---
name: Start background poll on live resume
description: When resuming a live agent session, immediately start $OWL poll in background — perch file surviving doesn't mean anyone is listening
type: feedback
originSessionId: 04d7db77-4071-4a59-a76a-50417e8911b2
---
When a session resumes as a live agent (OWL_RESUME hook fires), start `$OWL poll <id>` with `run_in_background: true` immediately — don't wait for the user to notice.

**Why:** The perch directory and info.json survive across sessions, so `whoami` and `list` show the agent as "active." But the background poll process from the prior session is dead. Without a new poll, messages pile up unread. The user caught this — perch looked live but was actually deaf.

**How to apply:** On any session where `<owl-active-perch>` or `OWL_RESUME` appears in system reminders, run the background poll as the very first action before doing anything else.