diff --git a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/mod.rs b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/mod.rs
index 124a190933..019e0d990e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/mod.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ use crate::runtime::RuntimeControlCommand;
 use crate::runtime::RuntimeEvent;
 use crate::runtime::spawn_runtime;
 use crate::session_runtime::CellEvent;
+use crate::session_runtime::CellExecutionPolicy;
 use crate::session_runtime::CreateCellRequest as CellRequest;
 use crate::session_runtime::ObserveMode;
 use crate::session_runtime::OutputItem;
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ impl CellActor {
         stored_values: HashMap<String, JsonValue>,
         host: Arc<H>,
         cell_state: Arc<CellState>,
+        execution_policy: CellExecutionPolicy,
     ) -> Result<(CellHandle, impl Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static), String> {
         let (event_tx, event_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
         let (command_tx, command_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ impl CellActor {
             },
             event_rx,
             command_rx,
+            execution_policy,
         );
         Ok((handle, task))
     }
@@ -91,6 +94,7 @@ async fn run_cell<H: CellHost>(
     context: CellContext,
     mut event_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<RuntimeEvent>,
     command_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<CellCommand>,
+    execution_policy: CellExecutionPolicy,
 ) {
     let CellContext {
         runtime_tx,
@@ -339,7 +343,12 @@ async fn run_cell<H: CellHost>(
                                 &mut content_items,
                                 &mut pending_tool_call_ids,
                             );
-                        } else if observer.is_some() || has_been_observed {
+                        } else if observer.is_some()
+                            || matches!(
+                                execution_policy,
+                                CellExecutionPolicy::ContinueWhenUnblocked
+                            )
+                        {
                             pending_frontier_ready = false;
                             pending_tool_call_ids.clear();
                             let _ = runtime_control_tx.send(RuntimeControlCommand::Continue);
diff --git a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/tests.rs b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/tests.rs
index b5bf89d753..ec5c112c2c 100644
--- a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/cell_actor/tests.rs
@@ -104,6 +104,17 @@ fn spawn_cell_actor_harness() -> CellActorHarness {
 }
 
 fn spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host<H: CellHost>(host: Arc<H>) -> CellActorHarness {
+    spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_policy(host, CellExecutionPolicy::ContinueWhenUnblocked)
+}
+
+fn spawn_pausable_cell_actor_harness_with_host<H: CellHost>(host: Arc<H>) -> CellActorHarness {
+    spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_policy(host, CellExecutionPolicy::PauseAtPendingFrontier)
+}
+
+fn spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_policy<H: CellHost>(
+    host: Arc<H>,
+    execution_policy: CellExecutionPolicy,
+) -> CellActorHarness {
     let (event_tx, event_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
     let (command_tx, command_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
     let (runtime_event_tx, runtime_event_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
@@ -133,6 +144,7 @@ fn spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host<H: CellHost>(host: Arc<H>) -> CellActorHar
         },
         event_rx,
         command_rx,
+        execution_policy,
     ));
 
     CellActorHarness {
@@ -195,10 +207,45 @@ async fn completion_and_output_are_buffered_until_the_first_observation() {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn pending_frontier_is_buffered_while_runtime_commands_are_queued() {
+async fn continuing_harness_advances_an_unobserved_pending_frontier() {
     let host = Arc::new(RecordingHost::default());
     let harness = spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
     harness.event_tx.send(RuntimeEvent::Pending).unwrap();
+    harness
+        .event_tx
+        .send(RuntimeEvent::Notify {
+            call_id: "continuing-barrier".to_string(),
+            text: "barrier".to_string(),
+        })
+        .unwrap();
+    wait_for_notification(&host).await;
+
+    loop {
+        match harness.runtime_control_rx.try_recv() {
+            Ok(RuntimeControlCommand::Continue) => break,
+            Ok(command) => panic!("expected continue, got {command:?}"),
+            Err(std_mpsc::TryRecvError::Empty) => tokio::task::yield_now().await,
+            Err(std_mpsc::TryRecvError::Disconnected) => {
+                panic!("runtime control channel disconnected")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    let termination = harness.handle.terminate();
+    drop(harness.event_tx);
+    assert_eq!(
+        termination.await,
+        Ok(CellEvent::Terminated {
+            content_items: Vec::new(),
+        })
+    );
+    harness.task.await.unwrap();
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn pending_frontier_is_buffered_while_runtime_commands_are_queued() {
+    let host = Arc::new(RecordingHost::default());
+    let harness = spawn_pausable_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
+    harness.event_tx.send(RuntimeEvent::Pending).unwrap();
     harness
         .event_tx
         .send(RuntimeEvent::Notify {
@@ -247,7 +294,7 @@ async fn pending_frontier_is_buffered_while_runtime_commands_are_queued() {
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn buffered_yield_observation_resumes_an_unobserved_pending_frontier() {
     let host = Arc::new(RecordingHost::default());
-    let harness = spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
+    let harness = spawn_pausable_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
     harness.event_tx.send(RuntimeEvent::YieldRequested).unwrap();
     harness.event_tx.send(RuntimeEvent::Pending).unwrap();
     harness
@@ -295,7 +342,7 @@ async fn buffered_yield_observation_resumes_an_unobserved_pending_frontier() {
     }
     assert!(matches!(
         harness.runtime_control_rx.try_recv(),
-        Ok(RuntimeControlCommand::Continue)
+        Err(std_mpsc::TryRecvError::Empty)
     ));
 
     let termination = harness.handle.terminate();
@@ -380,7 +427,7 @@ async fn first_observation_preserves_a_yield_that_raced_with_creation() {
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn dropped_pending_observer_preserves_pre_observation_yield() {
     let host = Arc::new(RecordingHost::default());
-    let harness = spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
+    let harness = spawn_pausable_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
     harness
         .event_tx
         .send(RuntimeEvent::ContentItem(
@@ -456,7 +503,7 @@ async fn dropped_pending_observer_preserves_pre_observation_yield() {
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn dropped_pending_observer_preserves_pre_observation_yield_at_completion() {
     let host = Arc::new(RecordingHost::default());
-    let harness = spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
+    let harness = spawn_pausable_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
     harness
         .event_tx
         .send(RuntimeEvent::ContentItem(
@@ -785,7 +832,7 @@ async fn dropped_yield_observer_preserves_output_for_the_next_observation() {
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn dropped_pending_observer_preserves_the_frontier_for_the_next_observation() {
     let host = Arc::new(RecordingHost::default());
-    let harness = spawn_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
+    let harness = spawn_pausable_cell_actor_harness_with_host(Arc::clone(&host));
     assert_eq!(
         harness
             .handle
diff --git a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/service.rs b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/service.rs
index 24baa0c457..59afe9b7b1 100644
--- a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/service.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/service.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,10 @@ impl CodeModeService {
         let yield_time_ms = request.yield_time_ms.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_EXEC_YIELD_TIME_MS);
         let runtime_cell_id = self
             .runtime
-            .create_cell(runtime_request(request))
+            .create_cell_with_execution_policy(
+                runtime_request(request),
+                runtime::CellExecutionPolicy::PauseAtPendingFrontier,
+            )
             .await
             .map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
         let pending_event = self
diff --git a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/mod.rs b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/mod.rs
index 229d93bcb9..2a5e843273 100644
--- a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/mod.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 use tokio_util::task::TaskTracker;
 
 pub(crate) use self::types::CellEvent;
+pub(crate) use self::types::CellExecutionPolicy;
 pub(crate) use self::types::CellId;
 pub(crate) use self::types::CreateCellRequest;
 pub(crate) use self::types::Error;
@@ -68,11 +69,21 @@ impl<D: SessionRuntimeDelegate> SessionRuntime<D> {
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn create_cell(&self, request: CreateCellRequest) -> Result<CellId, Error> {
+        self.create_cell_with_execution_policy(request, CellExecutionPolicy::ContinueWhenUnblocked)
+            .await
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) async fn create_cell_with_execution_policy(
+        &self,
+        request: CreateCellRequest,
+        execution_policy: CellExecutionPolicy,
+    ) -> Result<CellId, Error> {
         if self.inner.shutdown_token.is_cancelled() {
             return Err(Error::ShuttingDown);
         }
         let cell_id = self.allocate_cell_id();
-        self.start_cell(cell_id.clone(), request).await?;
+        self.start_cell(cell_id.clone(), request, execution_policy)
+            .await?;
         Ok(cell_id)
     }
 
@@ -137,7 +148,12 @@ impl<D: SessionRuntimeDelegate> SessionRuntime<D> {
         )
     }
 
-    async fn start_cell(&self, cell_id: CellId, request: CreateCellRequest) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    async fn start_cell(
+        &self,
+        cell_id: CellId,
+        request: CreateCellRequest,
+        execution_policy: CellExecutionPolicy,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let stored_values = self.inner.stored_values.lock().await.clone();
         let host = Arc::new(RuntimeCellHost {
             cell_id: cell_id.clone(),
@@ -152,7 +168,8 @@ impl<D: SessionRuntimeDelegate> SessionRuntime<D> {
         }
         let cell_state = Arc::new(CellState::new(self.inner.shutdown_token.child_token()));
         let (handle, task) =
-            CellActor::prepare(request, stored_values, host, cell_state).map_err(Error::Runtime)?;
+            CellActor::prepare(request, stored_values, host, cell_state, execution_policy)
+                .map_err(Error::Runtime)?;
         cells.insert(cell_id.clone(), handle);
         self.inner.cell_tasks.spawn(task);
         drop(cells);
diff --git a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/tests.rs b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/tests.rs
index 13c540c786..3b32fd9533 100644
--- a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/tests.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
 use serde_json::Value as JsonValue;
+use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 
 use super::*;
@@ -15,6 +16,10 @@ use crate::cell_actor::CompletionCommit;
 
 struct RecordingDelegate;
 
+struct ImmediateToolDelegate {
+    invocations_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<String>,
+}
+
 impl SessionRuntimeDelegate for RecordingDelegate {
     async fn invoke_tool(
         &self,
@@ -37,6 +42,85 @@ impl SessionRuntimeDelegate for RecordingDelegate {
     fn cell_closed(&self, _cell_id: &CellId) {}
 }
 
+impl SessionRuntimeDelegate for ImmediateToolDelegate {
+    async fn invoke_tool(
+        &self,
+        invocation: NestedToolCall,
+        _cancellation_token: CancellationToken,
+    ) -> Result<JsonValue, String> {
+        let _ = self.invocations_tx.send(invocation.tool_name.name);
+        Ok(JsonValue::Null)
+    }
+
+    async fn notify(
+        &self,
+        _call_id: String,
+        _cell_id: CellId,
+        _text: String,
+        _cancellation_token: CancellationToken,
+    ) -> Result<(), String> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn cell_closed(&self, _cell_id: &CellId) {}
+}
+
+fn tool_definition(name: &str) -> ToolDefinition {
+    ToolDefinition {
+        name: name.to_string(),
+        tool_name: ToolName {
+            name: name.to_string(),
+            namespace: None,
+        },
+        description: String::new(),
+        kind: ToolKind::Function,
+    }
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn continuing_cell_resolves_tools_before_the_first_observation() {
+    let (invocations_tx, mut invocations_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+    let runtime = SessionRuntime::new(Arc::new(ImmediateToolDelegate { invocations_tx }));
+    let cell_id = runtime
+        .create_cell(CreateCellRequest {
+            tool_call_id: "call-1".to_string(),
+            enabled_tools: vec![tool_definition("first"), tool_definition("second")],
+            source: r#"
+await tools.first({});
+await tools.second({});
+text("done");
+"#
+            .to_string(),
+        })
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), invocations_rx.recv())
+            .await
+            .expect("first tool invocation timed out"),
+        Some("first".to_string())
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), invocations_rx.recv())
+            .await
+            .expect("second tool invocation timed out"),
+        Some("second".to_string())
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        runtime
+            .observe(&cell_id, ObserveMode::YieldAfter(Duration::from_secs(1)))
+            .await,
+        Ok(CellEvent::Completed {
+            content_items: vec![OutputItem::Text {
+                text: "done".to_string(),
+            }],
+            error_text: None,
+        })
+    );
+    runtime.shutdown().await.unwrap();
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn termination_rejects_a_waiting_store_commit_before_the_next_cell_can_load_it() {
     let runtime = SessionRuntime::new(Arc::new(RecordingDelegate));
diff --git a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/types.rs b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/types.rs
index b04bd0f236..ea6816907f 100644
--- a/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/types.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/code-mode/src/session_runtime/types.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,24 @@ pub(crate) enum ObserveMode {
     PendingFrontier,
 }
 
+/// Controls how a cell advances when its runtime is waiting for external input.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub(crate) enum CellExecutionPolicy {
+    /// Process tool and timer results even when no observation is attached.
+    ContinueWhenUnblocked,
+    /// Remain paused at a pending frontier until pending execution is advanced.
+    PauseAtPendingFrontier,
+}
+
+impl From<ObserveMode> for CellExecutionPolicy {
+    fn from(mode: ObserveMode) -> Self {
+        match mode {
+            ObserveMode::YieldAfter(_) => Self::ContinueWhenUnblocked,
+            ObserveMode::PendingFrontier => Self::PauseAtPendingFrontier,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// An observable cell lifecycle event.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub(crate) enum CellEvent {