diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index e9019ca4f2f..4d84fe96f73 100755
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -1244,6 +1244,10 @@ class HermesCLI:
         self._command_running = False
         self._command_status = ""
 
+        # Background task tracking: {task_id: threading.Thread}
+        self._background_tasks: Dict[str, threading.Thread] = {}
+        self._background_task_counter = 0
+
     def _invalidate(self, min_interval: float = 0.25) -> None:
         """Throttled UI repaint — prevents terminal blinking on slow/SSH connections."""
         import time as _time
@@ -2825,6 +2829,8 @@ class HermesCLI:
                 self._reload_mcp()
         elif cmd_lower.startswith("/rollback"):
             self._handle_rollback_command(cmd_original)
+        elif cmd_lower.startswith("/background"):
+            self._handle_background_command(cmd_original)
         elif cmd_lower.startswith("/skin"):
             self._handle_skin_command(cmd_original)
         else:
@@ -2869,6 +2875,113 @@ class HermesCLI:
         
         return True
     
+    def _handle_background_command(self, cmd: str):
+        """Handle /background <prompt> — run a prompt in a separate background session.
+
+        Spawns a new AIAgent in a background thread with its own session.
+        When it completes, prints the result to the CLI without modifying
+        the active session's conversation history.
+        """
+        parts = cmd.strip().split(maxsplit=1)
+        if len(parts) < 2 or not parts[1].strip():
+            _cprint("  Usage: /background <prompt>")
+            _cprint("  Example: /background Summarize the top HN stories today")
+            _cprint("  The task runs in a separate session and results display here when done.")
+            return
+
+        prompt = parts[1].strip()
+        self._background_task_counter += 1
+        task_num = self._background_task_counter
+        task_id = f"bg_{datetime.now().strftime('%H%M%S')}_{uuid.uuid4().hex[:6]}"
+
+        # Make sure we have valid credentials
+        if not self._ensure_runtime_credentials():
+            _cprint("  (>_<) Cannot start background task: no valid credentials.")
+            return
+
+        _cprint(f"  🔄 Background task #{task_num} started: \"{prompt[:60]}{'...' if len(prompt) > 60 else ''}\"")
+        _cprint(f"  Task ID: {task_id}")
+        _cprint(f"  You can continue chatting — results will appear when done.\n")
+
+        def run_background():
+            try:
+                bg_agent = AIAgent(
+                    model=self.model,
+                    api_key=self.api_key,
+                    base_url=self.base_url,
+                    provider=self.provider,
+                    api_mode=self.api_mode,
+                    max_iterations=self.max_turns,
+                    enabled_toolsets=self.enabled_toolsets,
+                    quiet_mode=True,
+                    verbose_logging=False,
+                    session_id=task_id,
+                    platform="cli",
+                    session_db=self._session_db,
+                    reasoning_config=self.reasoning_config,
+                    providers_allowed=self._providers_only,
+                    providers_ignored=self._providers_ignore,
+                    providers_order=self._providers_order,
+                    provider_sort=self._provider_sort,
+                    provider_require_parameters=self._provider_require_params,
+                    provider_data_collection=self._provider_data_collection,
+                    fallback_model=self._fallback_model,
+                )
+
+                result = bg_agent.run_conversation(
+                    user_message=prompt,
+                    task_id=task_id,
+                )
+
+                response = result.get("final_response", "") if result else ""
+                if not response and result and result.get("error"):
+                    response = f"Error: {result['error']}"
+
+                # Display result in the CLI (thread-safe via patch_stdout)
+                print()
+                _cprint(f"{_GOLD}{'─' * 40}{_RST}")
+                _cprint(f"  ✅ Background task #{task_num} complete")
+                _cprint(f"  Prompt: \"{prompt[:60]}{'...' if len(prompt) > 60 else ''}\"")
+                _cprint(f"{_GOLD}{'─' * 40}{_RST}")
+                if response:
+                    try:
+                        from hermes_cli.skin_engine import get_active_skin
+                        _skin = get_active_skin()
+                        label = _skin.get_branding("response_label", "⚕ Hermes")
+                        _resp_color = _skin.get_color("response_border", "#CD7F32")
+                    except Exception:
+                        label = "⚕ Hermes"
+                        _resp_color = "#CD7F32"
+
+                    _chat_console = ChatConsole()
+                    _chat_console.print(Panel(
+                        response,
+                        title=f"[bold]{label} (background #{task_num})[/bold]",
+                        title_align="left",
+                        border_style=_resp_color,
+                        box=rich_box.HORIZONTALS,
+                        padding=(1, 2),
+                    ))
+                else:
+                    _cprint("  (No response generated)")
+
+                # Play bell if enabled
+                if self.bell_on_complete:
+                    sys.stdout.write("\a")
+                    sys.stdout.flush()
+
+            except Exception as e:
+                print()
+                _cprint(f"  ❌ Background task #{task_num} failed: {e}")
+            finally:
+                self._background_tasks.pop(task_id, None)
+                if self._app:
+                    self._invalidate(min_interval=0)
+
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=run_background, daemon=True, name=f"bg-task-{task_id}")
+        self._background_tasks[task_id] = thread
+        thread.start()
+
     def _handle_skin_command(self, cmd: str):
         """Handle /skin [name] — show or change the display skin."""
         try: