Summary
Starting in Codex >=0.115, after auto-compaction/context checkpoint (context_compacted), Codex may emit a handoff/summary-style assistant message and then end the turn (task_complete). In some cases there is no auto-continue, so the user must manually resume (e.g. send “Continue”). This breaks agent autonomy.
Affected versions
- CLI: 0.115, 0.116, 0.117 (repro)
- CLI: 0.114.0 (no repro in multi-day run; downgrade fixes immediately)
- Windows App: bundles
codex.exe reporting codex-cli 0.117.0-alpha.24 (repro)
Steps to reproduce
- Run Codex CLI >=0.115 (tested 0.117.0) or use the Windows App.
- Start a session and continue until auto-compaction triggers (look for
context_compacted in logs/telemetry).
- Continue after compaction.
- Observe: assistant outputs a handoff/summary message and ends the task; sometimes it does not resume automatically.
Expected
Compaction should be internal. After context_compacted, Codex should continue the task normally.
Actual
Common sequence:
context_compacted -> assistant message starting with **Handoff / summary -> task_complete
Occasionally the rollout ends there (no subsequent task_started/auto-continue).
Impact / frequency
Local scan of %USERPROFILE%\.codex\sessions on 2026-03-23:
- Rollouts scanned: 2,620 (~16.6GB)
context_compacted: 3,012 occurrences across 962 rollouts- 21 occurrences of
context_compacted -> assistant(**Handoff...) -> task_complete
- 3/21 ended with no subsequent
task_started/auto-continue (manual resume required)
Regression window
- In that scan, the first
**Handoff-prefixed post-compaction assistant message appears at 2026-03-18T15:43:46Z (UTC).
- In our environment this started right after upgrading to 0.115 (~1 day after release).
- A/B: staying on 0.114.0 for days did not reproduce; upgrading to 0.117.0 on 2026-03-27 reproduced immediately; rolling back to 0.114.0 stops it.
Environment
- OS: Windows 10.0.26200
- PowerShell: 7.4.14
- Node: v24.12.0
- npm: 11.7.0
Possible fix direction
- Ensure compaction/handoff summaries are not surfaced as a normal assistant output and/or are not treated as an end-of-turn stopping point.
- Always schedule an automatic follow-up after compaction (preserve autonomy), e.g. force a post-compaction continuation request.
Summary
Starting in Codex >=0.115, after auto-compaction/context checkpoint (
context_compacted), Codex may emit a handoff/summary-style assistant message and then end the turn (task_complete). In some cases there is no auto-continue, so the user must manually resume (e.g. send “Continue”). This breaks agent autonomy.Affected versions
codex.exereportingcodex-cli 0.117.0-alpha.24(repro)Steps to reproduce
context_compactedin logs/telemetry).Expected
Compaction should be internal. After
context_compacted, Codex should continue the task normally.Actual
Common sequence:
context_compacted-> assistant message starting with**Handoff/ summary ->task_completeOccasionally the rollout ends there (no subsequent
task_started/auto-continue).Impact / frequency
Local scan of
%USERPROFILE%\.codex\sessionson 2026-03-23:context_compacted: 3,012 occurrences across 962 rolloutscontext_compacted -> assistant(**Handoff...) -> task_completetask_started/auto-continue (manual resume required)Regression window
**Handoff-prefixed post-compaction assistant message appears at 2026-03-18T15:43:46Z (UTC).Environment
Possible fix direction