diff --git a/src/config/schema/background-task-circuit-breaker.test.ts b/src/config/schema/background-task-circuit-breaker.test.ts
index e236d4012..32595ca4d 100644
--- a/src/config/schema/background-task-circuit-breaker.test.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema/background-task-circuit-breaker.test.ts
@@ -8,27 +8,24 @@ describe("BackgroundTaskConfigSchema.circuitBreaker", () => {
       const result = BackgroundTaskConfigSchema.parse({
         circuitBreaker: {
           maxToolCalls: 150,
-          windowSize: 10,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 70,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 10,
         },
       })
-
       expect(result.circuitBreaker).toEqual({
         maxToolCalls: 150,
-        windowSize: 10,
-        repetitionThresholdPercent: 70,
+        consecutiveThreshold: 10,
       })
     })
   })
 
-  describe("#given windowSize below minimum", () => {
+  describe("#given consecutiveThreshold below minimum", () => {
     test("#when parsed #then throws ZodError", () => {
       let thrownError: unknown
 
       try {
         BackgroundTaskConfigSchema.parse({
           circuitBreaker: {
-            windowSize: 4,
+            consecutiveThreshold: 4,
           },
         })
       } catch (error) {
@@ -39,14 +36,14 @@ describe("BackgroundTaskConfigSchema.circuitBreaker", () => {
     })
   })
 
-  describe("#given repetitionThresholdPercent is zero", () => {
+  describe("#given consecutiveThreshold is zero", () => {
     test("#when parsed #then throws ZodError", () => {
       let thrownError: unknown
 
       try {
         BackgroundTaskConfigSchema.parse({
           circuitBreaker: {
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 0,
+            consecutiveThreshold: 0,
           },
         })
       } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/config/schema/background-task.ts b/src/config/schema/background-task.ts
index 3e694d53e..c836e7811 100644
--- a/src/config/schema/background-task.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema/background-task.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ import { z } from "zod"
 const CircuitBreakerConfigSchema = z.object({
   enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
   maxToolCalls: z.number().int().min(10).optional(),
-  windowSize: z.number().int().min(5).optional(),
-  repetitionThresholdPercent: z.number().gt(0).max(100).optional(),
+  consecutiveThreshold: z.number().int().min(5).optional(),
 })
 
 export const BackgroundTaskConfigSchema = z.object({
diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/constants.ts b/src/features/background-agent/constants.ts
index c2b3718e9..f8f669b85 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/constants.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/constants.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ export const MIN_STABILITY_TIME_MS = 10 * 1000
 export const DEFAULT_STALE_TIMEOUT_MS = 1_200_000
 export const DEFAULT_MESSAGE_STALENESS_TIMEOUT_MS = 1_800_000
 export const DEFAULT_MAX_TOOL_CALLS = 200
-export const DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_WINDOW_SIZE = 20
-export const DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_REPETITION_THRESHOLD_PERCENT = 80
+export const DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_CONSECUTIVE_THRESHOLD = 20
 export const DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_ENABLED = true
 export const MIN_RUNTIME_BEFORE_STALE_MS = 30_000
 export const MIN_IDLE_TIME_MS = 5000
diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.test.ts b/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.test.ts
index 4d0bad4b3..bb500827c 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.test.ts
@@ -37,16 +37,14 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
           maxToolCalls: 200,
           circuitBreaker: {
             maxToolCalls: 120,
-            windowSize: 10,
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 70,
+            consecutiveThreshold: 7,
           },
         })
 
         expect(result).toEqual({
           enabled: true,
           maxToolCalls: 120,
-          windowSize: 10,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 70,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 7,
         })
       })
     })
@@ -56,8 +54,7 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
         const result = resolveCircuitBreakerSettings({
           circuitBreaker: {
             maxToolCalls: 100,
-            windowSize: 5,
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 60,
+            consecutiveThreshold: 5,
           },
         })
 
@@ -71,8 +68,7 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
           circuitBreaker: {
             enabled: false,
             maxToolCalls: 100,
-            windowSize: 5,
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 60,
+            consecutiveThreshold: 5,
           },
         })
 
@@ -86,8 +82,7 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
           circuitBreaker: {
             enabled: true,
             maxToolCalls: 100,
-            windowSize: 5,
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 60,
+            consecutiveThreshold: 5,
           },
         })
 
@@ -151,55 +146,52 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
       })
     })
 
-    describe("#given the same tool dominates the recent window", () => {
+    describe("#given the same tool is called consecutively", () => {
       test("#when evaluated #then it triggers", () => {
-        const window = buildWindow([
-          "read",
-          "read",
-          "read",
-          "edit",
-          "read",
-          "read",
-          "read",
-          "read",
-          "grep",
-          "read",
-        ], {
-          circuitBreaker: {
-            windowSize: 10,
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
-          },
-        })
+        const window = buildWindow(Array.from({ length: 20 }, () => "read"))
 
         const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(window)
 
         expect(result).toEqual({
           triggered: true,
           toolName: "read",
-          repeatedCount: 8,
-          sampleSize: 10,
-          thresholdPercent: 80,
+          repeatedCount: 20,
         })
       })
     })
 
-    describe("#given the window is not full yet", () => {
-      test("#when the current sample crosses the threshold #then it still triggers", () => {
-        const window = buildWindow(["read", "read", "edit", "read", "read", "read", "read", "read"], {
-          circuitBreaker: {
-            windowSize: 10,
-            repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
-          },
-        })
+    describe("#given consecutive calls are interrupted by different tool", () => {
+      test("#when evaluated #then it does not trigger", () => {
+        const window = buildWindow([
+          ...Array.from({ length: 19 }, () => "read"),
+          "edit",
+          "read",
+        ])
 
         const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(window)
 
+        expect(result).toEqual({ triggered: false })
+      })
+    })
+
+    describe("#given threshold boundary", () => {
+      test("#when below threshold #then it does not trigger", () => {
+        const belowThresholdWindow = buildWindow(Array.from({ length: 19 }, () => "read"))
+
+        const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(belowThresholdWindow)
+
+        expect(result).toEqual({ triggered: false })
+      })
+
+      test("#when equal to threshold #then it triggers", () => {
+        const atThresholdWindow = buildWindow(Array.from({ length: 20 }, () => "read"))
+
+        const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(atThresholdWindow)
+
         expect(result).toEqual({
           triggered: true,
           toolName: "read",
-          repeatedCount: 7,
-          sampleSize: 8,
-          thresholdPercent: 80,
+          repeatedCount: 20,
         })
       })
     })
@@ -210,9 +202,7 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
           tool: "read",
           input: { filePath: `/src/file-${i}.ts` },
         }))
-        const window = buildWindowWithInputs(calls, {
-          circuitBreaker: { windowSize: 20, repetitionThresholdPercent: 80 },
-        })
+        const window = buildWindowWithInputs(calls)
         const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(window)
         expect(result.triggered).toBe(false)
       })
@@ -220,38 +210,30 @@ describe("loop-detector", () => {
 
     describe("#given same tool with identical file inputs", () => {
       test("#when evaluated #then it triggers with bare tool name", () => {
-        const calls = [
-          ...Array.from({ length: 16 }, () => ({ tool: "read", input: { filePath: "/src/same.ts" } })),
-          { tool: "grep", input: { pattern: "foo" } },
-          { tool: "edit", input: { filePath: "/src/other.ts" } },
-          { tool: "bash", input: { command: "ls" } },
-          { tool: "glob", input: { pattern: "**/*.ts" } },
-        ]
-        const window = buildWindowWithInputs(calls, {
-          circuitBreaker: { windowSize: 20, repetitionThresholdPercent: 80 },
-        })
+        const calls = Array.from({ length: 20 }, () => ({
+          tool: "read",
+          input: { filePath: "/src/same.ts" },
+        }))
+        const window = buildWindowWithInputs(calls)
         const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(window)
-        expect(result.triggered).toBe(true)
-        expect(result.toolName).toBe("read")
-        expect(result.repeatedCount).toBe(16)
+        expect(result).toEqual({
+          triggered: true,
+          toolName: "read",
+          repeatedCount: 20,
+        })
       })
     })
 
     describe("#given tool calls with no input", () => {
-      test("#when the same tool dominates #then falls back to name-only detection", () => {
-        const calls = [
-          ...Array.from({ length: 16 }, () => ({ tool: "read" })),
-          { tool: "grep" },
-          { tool: "edit" },
-          { tool: "bash" },
-          { tool: "glob" },
-        ]
-        const window = buildWindowWithInputs(calls, {
-          circuitBreaker: { windowSize: 20, repetitionThresholdPercent: 80 },
-        })
+      test("#when evaluated #then it triggers", () => {
+        const calls = Array.from({ length: 20 }, () => ({ tool: "read" }))
+        const window = buildWindowWithInputs(calls)
         const result = detectRepetitiveToolUse(window)
-        expect(result.triggered).toBe(true)
-        expect(result.toolName).toBe("read")
+        expect(result).toEqual({
+          triggered: true,
+          toolName: "read",
+          repeatedCount: 20,
+        })
       })
     })
   })
diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.ts b/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.ts
index a7ee3a883..4f84079b6 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/loop-detector.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import type { BackgroundTaskConfig } from "../../config/schema"
 import {
   DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_ENABLED,
-  DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_REPETITION_THRESHOLD_PERCENT,
-  DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_WINDOW_SIZE,
+  DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_CONSECUTIVE_THRESHOLD,
   DEFAULT_MAX_TOOL_CALLS,
 } from "./constants"
 import type { ToolCallWindow } from "./types"
@@ -10,16 +9,13 @@ import type { ToolCallWindow } from "./types"
 export interface CircuitBreakerSettings {
   enabled: boolean
   maxToolCalls: number
-  windowSize: number
-  repetitionThresholdPercent: number
+  consecutiveThreshold: number
 }
 
 export interface ToolLoopDetectionResult {
   triggered: boolean
   toolName?: string
   repeatedCount?: number
-  sampleSize?: number
-  thresholdPercent?: number
 }
 
 export function resolveCircuitBreakerSettings(
@@ -29,10 +25,8 @@ export function resolveCircuitBreakerSettings(
     enabled: config?.circuitBreaker?.enabled ?? DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_ENABLED,
     maxToolCalls:
       config?.circuitBreaker?.maxToolCalls ?? config?.maxToolCalls ?? DEFAULT_MAX_TOOL_CALLS,
-    windowSize: config?.circuitBreaker?.windowSize ?? DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_WINDOW_SIZE,
-    repetitionThresholdPercent:
-      config?.circuitBreaker?.repetitionThresholdPercent ??
-      DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_REPETITION_THRESHOLD_PERCENT,
+    consecutiveThreshold:
+      config?.circuitBreaker?.consecutiveThreshold ?? DEFAULT_CIRCUIT_BREAKER_CONSECUTIVE_THRESHOLD,
   }
 }
 
@@ -42,16 +36,20 @@ export function recordToolCall(
   settings: CircuitBreakerSettings,
   toolInput?: Record<string, unknown> | null
 ): ToolCallWindow {
-  const previous = window?.toolSignatures ?? []
   const signature = createToolCallSignature(toolName, toolInput)
-  const toolSignatures = previous.length >= settings.windowSize
-    ? [...previous.slice(1), signature]
-    : [...previous, signature]
+
+  if (window && window.lastSignature === signature) {
+    return {
+      lastSignature: signature,
+      consecutiveCount: window.consecutiveCount + 1,
+      threshold: settings.consecutiveThreshold,
+    }
+  }
 
   return {
-    toolSignatures,
-    windowSize: settings.windowSize,
-    thresholdPercent: settings.repetitionThresholdPercent,
+    lastSignature: signature,
+    consecutiveCount: 1,
+    threshold: settings.consecutiveThreshold,
   }
 }
 
@@ -84,46 +82,13 @@ export function createToolCallSignature(
 export function detectRepetitiveToolUse(
   window: ToolCallWindow | undefined
 ): ToolLoopDetectionResult {
-  if (!window || window.toolSignatures.length === 0) {
-    return { triggered: false }
-  }
-
-  const counts = new Map<string, number>()
-  for (const signature of window.toolSignatures) {
-    counts.set(signature, (counts.get(signature) ?? 0) + 1)
-  }
-
-  let repeatedTool: string | undefined
-  let repeatedCount = 0
-
-  for (const [toolName, count] of counts.entries()) {
-    if (count > repeatedCount) {
-      repeatedTool = toolName
-      repeatedCount = count
-    }
-  }
-
-  const sampleSize = window.toolSignatures.length
-  const minimumSampleSize = Math.min(
-    window.windowSize,
-    Math.ceil((window.windowSize * window.thresholdPercent) / 100)
-  )
-
-  if (sampleSize < minimumSampleSize) {
-    return { triggered: false }
-  }
-
-  const thresholdCount = Math.ceil((sampleSize * window.thresholdPercent) / 100)
-
-  if (!repeatedTool || repeatedCount < thresholdCount) {
+  if (!window || window.consecutiveCount < window.threshold) {
     return { triggered: false }
   }
 
   return {
     triggered: true,
-    toolName: repeatedTool.split("::")[0],
-    repeatedCount,
-    sampleSize,
-    thresholdPercent: window.thresholdPercent,
+    toolName: window.lastSignature.split("::")[0],
+    repeatedCount: window.consecutiveCount,
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/manager-circuit-breaker.test.ts b/src/features/background-agent/manager-circuit-breaker.test.ts
index 8bb1426e7..2836e3f69 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/manager-circuit-breaker.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/manager-circuit-breaker.test.ts
@@ -38,12 +38,11 @@ async function flushAsyncWork() {
 }
 
 describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
-  describe("#given the same tool dominates the recent window", () => {
-    test("#when tool events arrive #then the task is cancelled early", async () => {
+  describe("#given the same tool is called consecutively", () => {
+    test("#when consecutive tool events arrive #then the task is cancelled", async () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         circuitBreaker: {
-          windowSize: 20,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 20,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -63,38 +62,17 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
       }
       getTaskMap(manager).set(task.id, task)
 
-      for (const toolName of [
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "grep",
-        "read",
-        "edit",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "bash",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "glob",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-        "read",
-      ]) {
+      for (let i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
         manager.handleEvent({
           type: "message.part.updated",
-          properties: { sessionID: task.sessionID, type: "tool", tool: toolName },
+          properties: { sessionID: task.sessionID, type: "tool", tool: "read" },
         })
       }
 
       await flushAsyncWork()
 
       expect(task.status).toBe("cancelled")
-      expect(task.error).toContain("repeatedly called read 16/20 times")
+      expect(task.error).toContain("read 20 consecutive times")
     })
   })
 
@@ -102,8 +80,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
     test("#when the window fills #then the task keeps running", async () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         circuitBreaker: {
-          windowSize: 10,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 10,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -153,8 +130,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         maxToolCalls: 3,
         circuitBreaker: {
-          windowSize: 10,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 95,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 95,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -193,8 +169,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         maxToolCalls: 2,
         circuitBreaker: {
-          windowSize: 5,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 5,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -241,8 +216,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
     test("#when tool events arrive with state.input #then task keeps running", async () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         circuitBreaker: {
-          windowSize: 20,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 20,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -287,8 +261,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
     test("#when tool events arrive with state.input #then task is cancelled with bare tool name in error", async () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         circuitBreaker: {
-          windowSize: 20,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 20,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -325,7 +298,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
       await flushAsyncWork()
 
       expect(task.status).toBe("cancelled")
-      expect(task.error).toContain("repeatedly called read")
+      expect(task.error).toContain("read 20 consecutive times")
       expect(task.error).not.toContain("::")
     })
   })
@@ -335,8 +308,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
       const manager = createManager({
         circuitBreaker: {
           enabled: false,
-          windowSize: 20,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 80,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 20,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
@@ -379,8 +351,7 @@ describe("BackgroundManager circuit breaker", () => {
         maxToolCalls: 3,
         circuitBreaker: {
           enabled: false,
-          windowSize: 10,
-          repetitionThresholdPercent: 95,
+          consecutiveThreshold: 95,
         },
       })
       const task: BackgroundTask = {
diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts b/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts
index b43ba96a6..c4ea7528b 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts
@@ -932,18 +932,16 @@ export class BackgroundManager {
            if (circuitBreaker.enabled) {
              const loopDetection = detectRepetitiveToolUse(task.progress.toolCallWindow)
              if (loopDetection.triggered) {
-               log("[background-agent] Circuit breaker: repetitive tool usage detected", {
+               log("[background-agent] Circuit breaker: consecutive tool usage detected", {
                  taskId: task.id,
                  agent: task.agent,
                  sessionID,
                  toolName: loopDetection.toolName,
                  repeatedCount: loopDetection.repeatedCount,
-                 sampleSize: loopDetection.sampleSize,
-                 thresholdPercent: loopDetection.thresholdPercent,
                })
                void this.cancelTask(task.id, {
                  source: "circuit-breaker",
-                 reason: `Subagent repeatedly called ${loopDetection.toolName} ${loopDetection.repeatedCount}/${loopDetection.sampleSize} times in the recent tool-call window (${loopDetection.thresholdPercent}% threshold). This usually indicates an infinite loop. The task was automatically cancelled to prevent excessive token usage.`,
+                 reason: `Subagent called ${loopDetection.toolName} ${loopDetection.repeatedCount} consecutive times (threshold: ${circuitBreaker.consecutiveThreshold}). This usually indicates an infinite loop. The task was automatically cancelled to prevent excessive token usage.`,
                })
                return
              }
diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/types.ts b/src/features/background-agent/types.ts
index 3bb7141e2..e40f98e27 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/types.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/types.ts
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ export type BackgroundTaskStatus =
   | "interrupt"
 
 export interface ToolCallWindow {
-  toolSignatures: string[]
-  windowSize: number
-  thresholdPercent: number
+  lastSignature: string
+  consecutiveCount: number
+  threshold: number
 }
 
 export interface TaskProgress {