From 16f9414b372ec16a6a4cde12d44fd1407add0364 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Eric Traut <etraut@openai.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:48:58 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] codex: address PR review feedback (#16274)

---
 codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs       | 22 +++++++++++++--
 codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs | 48 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 68 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index dd6b94aa3d..4e4d3030dc 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ use crate::models_manager::manager::RefreshStrategy;
 use crate::parse_command::parse_command;
 use crate::parse_turn_item;
 use crate::path_utils::normalize_for_native_workdir;
+use crate::personalities::PersonalityCatalog;
 use crate::personalities::catalog_for_config;
 use crate::realtime_conversation::RealtimeConversationManager;
 use crate::realtime_conversation::handle_audio as handle_realtime_conversation_audio;
@@ -2624,17 +2625,33 @@ impl Session {
         };
         let shell = self.user_shell();
         let exec_policy = self.services.exec_policy.current();
+        let personality_catalog = self.personality_catalog_for_turn_context(current_context);
         crate::context_manager::updates::build_settings_update_items(
             reference_context_item,
             previous_turn_settings.as_ref(),
             current_context,
             shell.as_ref(),
             exec_policy.as_ref(),
-            self.services.personality_catalog.as_ref(),
+            &personality_catalog,
             self.features.enabled(Feature::Personality),
         )
     }
 
+    fn personality_catalog_for_turn_context(
+        &self,
+        turn_context: &TurnContext,
+    ) -> PersonalityCatalog {
+        if turn_context
+            .personality
+            .as_ref()
+            .is_some_and(|personality| !personality.is_builtin())
+        {
+            catalog_for_config(turn_context.config.as_ref())
+        } else {
+            self.services.personality_catalog.as_ref().clone()
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Persist the event to rollout and send it to clients.
     pub(crate) async fn send_event(&self, turn_context: &TurnContext, msg: EventMsg) {
         let legacy_source = msg.clone();
@@ -3619,6 +3636,7 @@ impl Session {
             && let Some(personality) = turn_context.personality.clone()
         {
             let model_info = turn_context.model_info.clone();
+            let personality_catalog = self.personality_catalog_for_turn_context(turn_context);
             let has_baked_personality = personality.is_builtin()
                 && model_info.supports_personality()
                 && base_instructions
@@ -3627,7 +3645,7 @@ impl Session {
                 && let Some(personality_message) =
                     crate::context_manager::updates::personality_message_for(
                         &model_info,
-                        &self.services.personality_catalog,
+                        &personality_catalog,
                         &personality,
                     )
             {
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs
index 246cffba92..6997a64588 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ use codex_network_proxy::NetworkProxyConfig;
 use codex_otel::TelemetryAuthMode;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::CollaborationMode;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::ModeKind;
+use codex_protocol::config_types::Personality;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::Settings;
 use codex_protocol::models::BaseInstructions;
 use codex_protocol::models::ContentItem;
@@ -3869,6 +3870,53 @@ async fn build_settings_update_items_emits_realtime_end_when_session_stops_being
     );
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn build_settings_update_items_reload_custom_personality_catalog_for_running_session() {
+    let (session, previous_context) = make_session_and_context().await;
+    let personality_name = "captain-late";
+    let personality_body = "Ahoy. Keep the answer seaworthy.";
+    let personalities_dir = previous_context.config.codex_home.join("personalities");
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&personalities_dir).expect("create personalities dir");
+    std::fs::write(
+        personalities_dir.join(format!("{personality_name}.md")),
+        format!(
+            "---\nname: {personality_name}\ndescription: test personality\n---\n\n{personality_body}\n"
+        ),
+    )
+    .expect("write custom personality");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        session
+            .services
+            .personality_catalog
+            .get(&Personality::from(personality_name)),
+        None
+    );
+
+    let mut current_context = previous_context
+        .with_model(
+            previous_context.model_info.slug.clone(),
+            &session.services.models_manager,
+        )
+        .await;
+    current_context.personality = Some(Personality::from(personality_name));
+
+    let update_items = session
+        .build_settings_update_items(
+            Some(&previous_context.to_turn_context_item()),
+            &current_context,
+        )
+        .await;
+
+    let developer_texts = developer_input_texts(&update_items);
+    assert!(
+        developer_texts
+            .iter()
+            .any(|text| text.contains(personality_body)),
+        "expected custom personality update, got {developer_texts:?}"
+    );
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn build_settings_update_items_uses_previous_turn_settings_for_realtime_end() {
     let (session, previous_context) = make_session_and_context().await;