diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 461a56fe8b..42a6b82f98 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -3469,6 +3469,30 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                 _update_prompts.pop(_quick_key, None)
                 label = response_text if len(response_text) <= 20 else response_text[:20] + "…"
                 return f"✓ Sent `{label}` to the update process."
+            # Recognized slash command during a pending update prompt:
+            # unblock the detached update subprocess by writing a blank
+            # response so ``_gateway_prompt`` returns the prompt's default
+            # (typically a safe "n" / skip) and exits cleanly instead of
+            # blocking on stdin until the 30-minute watcher timeout.
+            # The slash command then falls through to normal dispatch.
+            if _recognized_cmd:
+                response_path = _hermes_home / ".update_response"
+                try:
+                    tmp = response_path.with_suffix(".tmp")
+                    tmp.write_text("")
+                    tmp.replace(response_path)
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Recognized /%s during pending update prompt for %s; "
+                        "cancelled prompt with default and dispatching command",
+                        _recognized_cmd,
+                        _quick_key,
+                    )
+                except OSError as e:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "Failed to write cancel response for pending update prompt: %s",
+                        e,
+                    )
+                _update_prompts.pop(_quick_key, None)
 
         # PRIORITY handling when an agent is already running for this session.
         # Default behavior is to interrupt immediately so user text/stop messages
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_update_streaming.py b/tests/gateway/test_update_streaming.py
index f082d9fe98..1020ea6c46 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_update_streaming.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_update_streaming.py
@@ -491,7 +491,13 @@ class TestUpdatePromptInterception:
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_recognized_slash_command_bypasses_pending_update_prompt(self, tmp_path):
-        """Known slash commands must dispatch normally instead of being consumed."""
+        """Known slash commands must dispatch normally instead of being consumed.
+
+        The update subprocess is still blocked on stdin waiting for
+        ``.update_response``, so the gateway writes a blank response to
+        unblock it (``_gateway_prompt`` returns the prompt's default on
+        empty) before falling through to normal command dispatch.
+        """
         runner = _make_runner()
         hermes_home = tmp_path / "hermes"
         hermes_home.mkdir()
@@ -508,8 +514,37 @@ class TestUpdatePromptInterception:
 
         assert result == "reset ok"
         runner._handle_reset_command.assert_awaited_once_with(event)
-        assert not (hermes_home / ".update_response").exists()
-        assert runner._update_prompt_pending[session_key] is True
+        # .update_response was written (empty) to unblock the update
+        # subprocess; _gateway_prompt will read "", strip to "", and
+        # return the prompt's default.
+        response_path = hermes_home / ".update_response"
+        assert response_path.exists()
+        assert response_path.read_text() == ""
+        # Pending flag is cleared so stray future input won't be
+        # re-intercepted for a prompt that is no longer outstanding.
+        assert session_key not in runner._update_prompt_pending
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_unrecognized_slash_command_still_consumed_as_response(self, tmp_path):
+        """Unknown /foo is written verbatim to .update_response (legacy behavior)."""
+        runner = _make_runner()
+        hermes_home = tmp_path / "hermes"
+        hermes_home.mkdir()
+
+        event = _make_event(text="/foobarbaz", chat_id="67890")
+        session_key = "agent:main:telegram:dm:67890"
+        runner._update_prompt_pending[session_key] = True
+        runner._is_user_authorized = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+        runner._session_key_for_source = MagicMock(return_value=session_key)
+
+        with patch("gateway.run._hermes_home", hermes_home):
+            result = await runner._handle_message(event)
+
+        response_path = hermes_home / ".update_response"
+        assert response_path.exists()
+        assert response_path.read_text() == "/foobarbaz"
+        assert "Sent" in (result or "")
+        assert session_key not in runner._update_prompt_pending
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_normal_message_when_no_prompt_pending(self, tmp_path):