diff --git a/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/src/routes/session/messages/list.rs b/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/src/routes/session/messages/list.rs
index a8a68dc0544..6c90c5c1e09 100644
--- a/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/src/routes/session/messages/list.rs
+++ b/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/src/routes/session/messages/list.rs
@@ -226,10 +226,14 @@ impl Transcript {
         let pending = changes.pending(session);
         // A tool row waiting on a permission request takes the warning color.
         let permissions = changes.permissions(session);
-        if !changes.any_message(session) && !changes.session(session) && !catalogs && !pending && !permissions {
+        // A subagent row spins while its child session runs.
+        let children = !changes.status.is_empty()
+            && tui.data.read(|state| state.family(session).iter().any(|id| id != session && changes.status(id)));
+        let force =
+            changes.messages(session) || changes.session(session) || catalogs || pending || permissions || children;
+        if !force && !changes.any_message(session) {
             return;
         }
-        let force = changes.messages(session) || changes.session(session) || catalogs || pending || permissions;
         if !force
             && let Some(messages) = changes.message.get(session)
             && self.0.patch(tui, session, messages)
diff --git a/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/tests/all/more_tools.rs b/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/tests/all/more_tools.rs
index 34a0e9ed18f..916cb417ab2 100644
--- a/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/tests/all/more_tools.rs
+++ b/packages/cli-rs/crates/tui/tests/all/more_tools.rs
@@ -256,6 +256,28 @@ fn a_subagent_row_opens_its_child_session() {
     assert!(support::lines(&h.log).iter().any(|line| line == "GET /api/session/ses_child/message"),);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn a_background_subagent_row_follows_its_child_status() {
+    let messages = turn(vec![tool(
+        "c1",
+        "task",
+        completed(
+            json!({ "description": "Check the docs", "agent": "general" }),
+            "done",
+            json!({ "sessionID": "ses_child", "status": "running" }),
+        ),
+    )]);
+    let h = open(100, 30, messages);
+    h.wait_for("   ✓ General Subagent — Check the docs  Background\n");
+    let child = support::merge(session("ses_child", "Child work"), json!({ "parentID": "ses_t" }));
+    h.tui.data.remember(serde_json::from_value(child).unwrap());
+    let child = SessionID("ses_child".into());
+    h.tui.data.set_status(&child, opencode_store::SessionStatus::Running);
+    h.wait_for("   ⋯ General Subagent — Check the docs  Background\n");
+    h.tui.data.set_status(&child, opencode_store::SessionStatus::Idle);
+    h.wait_for("   ✓ General Subagent — Check the docs  Background\n");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn execute_lists_its_calls_and_opens_the_dialog() {
     let calls = json!([