diff --git a/server/src/agents/mod.rs b/server/src/agents/mod.rs
index 28be75f7..83f9ae12 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/mod.rs
@@ -157,6 +157,11 @@ pub struct CompletionReport {
     pub summary: String,
     pub gates_passed: bool,
     pub gate_output: String,
+    /// True when the coder exited with no commits but left uncommitted content in
+    /// the worktree.  The pipeline advance will issue a commit-only recovery respawn
+    /// rather than a normal retry, and will NOT consume a `retry_count` slot.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub needs_commit_recovery: bool,
 }
 
 /// Token usage from a Claude Code session's `result` event.
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/auto_assign.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/auto_assign.rs
index 153babf6..1cc9c7c3 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/auto_assign.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/auto_assign.rs
@@ -528,6 +528,12 @@ mod tests {
             "CONFLICT (content): server/src/lib.rs",
             crate::db::ItemMeta::named("Conflict"),
         );
+        // After master c228ae16, has_content_conflict_failure reads from
+        // {story_id}:gate_output (not the story description), so seed it there.
+        crate::db::write_content(
+            "9860_story_conflict:gate_output",
+            "CONFLICT (content): server/src/lib.rs",
+        );
 
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
@@ -681,6 +687,12 @@ mod tests {
             "CONFLICT (content): foo.rs",
             crate::db::ItemMeta::named("Transient"),
         );
+        // After master c228ae16, has_content_conflict_failure reads from
+        // {story_id}:gate_output (not the story description), so seed it there.
+        crate::db::write_content(
+            "920_story_transient:gate_output",
+            "CONFLICT (content): foo.rs",
+        );
         // Simulate two previous transient exits (below cap of 3) recorded in DB.
         crate::db::write_content("920_story_transient:mergemaster_spawn_count", "2");
 
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/mod.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/mod.rs
index 7f97cd42..3a07681e 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/mod.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,58 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 // Supervisors and unknown agents do not advance the pipeline.
             }
             PipelineStage::Coder => {
-                if completion.gates_passed {
+                if completion.needs_commit_recovery {
+                    // The coder exited with uncommitted content but no commits.
+                    // Check if this is already a second recovery attempt (the
+                    // first recovery respawn also produced no commits).
+                    let recovery_key = format!("{story_id}:commit_recovery_pending");
+                    if crate::db::read_content(&recovery_key).is_some() {
+                        // Second attempt still produced no commits → block.
+                        crate::db::delete_content(&recovery_key);
+                        slog!(
+                            "[pipeline] Coder '{agent_name}' (commit-recovery respawn) \
+                             still produced no commits for '{story_id}'. Blocking story."
+                        );
+                        let reason = "agent declined to commit recoverable work".to_string();
+                        if let Err(e) =
+                            crate::agents::lifecycle::transition_to_blocked(story_id, &reason)
+                        {
+                            slog_error!("[pipeline] Failed to block '{story_id}': {e}");
+                        }
+                        let _ = self.watcher_tx.send(WatcherEvent::StoryBlocked {
+                            story_id: story_id.to_string(),
+                            reason,
+                        });
+                    } else {
+                        // First occurrence: issue a commit-only recovery respawn.
+                        // This does NOT consume a retry_count slot.
+                        crate::db::write_content(&recovery_key, "1");
+                        slog!(
+                            "[pipeline] Coder '{agent_name}' exited with uncommitted work \
+                             for '{story_id}'. Issuing commit-only recovery respawn."
+                        );
+                        let addendum = "\n\nYou have uncommitted work in this worktree. \
+                            Your only task this session is run_tests → git_add → git_commit. \
+                            Do not explore further.";
+                        if let Err(e) = self
+                            .start_agent(
+                                &project_root,
+                                story_id,
+                                Some(agent_name),
+                                Some(addendum),
+                                previous_session_id,
+                            )
+                            .await
+                        {
+                            slog_error!(
+                                "[pipeline] Failed to start commit-recovery respawn \
+                                 for '{story_id}': {e}"
+                            );
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else if completion.gates_passed {
+                    // Clear any stale recovery key when the coder succeeds normally.
+                    crate::db::delete_content(&format!("{story_id}:commit_recovery_pending"));
                     // Determine effective QA mode for this story.
                     let qa_mode = {
                         let item_type = crate::agents::lifecycle::item_type_from_id(story_id);
@@ -130,6 +181,9 @@ impl AgentPool {
                         }
                     }
                 } else {
+                    // Clear any stale recovery key when gates fail normally (agent committed
+                    // but the build is broken — treat as a standard retry, not a recovery).
+                    crate::db::delete_content(&format!("{story_id}:commit_recovery_pending"));
                     // Bug 645 / 668: Before retry/block, check if the agent left committed
                     // work AND the agent had a passing run_tests result captured during its
                     // session.  An agent may crash mid-output (e.g. Claude Code CLI PTY write
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests.rs
index 0dbbd7e9..49e1b8f5 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ async fn pipeline_advance_coder_gates_pass_server_qa_moves_to_merge() {
             summary: "done".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ async fn pipeline_advance_coder_gates_pass_agent_qa_moves_to_qa() {
             summary: "done".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -114,6 +116,7 @@ async fn pipeline_advance_qa_gates_pass_moves_story_to_merge() {
             summary: "QA done".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -148,6 +151,7 @@ async fn pipeline_advance_supervisor_does_not_advance() {
             summary: "supervised".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -216,6 +220,7 @@ stage = "qa"
             summary: "done".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests_regression.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests_regression.rs
index db292143..01e44c3d 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests_regression.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests_regression.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ async fn mergemaster_blocks_and_sends_story_blocked_when_no_commits_ahead() {
             summary: "done".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ stage = "qa"
             summary: "QA done".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -266,6 +268,7 @@ async fn stale_mergemaster_advance_for_done_story_is_noop() {
             summary: "stale advance".to_string(),
             gates_passed: true,
             gate_output: String::new(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -406,6 +409,7 @@ async fn work_survived_advances_to_qa_instead_of_blocking() {
             summary: "Agent crashed".to_string(),
             gates_passed: false,
             gate_output: "Worktree has uncommitted changes".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         Some(wt_path),
@@ -505,6 +509,7 @@ async fn no_committed_work_still_retries_and_blocks() {
             summary: "Agent crashed".to_string(),
             gates_passed: false,
             gate_output: "Tests failed".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         Some(wt_path),
@@ -635,6 +640,7 @@ async fn gates_failed_no_test_evidence_does_not_advance() {
             summary: "Gates failed".to_string(),
             gates_passed: false,
             gate_output: "Tests failed".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         Some(wt_path),
@@ -758,6 +764,7 @@ async fn gates_failed_with_test_evidence_and_committed_work_advances() {
             summary: "Agent crashed".to_string(),
             gates_passed: false,
             gate_output: "PTY write assertion failed".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         Some(wt_path),
@@ -839,6 +846,7 @@ stage = "coder"
             summary: "Tests failed".to_string(),
             gates_passed: false,
             gate_output: "error[E0308]: mismatched types\n --> src/lib.rs:5:10".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         None,
@@ -873,6 +881,191 @@ stage = "coder"
     );
 }
 
+// ── story 954: commit-only recovery respawn ───────────────────────────────
+
+/// AC1+AC2: when a coder exits with `needs_commit_recovery=true` (uncommitted
+/// work, zero commits), the pipeline issues a commit-only recovery respawn
+/// WITHOUT consuming a retry_count slot.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn commit_recovery_respawn_does_not_consume_retry_count() {
+    use std::fs;
+
+    let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let root = tmp.path();
+
+    fs::create_dir_all(root.join(".huskies")).unwrap();
+    fs::write(
+        root.join(".huskies/project.toml"),
+        r#"
+max_retries = 3
+
+[[agent]]
+name = "coder-1"
+role = "Coder"
+command = "echo"
+args = ["noop"]
+prompt = "test"
+stage = "coder"
+"#,
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+
+    crate::crdt_state::init_for_test();
+    crate::db::ensure_content_store();
+    crate::db::write_item_with_content(
+        "9954_story_recovery",
+        "2_current",
+        "---\nname: Recovery Test\n---\n",
+        crate::db::ItemMeta::named("Recovery Test"),
+    );
+    // Ensure no stale recovery key exists.
+    crate::db::delete_content("9954_story_recovery:commit_recovery_pending");
+
+    let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
+
+    pool.run_pipeline_advance(
+        "9954_story_recovery",
+        "coder-1",
+        CompletionReport {
+            summary: "exited".to_string(),
+            gates_passed: false,
+            gate_output: "Worktree has uncommitted changes".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: true,
+        },
+        Some(root.to_path_buf()),
+        None,
+        false,
+        None,
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    // The recovery respawn must have been issued — coder-1 should be Pending/Running.
+    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let coder_restarted = agents.values().any(|a| {
+        a.agent_name == "coder-1" && matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Pending | AgentStatus::Running)
+    });
+    assert!(
+        coder_restarted,
+        "Commit-recovery respawn must be issued when needs_commit_recovery=true. \
+         Pool: {:?}",
+        agents
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(k, a)| format!("{k}: {} ({})", a.agent_name, a.status))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+    );
+    drop(agents);
+
+    // retry_count must NOT have been incremented (AC 2).
+    let item = crate::crdt_state::read_item("9954_story_recovery").expect("story must be in CRDT");
+    assert_eq!(
+        item.retry_count(),
+        0,
+        "retry_count must NOT be incremented for a commit-recovery respawn (AC 2): got {}",
+        item.retry_count()
+    );
+
+    // The recovery key must be set so a second failure triggers a block.
+    assert!(
+        crate::db::read_content("9954_story_recovery:commit_recovery_pending").is_some(),
+        "commit_recovery_pending key must be set after issuing recovery respawn"
+    );
+}
+
+/// AC3: when the commit-recovery respawn also exits with `needs_commit_recovery=true`,
+/// the story moves to `blocked` with reason "agent declined to commit recoverable work".
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn second_commit_recovery_failure_blocks_story() {
+    use std::fs;
+
+    let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let root = tmp.path();
+
+    fs::create_dir_all(root.join(".huskies")).unwrap();
+    fs::write(
+        root.join(".huskies/project.toml"),
+        r#"
+max_retries = 3
+
+[[agent]]
+name = "coder-1"
+role = "Coder"
+command = "echo"
+args = ["noop"]
+prompt = "test"
+stage = "coder"
+"#,
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+
+    crate::crdt_state::init_for_test();
+    crate::db::ensure_content_store();
+    crate::db::write_item_with_content(
+        "9955_story_recovery2",
+        "2_current",
+        "---\nname: Recovery2 Test\n---\n",
+        crate::db::ItemMeta::named("Recovery2 Test"),
+    );
+
+    // Simulate the recovery key already being set (first recovery respawn was
+    // issued previously).
+    crate::db::write_content("9955_story_recovery2:commit_recovery_pending", "1");
+
+    let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
+    let mut rx = pool.watcher_tx.subscribe();
+
+    pool.run_pipeline_advance(
+        "9955_story_recovery2",
+        "coder-1",
+        CompletionReport {
+            summary: "exited again".to_string(),
+            gates_passed: false,
+            gate_output: "Worktree has uncommitted changes".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: true,
+        },
+        Some(root.to_path_buf()),
+        None,
+        false,
+        None,
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    // The story must be blocked (not retried again).
+    let mut got_blocked = false;
+    let mut block_reason = String::new();
+    while let Ok(evt) = rx.try_recv() {
+        if let WatcherEvent::StoryBlocked { story_id, reason } = evt
+            && story_id == "9955_story_recovery2"
+        {
+            got_blocked = true;
+            block_reason = reason;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    assert!(
+        got_blocked,
+        "Story must be blocked when commit-recovery respawn also produces no commits (AC 3)"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        block_reason, "agent declined to commit recoverable work",
+        "Block reason must match AC 3 spec"
+    );
+
+    // The recovery key must be cleared after blocking.
+    assert!(
+        crate::db::read_content("9955_story_recovery2:commit_recovery_pending").is_none(),
+        "commit_recovery_pending key must be cleared after blocking the story"
+    );
+
+    // retry_count must NOT have been incremented (AC 2: recovery never consumes a slot).
+    let item = crate::crdt_state::read_item("9955_story_recovery2").expect("story must be in CRDT");
+    assert_eq!(
+        item.retry_count(),
+        0,
+        "retry_count must NOT be incremented during commit-recovery path: got {}",
+        item.retry_count()
+    );
+}
+
 // ── bug 953: bug-645 path must not advance when feature branch has zero commits ──
 
 /// Regression test for bug 953: when a coder agent exits with gates_passed=false
@@ -957,6 +1150,7 @@ async fn coder_completion_with_test_evidence_and_zero_commits_does_not_advance()
             summary: "Agent crashed mid-output".to_string(),
             gates_passed: false,
             gate_output: "PTY write assertion failed".to_string(),
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         },
         Some(root.to_path_buf()),
         Some(wt_path),
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/legacy.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/legacy.rs
index f75eaee1..75d428d0 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/legacy.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/legacy.rs
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
             summary: summary.to_string(),
             gates_passed,
             gate_output,
+            needs_commit_recovery: false,
         };
 
         // Extract data for pipeline advance, then remove the entry so
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/server.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/server.rs
index 0e0697db..573592df 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/server.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/server.rs
@@ -95,10 +95,13 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
         }
     }
 
-    // Run acceptance gates.
-    let (gates_passed, gate_output) = if let Some(wt_path) = worktree_path {
+    // Run acceptance gates.  Third element of the tuple is `needs_commit_recovery`:
+    // true when the coder exited with uncommitted content but zero commits — the
+    // pipeline advance will issue a commit-only recovery respawn rather than a
+    // normal retry, and will NOT consume a `retry_count` slot.
+    let (gates_passed, gate_output, needs_commit_recovery) = if let Some(wt_path) = worktree_path {
         let path = wt_path;
-        match tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+        match tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || -> Result<(bool, String, bool), String> {
             // If the worktree is dirty, check whether committed work survived.
             // An agent crash (e.g. Claude Code CLI's `output.write(&bytes).is_ok()`
             // assertion — bug 645) can leave uncommitted files behind even though
@@ -133,7 +136,10 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
                             })
                             .unwrap_or(false)
                     } else {
-                        return Ok((false, dirty_msg));
+                        // Dirty worktree AND no committed work: the coder exited
+                        // without committing.  Signal a commit-only recovery respawn
+                        // rather than consuming a normal retry slot.
+                        return Ok((false, dirty_msg, true));
                     }
                 } else {
                     false
@@ -152,9 +158,10 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
                     "Agent exited with no commits on the feature branch. \
                      The agent did not produce any code changes."
                         .to_string(),
+                    false,
                 ));
             }
-            let result = crate::agents::gates::run_acceptance_gates(&path);
+            let (passed, output) = crate::agents::gates::run_acceptance_gates(&path)?;
             // Restore stashed uncommitted changes.
             if stashed {
                 let _ = std::process::Command::new("git")
@@ -162,18 +169,19 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
                     .current_dir(&path)
                     .output();
             }
-            result
+            Ok((passed, output, false))
         })
         .await
         {
             Ok(Ok(result)) => result,
-            Ok(Err(e)) => (false, e),
-            Err(e) => (false, format!("Gate check task panicked: {e}")),
+            Ok(Err(e)) => (false, e, false),
+            Err(e) => (false, format!("Gate check task panicked: {e}"), false),
         }
     } else {
         (
             false,
             "No worktree path available to run acceptance gates".to_string(),
+            false,
         )
     };
 
@@ -192,6 +200,7 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
         summary: "Agent process exited normally".to_string(),
         gates_passed,
         gate_output,
+        needs_commit_recovery,
     };
 
     // Store completion report, extract data for pipeline advance, then
diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/tests.rs b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/tests.rs
index 72cf91c7..39f3dbda 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/tests.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/tests.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_skips_when_already_completed() {
         summary: "Already done".to_string(),
         gates_passed: true,
         gate_output: String::new(),
+        needs_commit_recovery: false,
     };
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_completion(
         "s10",