openclaw - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Bug] Async command cascade creates unstoppable approval loop — each approval generates delayed completion message, user commands blocked until all fire

Description

Severity: Critical
Reproducibility: Consistent when multiple exec commands are approved in quick succession
Session: 2026-04-21, 08:39-09:34 GMT+8, webchat channel

Problem Statement

When a user approves multiple exec commands in quick succession, each approval generates a separate asynchronous completion message that fires with significant delay. The system fires one completion message per approved command, long after the original task is finished. The user cannot stop the cascade, and any new commands they type are queued behind all the pending completions.

A 10-minute task becomes a 2+ hour session that cannot be ended early.

What Happens

1. User approves 5-10 exec commands in quick succession
2. Each command executes and completes almost instantly (code 0)
3. The system queues a separate An async command the user already approved has completed system message for each one
4. These messages fire one-by-one with 1-3 minute delays between each
5. For each fired message, the agent produces a full assistant reply
6. Even if the original task was completed after the first 2-3 completions, the remaining 30-50+ keep firing
7. User has no way to stop or cancel the pending completions
8. Any new user commands typed during the cascade are ignored until all pending completions have fired
9. The session becomes effectively unusable for the duration of the cascade

Real Session Evidence

On 2026-04-21, between 08:39 and 09:34 GMT+8 (55 minutes):

• 50+ sequential async completion messages fired
• Each triggered a separate assistant reply
• The original task (verifying iwencai skill installation) was complete within the first 5 minutes
• The remaining 50 minutes were the system slowly firing queued completions
• Commands were simple directory/file checks returning True or directory names

Impact

1. Token/API cost burn: 50+ unnecessary assistant replies in a single session
2. User experience: Cannot stop the cascade; must wait it out (2+ hours)
3. Command queue blockage: User new commands are not processed until all pending completions fire
4. Session hijacked: A simple file verification task consumes the entire session

Expected Behavior

1. When a task is clearly complete, remaining queued async completions should be discarded
2. User should be able to send a stop command to cancel all pending async completions
3. Multiple async commands approved for the same logical task should batch their completions into a single system message
4. New user commands should take priority over pending async completion messages

Environment

• OS: Windows_NT 10.0.26200 (x64)
• Model: alibailian/qwen3.6-plus
• Channel: webchat
• Shell: PowerShell
• Security mode: ask=on-miss

Suggested Fixes

1. Task conclusion detection: Add a flag when the agent marks a task complete; discard pending async completions
2. User stop control: Add a /stop command or button to cancel all pending async completions
3. Batch completions: Batch results for commands approved in the same logical task
4. Priority queue: New user commands should preempt pending async completion messages
5. Timeout on stale completions: Discard completions that fire more than N minutes after task completion