diff --git a/cli-config.yaml.example b/cli-config.yaml.example
index dc1a33199..acdc4ff2d 100644
--- a/cli-config.yaml.example
+++ b/cli-config.yaml.example
@@ -688,6 +688,12 @@ display:
   # Toggle at runtime with /verbose in the CLI
   tool_progress: all
 
+  # What Enter does when Hermes is already busy in the CLI.
+  #   interrupt: Interrupt the current run and redirect Hermes (default)
+  #   queue:     Queue your message for the next turn
+  # Ctrl+C always interrupts regardless of this setting.
+  busy_input_mode: interrupt
+
   # Background process notifications (gateway/messaging only).
   # Controls how chatty the process watcher is when you use
   # terminal(background=true, check_interval=...) from Telegram/Discord/etc.
diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 652cc1ec1..ff81b808e 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ def load_cli_config() -> Dict[str, Any]:
             "resume_display": "full",
             "show_reasoning": False,
             "streaming": True,
+            "busy_input_mode": "interrupt",
 
             "skin": "default",
         },
@@ -1042,6 +1043,9 @@ class HermesCLI:
         self.bell_on_complete = CLI_CONFIG["display"].get("bell_on_complete", False)
         # show_reasoning: display model thinking/reasoning before the response
         self.show_reasoning = CLI_CONFIG["display"].get("show_reasoning", False)
+        # busy_input_mode: "interrupt" (Enter interrupts current run) or "queue" (Enter queues for next turn)
+        _bim = CLI_CONFIG["display"].get("busy_input_mode", "interrupt")
+        self.busy_input_mode = "queue" if str(_bim).strip().lower() == "queue" else "interrupt"
 
         self.verbose = verbose if verbose is not None else (self.tool_progress_mode == "verbose")
         
@@ -3736,17 +3740,17 @@ class HermesCLI:
         elif canonical == "background":
             self._handle_background_command(cmd_original)
         elif canonical == "queue":
-            if not self._agent_running:
-                _cprint("  /queue only works while Hermes is busy. Just type your message normally.")
+            # Extract prompt after "/queue " or "/q "
+            parts = cmd_original.split(None, 1)
+            payload = parts[1].strip() if len(parts) > 1 else ""
+            if not payload:
+                _cprint("  Usage: /queue <prompt>")
             else:
-                # Extract prompt after "/queue " or "/q "
-                parts = cmd_original.split(None, 1)
-                payload = parts[1].strip() if len(parts) > 1 else ""
-                if not payload:
-                    _cprint("  Usage: /queue <prompt>")
-                else:
-                    self._pending_input.put(payload)
+                self._pending_input.put(payload)
+                if self._agent_running:
                     _cprint(f"  Queued for the next turn: {payload[:80]}{'...' if len(payload) > 80 else ''}")
+                else:
+                    _cprint(f"  Queued: {payload[:80]}{'...' if len(payload) > 80 else ''}")
         elif canonical == "skin":
             self._handle_skin_command(cmd_original)
         elif canonical == "voice":
@@ -6126,16 +6130,22 @@ class HermesCLI:
                 # Bundle text + images as a tuple when images are present
                 payload = (text, images) if images else text
                 if self._agent_running and not (text and text.startswith("/")):
-                    self._interrupt_queue.put(payload)
-                    # Debug: log to file when message enters interrupt queue
-                    try:
-                        _dbg = _hermes_home / "interrupt_debug.log"
-                        with open(_dbg, "a") as _f:
-                            import time as _t
-                            _f.write(f"{_t.strftime('%H:%M:%S')} ENTER: queued interrupt msg={str(payload)[:60]!r}, "
-                                     f"agent_running={self._agent_running}\n")
-                    except Exception:
-                        pass
+                    if self.busy_input_mode == "queue":
+                        # Queue for the next turn instead of interrupting
+                        self._pending_input.put(payload)
+                        preview = text if text else f"[{len(images)} image{'s' if len(images) != 1 else ''} attached]"
+                        _cprint(f"  Queued for the next turn: {preview[:80]}{'...' if len(preview) > 80 else ''}")
+                    else:
+                        self._interrupt_queue.put(payload)
+                        # Debug: log to file when message enters interrupt queue
+                        try:
+                            _dbg = _hermes_home / "interrupt_debug.log"
+                            with open(_dbg, "a") as _f:
+                                import time as _t
+                                _f.write(f"{_t.strftime('%H:%M:%S')} ENTER: queued interrupt msg={str(payload)[:60]!r}, "
+                                         f"agent_running={self._agent_running}\n")
+                        except Exception:
+                            pass
                 else:
                     self._pending_input.put(payload)
                 event.app.current_buffer.reset(append_to_history=True)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/config.py b/hermes_cli/config.py
index 745bf9123..2ab681ed6 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/config.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/config.py
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
         "compact": False,
         "personality": "kawaii",
         "resume_display": "full",
+        "busy_input_mode": "interrupt",
         "bell_on_complete": False,
         "show_reasoning": False,
         "streaming": False,
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_init.py b/tests/test_cli_init.py
index f41f81bb8..b5598aed1 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_init.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_init.py
@@ -96,6 +96,59 @@ class TestVerboseAndToolProgress:
         assert cli.tool_progress_mode in ("off", "new", "all", "verbose")
 
 
+class TestBusyInputMode:
+    def test_default_busy_input_mode_is_interrupt(self):
+        cli = _make_cli()
+        assert cli.busy_input_mode == "interrupt"
+
+    def test_busy_input_mode_queue_is_honored(self):
+        cli = _make_cli(config_overrides={"display": {"busy_input_mode": "queue"}})
+        assert cli.busy_input_mode == "queue"
+
+    def test_unknown_busy_input_mode_falls_back_to_interrupt(self):
+        cli = _make_cli(config_overrides={"display": {"busy_input_mode": "bogus"}})
+        assert cli.busy_input_mode == "interrupt"
+
+    def test_queue_command_works_while_busy(self):
+        """When agent is running, /queue should still put the prompt in _pending_input."""
+        cli = _make_cli()
+        cli._agent_running = True
+        cli.process_command("/queue follow up")
+        assert cli._pending_input.get_nowait() == "follow up"
+
+    def test_queue_command_works_while_idle(self):
+        """When agent is idle, /queue should still queue (not reject)."""
+        cli = _make_cli()
+        cli._agent_running = False
+        cli.process_command("/queue follow up")
+        assert cli._pending_input.get_nowait() == "follow up"
+
+    def test_queue_mode_routes_busy_enter_to_pending(self):
+        """In queue mode, Enter while busy should go to _pending_input, not _interrupt_queue."""
+        cli = _make_cli(config_overrides={"display": {"busy_input_mode": "queue"}})
+        cli._agent_running = True
+        # Simulate what handle_enter does for non-command input while busy
+        text = "follow up"
+        if cli.busy_input_mode == "queue":
+            cli._pending_input.put(text)
+        else:
+            cli._interrupt_queue.put(text)
+        assert cli._pending_input.get_nowait() == "follow up"
+        assert cli._interrupt_queue.empty()
+
+    def test_interrupt_mode_routes_busy_enter_to_interrupt(self):
+        """In interrupt mode (default), Enter while busy goes to _interrupt_queue."""
+        cli = _make_cli()
+        cli._agent_running = True
+        text = "redirect"
+        if cli.busy_input_mode == "queue":
+            cli._pending_input.put(text)
+        else:
+            cli._interrupt_queue.put(text)
+        assert cli._interrupt_queue.get_nowait() == "redirect"
+        assert cli._pending_input.empty()
+
+
 class TestSingleQueryState:
     def test_voice_and_interrupt_state_initialized_before_run(self):
         """Single-query mode calls chat() without going through run()."""