diff --git a/src/core/task/Task.ts b/src/core/task/Task.ts
index 7f92f3647f..dc07aadf25 100644
--- a/src/core/task/Task.ts
+++ b/src/core/task/Task.ts
@@ -1791,9 +1791,14 @@ export class Task extends EventEmitter<TaskEvents> implements TaskLike {
 		// has to see and stalling a hands-free session. Leaving the message
 		// unclaimed lets the policy decision stand and keeps the message queued.
 		const queueMayAnswerThisAsk = !(blanketDenyEngaged && type === "command")
+		// A queued message must not short-circuit protected asks (e.g.
+		// DCG-blocked commands): claiming one here skips checkAutoApproval, and
+		// the drain below would auto-approve what protection intentionally
+		// leaves pending for explicit user approval.
 		const queuedMessage =
 			partial === true ||
 			type === "command_output" ||
+			isProtected ||
 			!queueMayAnswerThisAsk ||
 			!this.mayDrainQueuedMessageForAsk()
 				? undefined
@@ -2186,10 +2191,13 @@ export class Task extends EventEmitter<TaskEvents> implements TaskLike {
 					// suggestion click that was incorrectly queued due to UI state), consume it
 					// immediately so the task doesn't hang. Command asks under blanket deny are
 					// excluded (`queueMayAnswerThisAsk`): a queued message must never stand in
-					// for the explicit approval the policy withheld.
+					// for the explicit approval the policy withheld. Protected asks are exempt
+					// too: like the pre-block drain above, they must wait for explicit user
+					// approval.
 					if (
 						queueMayAnswerThisAsk &&
 						shouldDrainQueuedMessageForAsk &&
+						!isProtected &&
 						!queuedCommandPolicyCheck &&
 						this.mayDrainQueuedMessageForAsk()
 					) {
diff --git a/src/core/task/__tests__/ask-queued-message-drain.spec.ts b/src/core/task/__tests__/ask-queued-message-drain.spec.ts
index b137130174..bb74531d45 100644
--- a/src/core/task/__tests__/ask-queued-message-drain.spec.ts
+++ b/src/core/task/__tests__/ask-queued-message-drain.spec.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,120 @@ describe("Task.ask queued message drain", () => {
 		expect(task.messageQueueService.isEmpty()).toBe(true)
 	})
 
+	it("does not auto-approve a protected command ask from a queued message", async () => {
+		const task = await createTask({
+			getState: async () => ({ autoApprovalEnabled: true, alwaysAllowExecute: true }),
+		})
+		task.messageQueueService.addMessage("run it anyway")
+
+		const ask = task.ask("command", "rm -rf build", false, undefined, true)
+
+		// The drain must not resolve the protected ask; only an explicit user
+		// approval may.
+		const premature = await Promise.race([
+			ask,
+			new Promise<"pending">((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve("pending"), 250)),
+		])
+		expect(premature).toBe("pending")
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.isEmpty()).toBe(false)
+
+		task.approveAsk()
+		const result = await ask
+		expect(result).toMatchObject({ response: "yesButtonClicked", text: undefined })
+		// claimNextMessage only returns unclaimed messages: the queued message must
+		// still be present and unclaimed after the protected ask resolved.
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.claimNextMessage()?.text).toBe("run it anyway")
+	})
+
+	it("does not auto-approve a protected command ask when a message is queued mid-wait", async () => {
+		const task = await createTask({
+			getState: async () => ({ autoApprovalEnabled: true, alwaysAllowExecute: true }),
+		})
+
+		const ask = task.ask("command", "rm -rf build", false, undefined, true)
+		task.messageQueueService.addMessage("mid-wait message")
+
+		const premature = await Promise.race([
+			ask,
+			new Promise<"pending">((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve("pending"), 250)),
+		])
+		expect(premature).toBe("pending")
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.isEmpty()).toBe(false)
+
+		task.approveAsk()
+		const result = await ask
+		expect(result).toMatchObject({ response: "yesButtonClicked", text: undefined })
+		// claimNextMessage only returns unclaimed messages: the queued message must
+		// still be present and unclaimed after the protected ask resolved.
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.claimNextMessage()?.text).toBe("mid-wait message")
+	})
+
+	// The drain guards key on the isProtected flag, so they also cover protected
+	// write-tool asks (WriteToFileTool/EditTool/ApplyDiff/ApplyPatch mark blocked
+	// writes protected via presentAssistantMessage). These mirror the command pair
+	// above: alwaysAllowWrite covers the write, but without alwaysAllowWriteProtected
+	// the protection keeps the ask pending, and a queued message must not stand in
+	// for the explicit approval.
+	it("does not auto-approve a protected write-tool ask from a queued message", async () => {
+		const task = await createTask({
+			getState: async () => ({ autoApprovalEnabled: true, alwaysAllowWrite: true }),
+		})
+		task.messageQueueService.addMessage("write it anyway")
+
+		const ask = task.ask(
+			"tool",
+			JSON.stringify({ tool: "newFileCreated", path: "AGENTS.md" }),
+			false,
+			undefined,
+			true,
+		)
+
+		// The drain must not resolve the protected ask; only an explicit user
+		// approval may.
+		const premature = await Promise.race([
+			ask,
+			new Promise<"pending">((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve("pending"), 250)),
+		])
+		expect(premature).toBe("pending")
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.isEmpty()).toBe(false)
+
+		task.approveAsk()
+		const result = await ask
+		expect(result).toMatchObject({ response: "yesButtonClicked", text: undefined })
+		// claimNextMessage only returns unclaimed messages: the queued message must
+		// still be present and unclaimed after the protected ask resolved.
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.claimNextMessage()?.text).toBe("write it anyway")
+	})
+
+	it("does not auto-approve a protected write-tool ask when a message is queued mid-wait", async () => {
+		const task = await createTask({
+			getState: async () => ({ autoApprovalEnabled: true, alwaysAllowWrite: true }),
+		})
+
+		const ask = task.ask(
+			"tool",
+			JSON.stringify({ tool: "newFileCreated", path: "AGENTS.md" }),
+			false,
+			undefined,
+			true,
+		)
+		task.messageQueueService.addMessage("mid-wait message")
+
+		const premature = await Promise.race([
+			ask,
+			new Promise<"pending">((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve("pending"), 250)),
+		])
+		expect(premature).toBe("pending")
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.isEmpty()).toBe(false)
+
+		task.approveAsk()
+		const result = await ask
+		expect(result).toMatchObject({ response: "yesButtonClicked", text: undefined })
+		// claimNextMessage only returns unclaimed messages: the queued message must
+		// still be present and unclaimed after the protected ask resolved.
+		expect(task.messageQueueService.claimNextMessage()?.text).toBe("mid-wait message")
+	})
+
 	it("claims lifecycle feedback that arrives while an ask is waiting", async () => {
 		const task = await createTask()
 		const ask = task.ask("tool", JSON.stringify({ tool: "finishTask" }), false)