0 ? DEFAULT_PROMPT_ASYNC_POST_DISPATCH_HOLD_MS : 0
-  )
+  const postDispatchHoldMs = args.postDispatchHoldMs ?? DEFAULT_PROMPT_ASYNC_POST_DISPATCH_HOLD_MS
 
   if (typeof client.session?.promptAsync !== "function") {
     log("[prompt-async-gate] promptAsync unavailable", { sessionID, source })
@@ -100,7 +98,7 @@ export async function promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle<TInput = PromptAsyncInput>(arg
 
     log("[prompt-async-gate] promptAsync dispatching", { sessionID, source })
     const response = await client.session.promptAsync(input)
-    if (canReadStatus) {
+    if (postDispatchHoldMs > 0) {
       await settleAfterSessionIdle(postDispatchHoldMs)
     }
     log("[prompt-async-gate] promptAsync dispatched", { sessionID, source })
@@ -132,9 +130,7 @@ export async function promptAfterSessionIdle<TInput = PromptAsyncInput>(args: {
     source,
     settleMs = DEFAULT_SESSION_IDLE_SETTLE_MS,
   } = args
-  const postDispatchHoldMs = args.postDispatchHoldMs ?? (
-    settleMs > 0 ? DEFAULT_PROMPT_ASYNC_POST_DISPATCH_HOLD_MS : 0
-  )
+  const postDispatchHoldMs = args.postDispatchHoldMs ?? DEFAULT_PROMPT_ASYNC_POST_DISPATCH_HOLD_MS
 
   if (typeof client.session?.prompt !== "function") {
     log("[prompt-async-gate] prompt unavailable", { sessionID, source })
@@ -172,7 +168,7 @@ export async function promptAfterSessionIdle<TInput = PromptAsyncInput>(args: {
 
     log("[prompt-async-gate] prompt dispatching", { sessionID, source })
     const response = await client.session.prompt(input)
-    if (canReadStatus) {
+    if (postDispatchHoldMs > 0) {
       await settleAfterSessionIdle(postDispatchHoldMs)
     }
     log("[prompt-async-gate] prompt dispatched", { sessionID, source })