diff --git a/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts b/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts
index 450b70de4..7f6dc6044 100644
--- a/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/shared/prompt-async-gate.test.ts
@@ -476,6 +476,34 @@ describe("promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle", () => {
     expect(promptCalls).toBe(1)
   })
 
+  test("#given session.status never resolves #when promptAsync is requested #then isSessionActive times out and dispatch is attempted", async () => {
+    // given
+    let promptCalls = 0
+    const client = {
+      session: {
+        status: async () => new Promise(() => {}),
+        promptAsync: async () => {
+          promptCalls += 1
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    // when
+    const result = await promptAsyncAfterSessionIdle({
+      client,
+      sessionID: "ses_status_hang",
+      input: { path: { id: "ses_status_hang" }, body: { parts: [] } },
+      source: "test:status-hang",
+      settleMs: 0,
+      postDispatchHoldMs: 0,
+      dispatchTimeoutMs: 50,
+    })
+
+    // then
+    expect(result.status).toBe("dispatched")
+    expect(promptCalls).toBe(1)
+  }, 2000)
+
   test("#given SDK prompt depends on its session receiver #when the gate dispatches #then method binding is preserved", async () => {
     // given
     const session = {
diff --git a/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts b/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts
index 3822ccf11..ff53a16cd 100644
--- a/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts
+++ b/src/shared/prompt-async-gate.ts
@@ -169,7 +169,19 @@ async function dispatchAfterSessionIdle<TInput>(args: {
       await settleAfterSessionIdle(settleMs)
     }
 
-    if (canReadStatus && await isSessionActive(client, sessionID)) {
+    let sessionActive = false
+    if (canReadStatus) {
+      try {
+        sessionActive = await withDispatchTimeout(
+          isSessionActive(client, sessionID),
+          Math.min(dispatchTimeoutMs, 5000),
+          `[prompt-async-gate] ${sessionName} isSessionActive`,
+        )
+      } catch {
+        sessionActive = false
+      }
+    }
+    if (sessionActive) {
       log(`[prompt-async-gate] ${sessionName} skipped because session is active`, { sessionID, source })
       return { status: "active" }
     }