diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/session/session.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/session/session.rs
index cc85f8b912..9e49d5a79f 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/session/session.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/session/session.rs
@@ -45,14 +45,22 @@ struct SessionResponseItemInjector {
 impl codex_extension_api::ResponseItemInjector for SessionResponseItemInjector {
     fn inject_response_items<'a>(
         &'a self,
-        items: Vec<ResponseInputItem>,
+        items: Vec<codex_extension_api::ResponseInjectionItem>,
     ) -> codex_extension_api::ResponseItemInjectionFuture<'a> {
         let session = self.session.clone();
         Box::pin(async move {
             let Some(session) = session.upgrade() else {
                 return Err(items);
             };
-            session.inject_response_items(items).await
+            let response_items = items
+                .clone()
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(codex_extension_api::ResponseInjectionItem::into_response_input_item)
+                .collect();
+            session
+                .inject_response_items(response_items)
+                .await
+                .map_err(|_| items)
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/tasks/idle_extension.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/tasks/idle_extension.rs
index b6aeac059c..bb58b384da 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/tasks/idle_extension.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/tasks/idle_extension.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
+use codex_extension_api::ResponseInjectionItem;
 use codex_extension_api::ThreadIdleRequest;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::ThreadSettingsSnapshot;
 
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ async fn next_idle_turn_candidate(session: &Session) -> Option<IdleTurnCandidate
         else {
             continue;
         };
-        if !request.prompt.trim().is_empty() {
+        if is_non_empty_idle_input(&request.item) {
             return Some(IdleTurnCandidate {
                 contributor_index,
                 request,
@@ -160,6 +161,13 @@ async fn next_idle_turn_candidate(session: &Session) -> Option<IdleTurnCandidate
     None
 }
 
+fn is_non_empty_idle_input(item: &ResponseInjectionItem) -> bool {
+    match item {
+        ResponseInjectionItem::HiddenContext(context) => !context.body().trim().is_empty(),
+        ResponseInjectionItem::Raw(_) => true,
+    }
+}
+
 async fn should_start_idle_turn(session: &Session, candidate: &IdleTurnCandidate) -> bool {
     let Some(contributor) = session
         .services
@@ -204,16 +212,25 @@ async fn clear_reserved_idle_turn(session: &Session) {
 }
 
 fn idle_extension_input(request: ThreadIdleRequest) -> TurnInput {
-    let prompt = codex_utils_string::truncate_middle_with_token_budget(
-        &request.prompt,
-        MAX_IDLE_EXTENSION_PROMPT_TOKENS,
-    )
-    .0;
-    TurnInput::ResponseInputItem(request.context_marker.response_input_item(prompt))
+    match request.item {
+        ResponseInjectionItem::HiddenContext(context) => {
+            let (marker, body) = context.into_parts();
+            let prompt = codex_utils_string::truncate_middle_with_token_budget(
+                &body,
+                MAX_IDLE_EXTENSION_PROMPT_TOKENS,
+            )
+            .0;
+            TurnInput::ResponseInputItem(
+                codex_extension_api::HiddenContext::new(marker, prompt).into_response_input_item(),
+            )
+        }
+        ResponseInjectionItem::Raw(item) => TurnInput::ResponseInputItem(item),
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use codex_extension_api::HiddenContext;
     use codex_extension_api::HiddenContextMarker;
     use codex_protocol::models::ContentItem;
     use codex_protocol::models::ResponseInputItem;
@@ -228,10 +245,10 @@ mod tests {
         );
         let original_len = prompt.len();
 
-        let request = ThreadIdleRequest::new(
+        let request = ThreadIdleRequest::new(HiddenContext::new(
             HiddenContextMarker::new("<goal_context>", "</goal_context>"),
             prompt,
-        );
+        ));
         let TurnInput::ResponseInputItem(ResponseInputItem::Message { content, .. }) =
             idle_extension_input(request)
         else {
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/mod.rs b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/mod.rs
index 0fabed3929..a7ee0c84aa 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/mod.rs
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@ pub use events::ExtensionEventFuture;
 pub use events::ExtensionEventSink;
 pub use events::NoopExtensionEventSink;
 pub use response_items::NoopResponseItemInjector;
+pub use response_items::ResponseInjectionItem;
 pub use response_items::ResponseItemInjectionFuture;
 pub use response_items::ResponseItemInjector;
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/response_items.rs b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/response_items.rs
index c336d6564e..71a62ce6e7 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/response_items.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/capabilities/response_items.rs
@@ -1,21 +1,54 @@
+//! Host capability for injecting extension-owned model input into an active turn.
+
 use std::future::Future;
 use std::pin::Pin;
 
+use crate::HiddenContext;
 use codex_protocol::models::ResponseInputItem;
 
-/// Future returned when an extension asks the host to inject model-visible input.
+/// Extension-owned input to inject into an active model turn.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum ResponseInjectionItem {
+    /// Hidden context whose marker wrapping is owned by the extension API.
+    HiddenContext(HiddenContext),
+    /// Raw response item for extensions that intentionally need unwrapped input.
+    Raw(ResponseInputItem),
+}
+
+impl ResponseInjectionItem {
+    pub fn into_response_input_item(self) -> ResponseInputItem {
+        match self {
+            Self::HiddenContext(context) => context.into_response_input_item(),
+            Self::Raw(item) => item,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<HiddenContext> for ResponseInjectionItem {
+    fn from(context: HiddenContext) -> Self {
+        Self::HiddenContext(context)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<ResponseInputItem> for ResponseInjectionItem {
+    fn from(item: ResponseInputItem) -> Self {
+        Self::Raw(item)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Future returned when an extension asks the host to inject model input.
 pub type ResponseItemInjectionFuture<'a> =
-    Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<(), Vec<ResponseInputItem>>> + Send + 'a>>;
+    Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<(), Vec<ResponseInjectionItem>>> + Send + 'a>>;
 
 /// Thread-scoped host helper for extensions that need to steer the active model turn.
 ///
-/// Implementations should inject the supplied response items into the active turn
-/// for the current thread when it can accept same-turn model input. If injection
-/// is unavailable, they return the unchanged items to the caller.
+/// Implementations should inject the supplied items into the active turn for
+/// the current thread when it can accept same-turn model input. If injection is
+/// unavailable, they return the unchanged items to the caller.
 pub trait ResponseItemInjector: Send + Sync {
     fn inject_response_items<'a>(
         &'a self,
-        items: Vec<ResponseInputItem>,
+        items: Vec<ResponseInjectionItem>,
     ) -> ResponseItemInjectionFuture<'a>;
 }
 
@@ -26,7 +59,7 @@ pub struct NoopResponseItemInjector;
 impl ResponseItemInjector for NoopResponseItemInjector {
     fn inject_response_items<'a>(
         &'a self,
-        items: Vec<ResponseInputItem>,
+        items: Vec<ResponseInjectionItem>,
     ) -> ResponseItemInjectionFuture<'a> {
         Box::pin(std::future::ready(Err(items)))
     }
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/context.rs b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/context.rs
index 6996ecf4e7..88dd5004f2 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/context.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/context.rs
@@ -18,17 +18,42 @@ impl HiddenContextMarker {
             end_marker,
         }
     }
+}
 
-    /// Renders this marker pair as a user-role response input item.
-    pub fn response_input_item(&self, body: impl AsRef<str>) -> ResponseInputItem {
+/// Extension-owned hidden context body with the marker pair used to wrap it.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct HiddenContext {
+    marker: HiddenContextMarker,
+    body: String,
+}
+
+impl HiddenContext {
+    /// Creates one hidden context body with its wrapping marker pair.
+    pub fn new(marker: HiddenContextMarker, body: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            marker,
+            body: body.into(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the unwrapped hidden context body.
+    pub fn body(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.body
+    }
+
+    /// Splits this context into its marker pair and unwrapped body.
+    pub fn into_parts(self) -> (HiddenContextMarker, String) {
+        (self.marker, self.body)
+    }
+
+    /// Renders this hidden context as a user-role response input item.
+    pub fn into_response_input_item(self) -> ResponseInputItem {
         ResponseInputItem::Message {
             role: "user".to_string(),
             content: vec![ContentItem::InputText {
                 text: format!(
                     "{}\n{}\n{}",
-                    self.start_marker,
-                    body.as_ref(),
-                    self.end_marker
+                    self.marker.start_marker, self.body, self.marker.end_marker
                 ),
             }],
             phase: None,
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors.rs b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors.rs
index 2eea9d6d4d..8cdc24e7ae 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors.rs
@@ -78,12 +78,13 @@ pub type ThreadIdleTurnStartFuture<'a> = std::pin::Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = b
 
 /// Contributor that can request a host-owned turn while a thread is idle.
 ///
-/// Implementations should return a concise hidden prompt body. The host owns
-/// the response-item shape and may ask the contributor to confirm the request
-/// again immediately before the turn starts.
+/// Implementations should normally return hidden context. Raw items are
+/// available for extensions that intentionally need unwrapped input. The host
+/// owns hidden-context wrapping and may ask the contributor to confirm the
+/// request again immediately before the turn starts.
 pub trait ThreadIdleTurnContributor: Send + Sync {
-    /// Returns one hidden prompt body to start an idle turn, if the extension
-    /// still has work that should run without user input.
+    /// Returns input to start an idle turn, if the extension still has work
+    /// that should run without user input.
     fn request_thread_idle_turn<'a>(
         &'a self,
         _input: ThreadIdleInput<'a>,
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors/thread_lifecycle.rs b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors/thread_lifecycle.rs
index bbdbf19015..f98a696b80 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors/thread_lifecycle.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/contributors/thread_lifecycle.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use crate::ExtensionData;
-use crate::HiddenContextMarker;
+use crate::ResponseInjectionItem;
 use crate::ResponseItemInjector;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::ThreadSettingsSnapshot;
 
@@ -40,19 +40,16 @@ pub struct ThreadIdleInput<'a> {
 
 /// Extension request to start a new idle turn.
 pub struct ThreadIdleRequest {
-    /// Hidden prompt body that the host wraps as extension-owned context.
-    pub prompt: String,
-    /// Marker pair used to wrap the prompt as hidden extension-owned context.
-    pub context_marker: HiddenContextMarker,
+    /// Extension-owned input that the host injects as model-visible input.
+    pub item: ResponseInjectionItem,
     /// Opaque extension-owned key used to reject stale requests before start.
     pub validation_key: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl ThreadIdleRequest {
-    pub fn new(context_marker: HiddenContextMarker, prompt: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(item: impl Into<ResponseInjectionItem>) -> Self {
         Self {
-            prompt: prompt.into(),
-            context_marker,
+            item: item.into(),
             validation_key: None,
         }
     }
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/lib.rs
index 1abe4d8b04..090fdcf33c 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/extension-api/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub use capabilities::ExtensionEventFuture;
 pub use capabilities::ExtensionEventSink;
 pub use capabilities::NoopExtensionEventSink;
 pub use capabilities::NoopResponseItemInjector;
+pub use capabilities::ResponseInjectionItem;
 pub use capabilities::ResponseItemInjectionFuture;
 pub use capabilities::ResponseItemInjector;
 pub use codex_tools::ConversationHistory;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ pub use codex_tools::ToolPayload;
 pub use codex_tools::ToolSpec;
 pub use codex_tools::parse_tool_input_schema;
 pub use codex_tools::parse_tool_input_schema_without_compaction;
+pub use context::HiddenContext;
 pub use context::HiddenContextMarker;
 pub use contributors::ApprovalReviewContributor;
 pub use contributors::ConfigContributor;
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/extension.rs b/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/extension.rs
index 1e6aed80a0..6cbdf423ff 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/extension.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/extension.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ use crate::events::GoalEventEmitter;
 use crate::metrics::GoalMetrics;
 use crate::runtime::GoalRuntimeHandle;
 use crate::spec::UPDATE_GOAL_TOOL_NAME;
-use crate::steering::budget_limit_steering_item;
+use crate::steering::budget_limit_steering_context;
 use crate::tool::GoalToolExecutor;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -372,8 +372,8 @@ where
             {
                 return;
             }
-            let item = budget_limit_steering_item(&goal);
-            runtime.inject_active_turn_steering(item).await;
+            let context = budget_limit_steering_context(&goal);
+            runtime.inject_active_turn_steering(context).await;
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/runtime.rs b/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/runtime.rs
index c91f2cfd21..cd3c6b51b1 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/runtime.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
 use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 
+use codex_extension_api::HiddenContext;
 use codex_extension_api::ResponseItemInjector;
 use codex_protocol::ThreadId;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::ModeKind;
-use codex_protocol::models::ResponseInputItem;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::ThreadGoal;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::ThreadSettingsSnapshot;
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use crate::accounting::GoalAccountingState;
 use crate::events::GoalEventEmitter;
 use crate::metrics::GoalMetrics;
 use crate::steering::continuation_steering_request;
-use crate::steering::objective_updated_steering_item;
+use crate::steering::objective_updated_steering_context;
 use crate::tool::protocol_goal_from_state;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -147,8 +147,9 @@ impl GoalRuntimeHandle {
                         .mark_idle_goal_active(goal.goal_id.clone());
                 }
                 if should_steer_active_turn {
-                    let item = objective_updated_steering_item(&protocol_goal_from_state(goal));
-                    self.inject_active_turn_steering(item).await;
+                    let context =
+                        objective_updated_steering_context(&protocol_goal_from_state(goal));
+                    self.inject_active_turn_steering(context).await;
                 }
             }
             codex_state::ThreadGoalStatus::BudgetLimited => {
@@ -323,11 +324,11 @@ impl GoalRuntimeHandle {
         Ok(goal.goal_id == expected_goal_id)
     }
 
-    pub(crate) async fn inject_active_turn_steering(&self, item: ResponseInputItem) {
+    pub(crate) async fn inject_active_turn_steering(&self, context: HiddenContext) {
         if self
             .inner
             .response_item_injector
-            .inject_response_items(vec![item])
+            .inject_response_items(vec![context.into()])
             .await
             .is_err()
         {
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/steering.rs b/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/steering.rs
index 1907f72fee..480ca7090d 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/steering.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/goal/src/steering.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
+use codex_extension_api::HiddenContext;
 use codex_extension_api::HiddenContextMarker;
 use codex_extension_api::ThreadIdleRequest;
-use codex_protocol::models::ResponseInputItem;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::ThreadGoal;
 use codex_utils_template::Template;
 use std::sync::LazyLock;
@@ -47,20 +47,20 @@ fn render_embedded_template<const N: usize>(
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn budget_limit_steering_item(goal: &ThreadGoal) -> ResponseInputItem {
-    goal_context_input_item(budget_limit_prompt(goal))
+pub(crate) fn budget_limit_steering_context(goal: &ThreadGoal) -> HiddenContext {
+    goal_context(budget_limit_prompt(goal))
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn continuation_steering_request(goal: &ThreadGoal) -> ThreadIdleRequest {
-    ThreadIdleRequest::new(GOAL_CONTEXT_MARKER, continuation_prompt(goal))
+    ThreadIdleRequest::new(goal_context(continuation_prompt(goal)))
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn objective_updated_steering_item(goal: &ThreadGoal) -> ResponseInputItem {
-    goal_context_input_item(objective_updated_prompt(goal))
+pub(crate) fn objective_updated_steering_context(goal: &ThreadGoal) -> HiddenContext {
+    goal_context(objective_updated_prompt(goal))
 }
 
-fn goal_context_input_item(prompt: String) -> ResponseInputItem {
-    GOAL_CONTEXT_MARKER.response_input_item(prompt)
+fn goal_context(prompt: String) -> HiddenContext {
+    HiddenContext::new(GOAL_CONTEXT_MARKER, prompt)
 }
 
 fn continuation_prompt(goal: &ThreadGoal) -> String {
diff --git a/codex-rs/ext/goal/tests/goal_extension_backend.rs b/codex-rs/ext/goal/tests/goal_extension_backend.rs
index 0719200ce8..064bdf98cd 100644
--- a/codex-rs/ext/goal/tests/goal_extension_backend.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/ext/goal/tests/goal_extension_backend.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use codex_extension_api::ExtensionEventSink;
 use codex_extension_api::ExtensionRegistryBuilder;
 use codex_extension_api::FunctionCallError;
 use codex_extension_api::NoopResponseItemInjector;
+use codex_extension_api::ResponseInjectionItem;
 use codex_extension_api::ThreadIdleInput;
 use codex_extension_api::ThreadIdleRequest;
 use codex_extension_api::ThreadIdleTurnStartInput;
@@ -507,12 +508,15 @@ async fn thread_idle_hook_requests_hidden_goal_continuation() -> anyhow::Result<
         .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("active goal should request idle continuation"))?;
 
     assert!(request.validation_key.is_some());
+    let ResponseInjectionItem::HiddenContext(context) = &request.item else {
+        panic!("expected hidden context item");
+    };
     assert!(
-        request
-            .prompt
+        context
+            .body()
             .contains("Continue working toward the active thread goal.")
     );
-    assert!(request.prompt.contains("Completion audit:"));
+    assert!(context.body().contains("Completion audit:"));
     assert!(
         harness
             .should_start_idle_turn(ModeKind::Default, &request)