fix(agent): recover when action intent has no tool call

docs/plans/state.json

@@ -3,6 +3,18 @@
   "updated_at": "2026-02-23",
   "description": "Tracks the status of all Flynn plans and implementation phases",
   "plans": {
+    "toolloop-action-intent-recovery": {
+      "status": "completed",
+      "date": "2026-02-23",
+      "updated": "2026-02-23",
+      "summary": "Hardened NativeAgent tool-loop behavior when models narrate imminent actions without emitting tool calls. Added a one-time in-loop nudge for action-intent text with missing tool calls, so Flynn re-prompts the model to either execute the tool now or return an explicit blocker in the same turn.",
+      "files_modified": [
+        "src/backends/native/agent.ts",
+        "src/backends/native/agent.test.ts",
+        "docs/plans/state.json"
+      ],
+      "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/backends/native/agent.test.ts + pnpm typecheck passing"
+    },
     "gmail-filter-full-scope-auth": {
       "status": "completed",
       "date": "2026-02-23",
@@ -6287,7 +6299,7 @@
     }
   },
   "overall_progress": {
-    "total_test_count": 1958,
+    "total_test_count": 1960,
     "all_tests_passing": true,
     "p0_completion": "3/3 (100%)",
     "p1_completion": "4/4 (100%)",
@@ -6307,6 +6319,7 @@
     "dashboard_observability": "completed — service health graphs + core service log viewer added to web UI via observability RPCs and bounded backend sampling",
     "gmail_auth_cli": "flynn gmail-auth command implemented with OAuth2 flow, doctor check, config routed to Telegram",
     "gmail_filter_creation": "completed — gmail.filter.create tool added with criteria/action validation; gmail-auth now requests full Gmail scope (https://mail.google.com/) for complete filter permissions",
+    "toolloop_action_intent_recovery": "completed — when a model claims it will execute a tool but emits no tool call, NativeAgent now issues one internal nudge and continues the same turn to execute tools or produce a concrete blocker",
     "native_audio_support": "completed — smart routing for native audio (Gemini/OpenAI/GitHub) vs Whisper transcription fallback, plus 2026-02-23 arg hydration hardening, tool.args_rewritten audit metric, transient fetch retry/timeout hardening, localhost->127.0.0.1 fallback for transcription endpoint connectivity, and whisper docker-compose entrypoint arg fix for port 18801",
     "remaining_phases_completion": "Phase 1: 3/3 (100%) — context levels, command registry, memory structure. Phase 2: 3/3 (100%) — component registry, confidence routing, history index. Phase 3: 2/2 (100%) — adaptive memory/compaction, truthfulness/autonomy hardening",
     "next_up": "Track OpenClaw evolution regularly for inspiration and feature ideas"

src/backends/native/agent.test.ts

@@ -958,6 +958,89 @@ describe('NativeAgent tool loop', () => {
     expect(seenCommands[0]).toBe('grep -r "createCouncilRunTool" /home/will/lab/flynn/src --include="*.ts" | head -20');
   });
 
+  it('nudges once when model claims it will act but emits no tool call, then recovers', async () => {
+    let callCount = 0;
+    const mockClient: ModelClient = {
+      chat: vi.fn().mockImplementation((request: ChatRequest) => {
+        callCount++;
+        if (callCount === 1) {
+          return {
+            content: 'I am going to create that filter now. Proceeding.',
+            stopReason: 'end_turn',
+            usage: { inputTokens: 10, outputTokens: 5 },
+          };
+        }
+        if (callCount === 2) {
+          expect(JSON.stringify(request.messages)).toContain('no tool call was emitted');
+          return {
+            content: '',
+            stopReason: 'tool_use',
+            usage: { inputTokens: 10, outputTokens: 5 },
+            toolCalls: [{ id: 'call_2', name: 'test.echo', args: { text: 'filter-created' } }],
+          };
+        }
+        return {
+          content: 'Filter created.',
+          stopReason: 'end_turn',
+          usage: { inputTokens: 12, outputTokens: 6 },
+        };
+      }),
+    };
+
+    const registry = new ToolRegistry();
+    registry.register(echoTool);
+    const hooks = new HookEngine({ confirm: [], log: [], silent: [] });
+    const executor = new ToolExecutor(registry, hooks);
+
+    const agent = new NativeAgent({
+      modelClient: mockClient,
+      systemPrompt: 'You are helpful.',
+      toolRegistry: registry,
+      toolExecutor: executor,
+    });
+
+    const response = await agent.process('Create the filter');
+    expect(response).toBe('Filter created.');
+    expect(mockClient.chat).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+  });
+
+  it('returns follow-up text after one missing-tool nudge when still no tool call', async () => {
+    let callCount = 0;
+    const mockClient: ModelClient = {
+      chat: vi.fn().mockImplementation(() => {
+        callCount++;
+        if (callCount === 1) {
+          return {
+            content: 'I will run the lookup now.',
+            stopReason: 'end_turn',
+            usage: { inputTokens: 10, outputTokens: 5 },
+          };
+        }
+        return {
+          content: 'Blocked: tool unavailable in current mode.',
+          stopReason: 'end_turn',
+          usage: { inputTokens: 11, outputTokens: 6 },
+        };
+      }),
+    };
+
+    const registry = new ToolRegistry();
+    registry.register(echoTool);
+    const hooks = new HookEngine({ confirm: [], log: [], silent: [] });
+    const executor = new ToolExecutor(registry, hooks);
+
+    const agent = new NativeAgent({
+      modelClient: mockClient,
+      systemPrompt: 'You are helpful.',
+      toolRegistry: registry,
+      toolExecutor: executor,
+    });
+
+    const response = await agent.process('Do the lookup');
+    expect(response).toBe('Blocked: tool unavailable in current mode.');
+    expect(mockClient.chat).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
   it('works without tools (backward compatible)', async () => {
     const mockClient: ModelClient = {
       chat: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({

src/backends/native/agent.ts

@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ export class NativeAgent {
     let sameToolStreak = 0;
     const maxSameToolStreak = 4; // nudge after 4 calls to the same tool
     let nudged = false;
+    let actionIntentNudged = false;
 
     for (let iteration = 0; iteration < this.maxIterations; iteration++) {
       try {
@@ -305,6 +306,16 @@ export class NativeAgent {
         const wantsToolUse = toolCalls.length > 0;
         if (!wantsToolUse) {
           const pseudoToolUse = this.extractPseudoToolUse(response.content);
+          if (this.shouldNudgeForMissingToolCall(response.content, pseudoToolUse) && !actionIntentNudged) {
+            actionIntentNudged = true;
+            const normalized = this.normalizeAssistantContent(response.content);
+            loopMessages.push({ role: 'assistant', content: normalized });
+            loopMessages.push({
+              role: 'user',
+              content: 'You said you would perform an action now, but no tool call was emitted. If a tool is needed, call it now. If blocked, explain the exact blocker.',
+            });
+            continue;
+          }
           const baseContent = pseudoToolUse
             ? this.buildPseudoToolUseWarning(response.content, pseudoToolUse)
             : this.normalizeAssistantContent(response.content);
@@ -472,6 +483,21 @@ export class NativeAgent {
     return warningMsg;
   }
 
+  private shouldNudgeForMissingToolCall(content: string, pseudoToolUse: PseudoToolUse | null): boolean {
+    if (!content || pseudoToolUse) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    const normalized = content.toLowerCase();
+    const intentRegex = /\b(i(?:'m| am)? going to|i(?:'ll| will)|let me|proceeding(?: now)?|i can(?: now)?)\b/;
+    if (!intentRegex.test(normalized)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    const actionRegex = /\b(create|run|execute|call|use|check|fetch|search|read|write|send|retry|proceed|attempt|apply|delete|update|list)\b/;
+    return actionRegex.test(normalized);
+  }
+
   private async chatWithRouter(request: ChatRequest): Promise<ChatResponse> {
     const runSignal = this._runAbortController?.signal;
     const requestSignal = request.signal;