diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index 7eac5724439..4627613764f 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -1528,6 +1528,8 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     fn on_exec_command_begin(&mut self, ev: ExecCommandBeginEvent) {
         self.flush_answer_stream_with_separator();
         if is_unified_exec_source(ev.source) {
+            // Unified exec may be parsed as Unknown; keep the working indicator visible regardless.
+            self.bottom_pane.ensure_status_indicator();
             self.track_unified_exec_process_begin(&ev);
             if !is_standard_tool_call(&ev.parsed_cmd) {
                 return;
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__unified_exec_begin_restores_working_status.snap b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__unified_exec_begin_restores_working_status.snap
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a2ab0f168ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__unified_exec_begin_restores_working_status.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+expression: terminal.backend()
+---
+"                                                                                "
+"• Working (0s • esc to interrupt)                                               "
+"  1 background terminal running · /ps to view                                   "
+"                                                                                "
+"                                                                                "
+"› Ask Codex to do anything                                                      "
+"                                                                                "
+"  ? for shortcuts                                            100% context left  "
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index 35c365e2537..ba281600990 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -1871,6 +1871,48 @@ async fn preamble_keeps_working_status_snapshot() {
     assert_snapshot!("preamble_keeps_working_status", terminal.backend());
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn unified_exec_begin_restores_status_indicator_after_preamble() {
+    let (mut chat, _rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
+
+    chat.on_task_started();
+    assert_eq!(chat.bottom_pane.status_indicator_visible(), true);
+
+    // Simulate a hidden status row during an active turn.
+    chat.bottom_pane.hide_status_indicator();
+    assert_eq!(chat.bottom_pane.status_indicator_visible(), false);
+    assert_eq!(chat.bottom_pane.is_task_running(), true);
+
+    begin_unified_exec_startup(&mut chat, "call-1", "proc-1", "sleep 2");
+
+    assert_eq!(chat.bottom_pane.status_indicator_visible(), true);
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn unified_exec_begin_restores_working_status_snapshot() {
+    let (mut chat, mut rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
+
+    chat.on_task_started();
+    chat.on_agent_message_delta("Preamble line\n".to_string());
+    chat.on_commit_tick();
+    drain_insert_history(&mut rx);
+
+    begin_unified_exec_startup(&mut chat, "call-1", "proc-1", "sleep 2");
+
+    let width: u16 = 80;
+    let height = chat.desired_height(width);
+    let mut terminal = ratatui::Terminal::new(ratatui::backend::TestBackend::new(width, height))
+        .expect("create terminal");
+    terminal.set_viewport_area(Rect::new(0, 0, width, height));
+    terminal
+        .draw(|f| chat.render(f.area(), f.buffer_mut()))
+        .expect("draw chatwidget");
+    assert_snapshot!(
+        "unified_exec_begin_restores_working_status",
+        terminal.backend()
+    );
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn ctrl_c_shutdown_works_with_caps_lock() {
     let (mut chat, mut rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;