@vellumai/assistant 0.4.23 → 0.4.26

package/src/__tests__/runtime-events-sse-parity.test.ts

@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ async function publishAndReadFrame(
   await assistantEventHub.publish(event);
 
   const reader = response.body!.getReader();
+
+  // The first chunk is the immediate heartbeat comment enqueued in start().
+  await reader.read();
+
+  // The second chunk is the actual assistant event.
   const { value } = await reader.read();
   ac.abort();
 
@@ -366,6 +371,11 @@ describe("SSE IPC parity — streaming/delta message types", () => {
     await assistantEventHub.publish(published);
 
     const reader = response.body!.getReader();
+
+    // The first chunk is the immediate heartbeat comment enqueued in start().
+    await reader.read();
+
+    // The second chunk is the actual assistant event.
     const { value } = await reader.read();
     ac.abort();
 

package/src/__tests__/runtime-events-sse.test.ts

@@ -168,6 +168,13 @@ describe("SSE assistant-events endpoint", () => {
 
     // Read the first frame directly from the response body stream.
     const reader = response.body!.getReader();
+
+    // The first chunk is the immediate heartbeat comment enqueued in start().
+    const initial = await reader.read();
+    expect(initial.done).toBe(false);
+    expect(new TextDecoder().decode(initial.value)).toBe(": heartbeat\n\n");
+
+    // The second chunk is the actual assistant event.
     const { value, done } = await reader.read();
     ac.abort();
 

package/src/__tests__/session-runtime-assembly.test.ts

@@ -44,6 +44,14 @@ describe("resolveChannelCapabilities", () => {
     expect(caps.supportsVoiceInput).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  test("vellum channel with vellum interface supports dynamic UI", () => {
+    const caps = resolveChannelCapabilities("vellum", "vellum");
+    expect(caps.channel).toBe("vellum");
+    expect(caps.dashboardCapable).toBe(false);
+    expect(caps.supportsDynamicUi).toBe(true);
+    expect(caps.supportsVoiceInput).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   test("defaults to vellum for null source channel", () => {
     const caps = resolveChannelCapabilities(null);
     expect(caps.channel).toBe("vellum");
@@ -407,6 +415,24 @@ describe("trust-gating via channel capabilities", () => {
     expect(injected).toContain("Present information as well-formatted text");
     expect(injected).toContain("desktop app");
   });
+
+  test("vellum web interface allows dynamic UI but constrains dashboard references", () => {
+    const caps = resolveChannelCapabilities("vellum", "vellum");
+    const message: Message = {
+      role: "user",
+      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Show me a form" }],
+    };
+
+    const result = injectChannelCapabilityContext(message, caps);
+    const injected = (result.content[0] as { type: "text"; text: string }).text;
+
+    expect(injected).toContain("CHANNEL CONSTRAINTS");
+    expect(injected).toContain("Do NOT reference the dashboard UI");
+    expect(injected).not.toContain("Do NOT use ui_show");
+    expect(injected).not.toContain("Present information as well-formatted text");
+    expect(injected).toContain("supports_dynamic_ui: true");
+    expect(injected).toContain("dashboard_capable: false");
+  });
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -994,12 +1020,12 @@ describe("sanitizePttActivationKey", () => {
     expect(sanitizePttActivationKey("none")).toBe("none");
   });
 
-  test('returns "unknown" for invalid keys', () => {
-    expect(sanitizePttActivationKey("malicious\nprompt injection")).toBe(
-      "unknown",
-    );
-    expect(sanitizePttActivationKey("arbitrary_value")).toBe("unknown");
-    expect(sanitizePttActivationKey("")).toBe("unknown");
+  test("returns undefined for invalid keys", () => {
+    expect(
+      sanitizePttActivationKey("malicious\nprompt injection"),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(sanitizePttActivationKey("arbitrary_value")).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(sanitizePttActivationKey("")).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
 
@@ -1015,11 +1041,11 @@ describe("resolveChannelCapabilities with PTT metadata", () => {
     expect(caps.pttActivationKey).toBe("fn");
   });
 
-  test("sanitizes invalid pttActivationKey to unknown", () => {
+  test("sanitizes invalid pttActivationKey to undefined", () => {
     const caps = resolveChannelCapabilities("macos", "macos", {
       pttActivationKey: "evil\nprompt",
     });
-    expect(caps.pttActivationKey).toBe("unknown");
+    expect(caps.pttActivationKey).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   test("passes through microphonePermissionGranted", () => {

package/src/__tests__/system-prompt.test.ts

@@ -75,9 +75,15 @@ const {
   buildPhoneCallsRoutingSection,
 } = await import("../config/system-prompt.js");
 
-/** Strip the Configuration and Skills sections so base-prompt tests stay focused. */
+/** Strip the Configuration, Skills, and hardcoded preamble sections so base-prompt tests stay focused. */
 function basePrompt(result: string): string {
   let s = result;
+  // Strip the hardcoded em-dash instruction preamble
+  const emDashLine =
+    "IMPORTANT: Never use em dashes (\u2014) in your messages. Use commas, periods, or just start a new sentence instead.";
+  if (s.startsWith(emDashLine)) {
+    s = s.slice(emDashLine.length).replace(/^\n\n/, "");
+  }
   for (const heading of [
     "## Configuration",
     "## Skills Catalog",

package/src/__tests__/trusted-contact-approval-notifier.test.ts

@@ -120,8 +120,14 @@ mock.module("../config/env.js", () => ({
   getGatewayInternalBaseUrl: () => "http://localhost:3000",
 }));
 
+// ── User reference mock ──
+mock.module("../config/user-reference.js", () => ({
+  resolveUserReference: () => "my human",
+}));
+
 // Import module under test AFTER mocks are set up
 import type { ChannelId } from "../channels/types.js";
+import { resolveUserReference } from "../config/user-reference.js";
 import type { GuardianContext } from "../runtime/guardian-context-resolver.js";
 
 // We need to test the private functions by importing the module.
@@ -220,9 +226,7 @@ async function simulateNotifierPoll(params: {
     }
   }
 
-  const waitingText = guardianName
-    ? `Waiting for ${guardianName}'s approval...`
-    : "Waiting for your guardian's approval...";
+  const waitingText = `Waiting for ${guardianName ?? resolveUserReference()}'s approval...`;
 
   try {
     await deliverChannelReply(
@@ -330,7 +334,7 @@ describe("trusted-contact pending-approval notifier", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  test("uses generic phrasing when no guardian name is available", async () => {
+  test("falls back to user reference when no guardian name is available", async () => {
     mockPendingApprovals = [
       {
         requestId: "req-3",
@@ -359,11 +363,11 @@ describe("trusted-contact pending-approval notifier", () => {
 
     expect(deliveredReplies).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(deliveredReplies[0].payload.text).toBe(
-      "Waiting for your guardian's approval...",
+      "Waiting for my human's approval...",
     );
   });
 
-  test("uses generic phrasing when no guardian binding exists", async () => {
+  test("falls back to user reference when no guardian binding exists", async () => {
     mockPendingApprovals = [
       {
         requestId: "req-4",
@@ -388,7 +392,7 @@ describe("trusted-contact pending-approval notifier", () => {
 
     expect(deliveredReplies).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(deliveredReplies[0].payload.text).toBe(
-      "Waiting for your guardian's approval...",
+      "Waiting for my human's approval...",
     );
   });
 
@@ -736,7 +740,7 @@ describe("trusted-contact pending-approval notifier", () => {
     expect(deliveredReplies).toHaveLength(1);
     // Falls back to generic phrasing
     expect(deliveredReplies[0].payload.text).toBe(
-      "Waiting for your guardian's approval...",
+      "Waiting for my human's approval...",
     );
   });
 });

package/src/__tests__/twilio-routes-twiml.test.ts

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ describe("generateTwiML with voice quality profile", () => {
     expect(twiml).toContain('voice="voice123-turbo_v2_5-1_0.5_0.75"');
   });
 
-  test("voice attribute reflects configured voice for twilio_standard mode", () => {
+  test("voice attribute reflects configured Google voice", () => {
     const twiml = generateTwiML(callSessionId, relayUrl, welcomeGreeting, {
       language: "en-US",
       transcriptionProvider: "Deepgram",
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe("generateTwiML with voice quality profile", () => {
     expect(twiml).toContain('voice="Google.en-US-Journey-O"');
   });
 
-  test("voice attribute reflects configured voice for twilio_elevenlabs_tts mode", () => {
+  test("voice attribute reflects configured ElevenLabs voice", () => {
     const twiml = generateTwiML(callSessionId, relayUrl, welcomeGreeting, {
       language: "en-US",
       transcriptionProvider: "Deepgram",

package/src/__tests__/twilio-routes.test.ts

@@ -60,13 +60,12 @@ const mockConfigObj = {
   memory: { enabled: false },
   rateLimit: { maxRequestsPerMinute: 0, maxTokensPerSession: 0 },
   secretDetection: { enabled: false },
+  elevenlabs: { voiceId: "21m00Tcm4TlvDq8ikWAM" },
   calls: {
     voice: {
-      mode: "twilio_standard",
       language: "en-US",
       transcriptionProvider: "Deepgram",
-      fallbackToStandardOnError: true,
-      elevenlabs: { voiceId: "" },
+      elevenlabs: {},
     },
   },
 };

package/src/__tests__/voice-quality.test.ts

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ mock.module("../config/loader.js", () => ({
 
 import {
   buildElevenLabsVoiceSpec,
-  isVoiceProfileValid,
   resolveVoiceQualityProfile,
 } from "../calls/voice-quality.js";
 
@@ -62,176 +61,66 @@ describe("buildElevenLabsVoiceSpec", () => {
 });
 
 describe("resolveVoiceQualityProfile", () => {
-  test("returns standard profile for twilio_standard mode", () => {
+  test("always returns ElevenLabs ttsProvider", () => {
     mockConfig = {
+      elevenlabs: { voiceId: "21m00Tcm4TlvDq8ikWAM" },
       calls: {
         voice: {
-          mode: "twilio_standard",
           language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-          elevenlabs: {},
-        },
-      },
-    };
-    const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("twilio_standard");
-    expect(profile.ttsProvider).toBe("Google");
-    expect(profile.voice).toBe("Google.en-US-Journey-O");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors).toHaveLength(0);
-  });
-
-  test("returns elevenlabs profile for twilio_elevenlabs_tts mode", () => {
-    mockConfig = {
-      calls: {
-        voice: {
-          mode: "twilio_elevenlabs_tts",
-          language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-          elevenlabs: { voiceId: "elvoice1" },
+          transcriptionProvider: "Deepgram",
         },
       },
     };
     const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("twilio_elevenlabs_tts");
     expect(profile.ttsProvider).toBe("ElevenLabs");
-    expect(profile.voice).toBe("elvoice1");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors).toHaveLength(0);
-  });
-
-  test("falls back to standard when voiceId missing and fallback enabled", () => {
-    mockConfig = {
-      calls: {
-        voice: {
-          mode: "twilio_elevenlabs_tts",
-          language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: true,
-          elevenlabs: { voiceId: "" },
-        },
-      },
-    };
-    const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("twilio_standard");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-    expect(profile.validationErrors[0]).toContain("falling back");
-  });
-
-  test("returns validation error when voiceId missing and fallback disabled", () => {
-    mockConfig = {
-      calls: {
-        voice: {
-          mode: "twilio_elevenlabs_tts",
-          language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-          elevenlabs: { voiceId: "" },
-        },
-      },
-    };
-    const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("twilio_elevenlabs_tts");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-    expect(profile.validationErrors[0]).toContain("voiceId is required");
   });
 
-  test("returns elevenlabs_agent profile with agentId", () => {
+  test("voice ID comes from elevenlabs.voiceId", () => {
     mockConfig = {
+      elevenlabs: { voiceId: "custom-voice-123" },
       calls: {
         voice: {
-          mode: "elevenlabs_agent",
           language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-          elevenlabs: { voiceId: "voice1", agentId: "agent123" },
+          transcriptionProvider: "Deepgram",
         },
       },
     };
     const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("elevenlabs_agent");
-    expect(profile.agentId).toBe("agent123");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(profile.voice).toBe("custom-voice-123");
   });
 
-  test("falls back to standard when agentId missing and fallback enabled", () => {
+  test("uses language from calls.voice config", () => {
     mockConfig = {
+      elevenlabs: { voiceId: "abc" },
       calls: {
         voice: {
-          mode: "elevenlabs_agent",
-          language: "en-US",
+          language: "es-MX",
           transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: true,
-          elevenlabs: { voiceId: "voice1", agentId: "" },
         },
       },
     };
     const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("twilio_standard");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors[0]).toContain("falling back");
+    expect(profile.language).toBe("es-MX");
+    expect(profile.transcriptionProvider).toBe("Google");
   });
 
-  test("returns validation error when agentId missing and fallback disabled", () => {
+  test("builds voice spec with model and tuning params", () => {
     mockConfig = {
-      calls: {
-        voice: {
-          mode: "elevenlabs_agent",
-          language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-          elevenlabs: { voiceId: "voice1", agentId: "" },
-        },
+      elevenlabs: {
+        voiceId: "voice1",
+        voiceModelId: "turbo_v2_5",
+        speed: 0.9,
+        stability: 0.8,
+        similarityBoost: 0.9,
       },
-    };
-    const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("elevenlabs_agent");
-    expect(profile.validationErrors.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-    expect(profile.validationErrors[0]).toContain("agentId is required");
-  });
-
-  test("returns standard profile for unknown mode", () => {
-    mockConfig = {
       calls: {
         voice: {
-          mode: "unknown_mode",
           language: "en-US",
-          transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-          fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-          elevenlabs: {},
+          transcriptionProvider: "Deepgram",
         },
       },
     };
     const profile = resolveVoiceQualityProfile();
-    expect(profile.mode).toBe("twilio_standard");
-  });
-});
-
-describe("isVoiceProfileValid", () => {
-  test("returns true for profile with no errors", () => {
-    expect(
-      isVoiceProfileValid({
-        mode: "twilio_standard",
-        language: "en-US",
-        transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-        ttsProvider: "Google",
-        voice: "Google.en-US-Journey-O",
-        fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-        validationErrors: [],
-      }),
-    ).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  test("returns false for profile with errors", () => {
-    expect(
-      isVoiceProfileValid({
-        mode: "twilio_elevenlabs_tts",
-        language: "en-US",
-        transcriptionProvider: "Google",
-        ttsProvider: "ElevenLabs",
-        voice: "",
-        fallbackToStandardOnError: false,
-        validationErrors: ["voiceId is required"],
-      }),
-    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(profile.voice).toBe("voice1-turbo_v2_5-0.9_0.8_0.9");
   });
 });

package/src/calls/call-controller.ts

@@ -44,11 +44,13 @@ const log = getLogger('call-controller');
 type ControllerState = 'idle' | 'processing' | 'speaking';
 
 /**
- * Tracks a pending guardian consultation independently of the controller's
+ * Tracks a pending guardian input request independently of the controller's
  * turn state. This allows the call to continue normal turn processing
- * (idle -> processing -> speaking) while a consultation is outstanding.
+ * (idle -> processing -> speaking) while a guardian consultation is outstanding.
+ * Also used to suppress the silence nudge ("Are you still there?") while
+ * the caller is waiting on a guardian decision.
  */
-interface PendingConsultation {
+interface PendingGuardianInput {
   questionText: string;
   questionId: string;
   toolApprovalMeta: { toolName: string; inputDigest: string } | null;
@@ -191,16 +193,17 @@ export class CallController {
   private durationTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
   private durationWarningTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
   /**
-   * Tracks the currently pending guardian consultation, if any. Decoupled
+   * Tracks the currently pending guardian input request, if any. Decoupled
    * from the controller's turn state so callers can continue to trigger
-   * normal turns while consultation is outstanding.
+   * normal turns while a guardian consultation is outstanding. Also
+   * suppresses the silence nudge while non-null.
    */
-  private pendingConsultation: PendingConsultation | null = null;
+  private pendingGuardianInput: PendingGuardianInput | null = null;
   private durationEndTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
   private task: string | null;
   /** True when the call session was created via the inbound path (no outbound task). */
   private isInbound: boolean;
-  /** Instructions queued while an LLM turn is in-flight or during pending consultation */
+  /** Instructions queued while an LLM turn is in-flight or during pending guardian input */
   private pendingInstructions: string[] = [];
   /** Ensures the call opener is triggered at most once per call. */
   private initialGreetingStarted = false;
@@ -271,7 +274,7 @@ export class CallController {
    * incoming answers to the correct consultation record.
    */
   getPendingConsultationQuestionId(): string | null {
-    return this.pendingConsultation?.questionId ?? null;
+    return this.pendingGuardianInput?.questionId ?? null;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -357,7 +360,7 @@ export class CallController {
    * speaking.
    */
   async handleUserAnswer(answerText: string): Promise<boolean> {
-    if (!this.pendingConsultation) {
+    if (!this.pendingGuardianInput) {
       log.warn(
         { callSessionId: this.callSessionId, state: this.state },
         'handleUserAnswer called but no pending consultation exists',
@@ -366,8 +369,8 @@ export class CallController {
     }
 
     // Clear the consultation timeout and record
-    clearTimeout(this.pendingConsultation.timer);
-    this.pendingConsultation = null;
+    clearTimeout(this.pendingGuardianInput.timer);
+    this.pendingGuardianInput = null;
 
     updateCallSession(this.callSessionId, { status: 'in_progress' });
 
@@ -436,7 +439,7 @@ export class CallController {
     if (this.silenceTimer) clearTimeout(this.silenceTimer);
     if (this.durationTimer) clearTimeout(this.durationTimer);
     if (this.durationWarningTimer) clearTimeout(this.durationWarningTimer);
-    if (this.pendingConsultation) { clearTimeout(this.pendingConsultation.timer); this.pendingConsultation = null; }
+    if (this.pendingGuardianInput) { clearTimeout(this.pendingGuardianInput.timer); this.pendingGuardianInput = null; }
     if (this.durationEndTimer) { clearTimeout(this.durationEndTimer); this.durationEndTimer = null; }
     this.llmRunVersion++;
     this.abortCurrentTurn();
@@ -713,30 +716,30 @@ export class CallController {
           // the prior pending consultation (preserves tool scope on re-asks).
           const effectiveToolMeta = toolApprovalMeta
             ? { toolName: toolApprovalMeta.toolName, inputDigest: toolApprovalMeta.inputDigest }
-            : this.pendingConsultation?.toolApprovalMeta ?? null;
+            : this.pendingGuardianInput?.toolApprovalMeta ?? null;
 
           // Coalesce repeated identical asks: if a consultation is already
           // pending for the same tool/action (or same informational question),
           // avoid churning requests and just keep the existing one.
-          if (this.pendingConsultation) {
+          if (this.pendingGuardianInput) {
             const isSameToolAction =
-              effectiveToolMeta && this.pendingConsultation.toolApprovalMeta
-                ? effectiveToolMeta.toolName === this.pendingConsultation.toolApprovalMeta.toolName
-                  && effectiveToolMeta.inputDigest === this.pendingConsultation.toolApprovalMeta.inputDigest
-                : !effectiveToolMeta && !this.pendingConsultation.toolApprovalMeta;
+              effectiveToolMeta && this.pendingGuardianInput.toolApprovalMeta
+                ? effectiveToolMeta.toolName === this.pendingGuardianInput.toolApprovalMeta.toolName
+                  && effectiveToolMeta.inputDigest === this.pendingGuardianInput.toolApprovalMeta.inputDigest
+                : !effectiveToolMeta && !this.pendingGuardianInput.toolApprovalMeta;
 
             if (isSameToolAction) {
               // Same tool/action — coalesce. Keep the existing consultation
               // alive and skip creating a new request.
               log.info(
-                { callSessionId: this.callSessionId, questionId: this.pendingConsultation.questionId },
+                { callSessionId: this.callSessionId, questionId: this.pendingGuardianInput.questionId },
                 'Coalescing repeated ASK_GUARDIAN — same tool/action already pending',
               );
               recordCallEvent(this.callSessionId, 'guardian_consult_coalesced', { question: questionText });
               // Fall through to normal turn completion (idle + flushPendingInstructions)
             } else {
               // Materially different intent — supersede the old consultation.
-              clearTimeout(this.pendingConsultation.timer);
+              clearTimeout(this.pendingGuardianInput.timer);
 
               // Expire the previous consultation's storage records so stale
               // guardian answers cannot match the old request.
@@ -752,7 +755,7 @@ export class CallController {
                 );
               }
 
-              this.pendingConsultation = null;
+              this.pendingGuardianInput = null;
 
               // Dispatch the new consultation with effective tool metadata.
               // The previous request ID is passed through so the dispatch
@@ -773,10 +776,10 @@ export class CallController {
         // Without this, the consultation timeout can fire on an already-ended
         // call, overwriting 'completed' status back to 'in_progress' and
         // starting a new LLM turn on a dead session. Similarly, a late
-        // handleUserAnswer could be accepted since pendingConsultation is
+        // handleUserAnswer could be accepted since pendingGuardianInput is
         // still non-null.
-        if (this.pendingConsultation) {
-          clearTimeout(this.pendingConsultation.timer);
+        if (this.pendingGuardianInput) {
+          clearTimeout(this.pendingGuardianInput.timer);
 
           // Expire store-side consultation records so clients don't observe
           // a completed call with a dangling pendingQuestion, and guardian
@@ -787,7 +790,7 @@ export class CallController {
             expireCanonicalGuardianRequest(previousRequest.id);
           }
 
-          this.pendingConsultation = null;
+          this.pendingGuardianInput = null;
         }
 
         const currentSession = getCallSession(this.callSessionId);
@@ -928,7 +931,7 @@ export class CallController {
     // record, not the global controller state.
     const consultationTimer = setTimeout(() => {
       // Only fire if this consultation is still the active one
-      if (!this.pendingConsultation || this.pendingConsultation.questionId !== pendingQuestion.id) return;
+      if (!this.pendingGuardianInput || this.pendingGuardianInput.questionId !== pendingQuestion.id) return;
 
       log.info({ callSessionId: this.callSessionId }, 'Guardian consultation timed out');
 
@@ -960,7 +963,7 @@ export class CallController {
 
       // Expire pending questions and update call state
       expirePendingQuestions(this.callSessionId);
-      this.pendingConsultation = null;
+      this.pendingGuardianInput = null;
       updateCallSession(this.callSessionId, { status: 'in_progress' });
       this.guardianUnavailableForCall = true;
       recordCallEvent(this.callSessionId, 'guardian_consultation_timed_out', { question: questionText });
@@ -982,7 +985,7 @@ export class CallController {
       }
     }, getUserConsultationTimeoutMs());
 
-    this.pendingConsultation = {
+    this.pendingGuardianInput = {
       questionText,
       questionId: pendingQuestion.id,
       toolApprovalMeta: effectiveToolMeta,
@@ -1067,7 +1070,9 @@ export class CallController {
       // During guardian wait states, the relay heartbeat timer handles
       // periodic updates — suppress the generic "Are you still there?"
       // which is confusing when the caller is waiting on a decision.
-      if (this.relay.getConnectionState() === 'awaiting_guardian_decision') {
+      // Two paths: in-call consultation (pendingGuardianInput) and
+      // inbound access-request wait (relay state).
+      if (this.pendingGuardianInput || this.relay.getConnectionState() === 'awaiting_guardian_decision') {
         log.debug({ callSessionId: this.callSessionId }, 'Silence timeout suppressed during guardian wait');
         return;
       }

package/src/calls/relay-server.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { randomInt } from 'node:crypto';
 import type { ServerWebSocket } from 'bun';
 
 import { getConfig } from '../config/loader.js';
+import { resolveUserReference } from '../config/user-reference.js';
 import { getAssistantName } from '../daemon/identity-helpers.js';
 import { getCanonicalGuardianRequest } from '../memory/canonical-guardian-store.js';
 import { listActiveBindingsByAssistant } from '../memory/channel-guardian-store.js';
@@ -1214,10 +1215,14 @@ export class RelayConnection {
 
     updateCallSession(this.callSessionId, { status: 'waiting_on_user' });
 
-    // Start the heartbeat timer for periodic progress updates
-    this.accessRequestWaitStartedAt = Date.now();
+    // Start the heartbeat timer for periodic progress updates.
+    // Delay the first heartbeat by the estimated TTS playback duration so
+    // the initial hold message finishes before any heartbeat fires.
     this.heartbeatSequence = 0;
-    this.scheduleNextHeartbeat();
+    this.accessRequestHeartbeatTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      this.accessRequestWaitStartedAt = Date.now();
+      this.scheduleNextHeartbeat();
+    }, getTtsPlaybackDelayMs());
 
     // Poll the canonical request status
     this.accessRequestPollTimer = setInterval(() => {
@@ -1658,7 +1663,7 @@ export class RelayConnection {
   /**
    * Resolve a human-readable guardian label for voice wait copy.
    * Prefers displayName from the guardian binding metadata, falls back
-   * to @username, then "my guardian".
+   * to @username, then the user's preferred name from USER.md.
    */
   private resolveGuardianLabel(): string {
     const assistantId = this.accessRequestAssistantId ?? DAEMON_INTERNAL_ASSISTANT_ID;
@@ -1690,7 +1695,8 @@ export class RelayConnection {
         // ignore malformed metadata
       }
     }
-    return 'my guardian';
+
+    return resolveUserReference();
   }
 
   /**