diff --git a/src/timmy/cli.py b/src/timmy/cli.py
index fd4268c..5ffa82a 100644
--- a/src/timmy/cli.py
+++ b/src/timmy/cli.py
@@ -176,6 +176,35 @@ def think(
     timmy.print_response(f"Think carefully about: {topic}", stream=True, session_id=_CLI_SESSION_ID)
 
 
+def _read_message_input(message: list[str]) -> str:
+    """Join CLI arguments and read from stdin when appropriate."""
+    message_str = " ".join(message)
+
+    if message_str == "-" or not _is_interactive():
+        try:
+            stdin_content = sys.stdin.read().strip()
+        except (KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError):
+            stdin_content = ""
+        if stdin_content:
+            message_str = stdin_content
+        elif message_str == "-":
+            typer.echo("No input provided via stdin.", err=True)
+            raise typer.Exit(1)
+
+    return message_str
+
+
+def _resolve_session_id(session_id: str | None, new_session: bool) -> str:
+    """Return the effective session ID based on CLI flags."""
+    import uuid
+
+    if session_id is not None:
+        return session_id
+    if new_session:
+        return str(uuid.uuid4())
+    return _CLI_SESSION_ID
+
+
 @app.command()
 def chat(
     message: list[str] = typer.Argument(
@@ -216,13 +245,9 @@ def chat(
     session_id = _resolve_session_id(session_id, new_session)
     timmy = create_timmy(backend=backend, session_id=session_id)
 
-    # Use agent.run() so we can intercept paused runs for tool confirmation.
     run_output = timmy.run(message_str, stream=False, session_id=session_id)
-
-    # Handle paused runs — dangerous tools need user approval
     run_output = _handle_tool_confirmation(timmy, run_output, session_id, autonomous=autonomous)
 
-    # Print the final response
     content = run_output.content if hasattr(run_output, "content") else str(run_output)
     if content:
         from timmy.session import _clean_response