diff --git a/src/hooks/start-work/start-work-hook.ts b/src/hooks/start-work/start-work-hook.ts
index f916c2eae..7a85491df 100644
--- a/src/hooks/start-work/start-work-hook.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/start-work/start-work-hook.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { log } from "../../shared/logger"
 import {
   getAgentDisplayName,
   getAgentListDisplayName,
+  stripAgentListSortPrefix,
 } from "../../shared/agent-display-names"
 import {
   isAgentRegistered,
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ export function createStartWorkHook(ctx: PluginInput) {
       : getAgentDisplayName(activeAgent)
     updateSessionAgent(input.sessionID, activeAgent)
     if (output.message) {
-      output.message["agent"] = activeAgentDisplayName
+      output.message["agent"] = stripAgentListSortPrefix(activeAgentDisplayName)
     }
 
     const existingState = readBoulderState(ctx.directory)
diff --git a/src/shared/agent-display-names.ts b/src/shared/agent-display-names.ts
index d74287c28..9841074e4 100644
--- a/src/shared/agent-display-names.ts
+++ b/src/shared/agent-display-names.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const AGENT_LIST_SORT_PREFIXES: Record<string, string> = {
   atlas: "\u200B\u200B\u200B\u200B",
 }
 
-function stripAgentListSortPrefix(agentName: string): string {
+export function stripAgentListSortPrefix(agentName: string): string {
   return agentName.replace(/^\u200B+/, "")
 }