diff --git a/internal/agents/queue.go b/internal/agents/queue.go
index 2cd3eff..8e2b276 100644
--- a/internal/agents/queue.go
+++ b/internal/agents/queue.go
@@ -310,18 +310,18 @@ func (m *Manager) recordQueued(ctx context.Context, l *live, msgs []queued) stri
 			b.WriteString("\n\n")
 		}
 		if q.actor == boardActor {
-			fmt.Fprintf(b, "While you were working, %s\n\nTake it into account now.", q.text)
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "While you were working, %s\n\nReply to it now, before your next tool call, then continue or change course as it says.", q.text)
 			continue
 		}
 		if isLeadActor(q.actor) {
-			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s (not %s) sent you this message while you were working; take it into account now:\n\n%s", actorName(q.actor), leadOwner(q.actor), q.text)
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s (not %s) interrupted you with this message. Reply to it now, before your next tool call, then continue or change course as it says:\n\n%s", actorName(q.actor), leadOwner(q.actor), q.text)
 			continue
 		}
 		if q.client != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s sent you this message from %s while you were working; take it into account now:\n\n%s", q.actor, m.clientName(q.client), q.text)
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s interrupted you from %s with this message. Reply to it now, before your next tool call, then continue or change course as it says:\n\n%s", q.actor, m.clientName(q.client), q.text)
 			continue
 		}
-		fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s sent you this message while you were working; take it into account now:\n\n%s", q.actor, q.text)
+		fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s interrupted you with this message. Reply to it now, before your next tool call, then continue or change course as it says:\n\n%s", q.actor, q.text)
 	}
 	slog.Info("queued messages sent mid-turn", "session", l.id, "count", len(msgs))
 	return b.String()