diff --git a/server/src/matrix/htop.rs b/server/src/matrix/htop.rs
index 164ca29..28b5099 100644
--- a/server/src/matrix/htop.rs
+++ b/server/src/matrix/htop.rs
@@ -201,6 +201,10 @@ fn gather_process_stats(worktree_path: &str) -> Option<AgentProcessStats> {
 ///
 /// `tick` is the number of updates sent so far (0 = initial).
 /// `total_duration_secs` is the configured auto-stop timeout.
+///
+/// Output uses a compact single-line format per agent so it renders
+/// without wrapping on narrow screens (~40 chars), such as mobile
+/// Matrix clients.
 pub fn build_htop_message(agents: &AgentPool, tick: u32, total_duration_secs: u64) -> String {
     let elapsed_secs = (tick as u64) * 5;
     let remaining_secs = total_duration_secs.saturating_sub(elapsed_secs);
@@ -210,11 +214,11 @@ pub fn build_htop_message(agents: &AgentPool, tick: u32, total_duration_secs: u6
     let load = get_load_average();
 
     let mut lines = vec![
-        format!("**htop** — {load}"),
         format!(
-            "*Updates every 5s · auto-stops in {}m{}s · send `htop stop` to stop*",
+            "**htop** · auto-stops in {}m{}s",
             remaining_mins, remaining_secs_rem
         ),
+        load,
         String::new(),
     ];
 
@@ -227,8 +231,6 @@ pub fn build_htop_message(agents: &AgentPool, tick: u32, total_duration_secs: u6
     if active.is_empty() {
         lines.push("*No agents currently running.*".to_string());
     } else {
-        lines.push("| Agent | Story | CPU% | MEM% | Procs |".to_string());
-        lines.push("|-------|-------|-----:|-----:|------:|".to_string());
         for agent in &active {
             let story_label = agent
                 .story_id
@@ -242,12 +244,8 @@ pub fn build_htop_message(agents: &AgentPool, tick: u32, total_duration_secs: u6
                 .and_then(gather_process_stats)
                 .unwrap_or_default();
             lines.push(format!(
-                "| {} | {} | {:.1} | {:.1} | {} |",
-                agent.agent_name,
-                story_label,
-                stats.cpu_pct,
-                stats.mem_pct,
-                stats.num_procs,
+                "**{}** #{} cpu:{:.1}% mem:{:.1}%",
+                agent.agent_name, story_label, stats.cpu_pct, stats.mem_pct,
             ));
         }
     }
@@ -569,4 +567,55 @@ mod tests {
             "should show remaining time: {text}"
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn build_htop_message_load_on_own_line() {
+        // Load average must be on its own line, not combined with the htop header.
+        let pool = Arc::new(crate::agents::AgentPool::new_test(3000));
+        let text = build_htop_message(&pool, 0, 300);
+        let lines: Vec<&str> = text.lines().collect();
+        let header_line = lines.first().expect("should have a header line");
+        // Header line must NOT contain "load" — load is on the second line.
+        assert!(
+            !header_line.contains("load"),
+            "load should be on its own line, not the header: {header_line}"
+        );
+        // Second line must contain "load".
+        let load_line = lines.get(1).expect("should have a load line");
+        assert!(
+            load_line.contains("load"),
+            "second line should contain load info: {load_line}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn build_htop_message_no_table_syntax() {
+        // Must not use Markdown table format (pipes/separators) — those are too
+        // wide for narrow mobile screens.
+        let pool = Arc::new(crate::agents::AgentPool::new_test(3000));
+        let text = build_htop_message(&pool, 0, 300);
+        assert!(
+            !text.contains("|----"),
+            "output must not contain table separator rows: {text}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !text.contains("| Agent"),
+            "output must not contain table header row: {text}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn build_htop_message_header_fits_40_chars() {
+        // The header line (htop + remaining time) must fit in ~40 rendered chars.
+        let pool = Arc::new(crate::agents::AgentPool::new_test(3000));
+        let text = build_htop_message(&pool, 0, 300);
+        let header = text.lines().next().expect("should have a header line");
+        // Strip markdown bold markers (**) for length calculation.
+        let rendered = header.replace("**", "");
+        assert!(
+            rendered.len() <= 40,
+            "header line too wide for mobile ({} chars): {rendered}",
+            rendered.len()
+        );
+    }
 }