diff --git a/cmd/clawgo/cmd_gateway.go b/cmd/clawgo/cmd_gateway.go
index 1acafbc..7bfd6cf 100644
--- a/cmd/clawgo/cmd_gateway.go
+++ b/cmd/clawgo/cmd_gateway.go
@@ -589,6 +589,9 @@ func summarizeAutonomyChanges(oldCfg, newCfg *config.Config) []string {
 	if o.WaitingResumeDebounceSec != n.WaitingResumeDebounceSec {
 		changes = append(changes, "waiting_resume_debounce_sec")
 	}
+	if o.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec != n.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec {
+		changes = append(changes, "idle_round_budget_release_sec")
+	}
 	if strings.TrimSpace(o.QuietHours) != strings.TrimSpace(n.QuietHours) {
 		changes = append(changes, "quiet_hours")
 	}
@@ -967,6 +970,7 @@ func buildAutonomyEngine(cfg *config.Config, msgBus *bus.MessageBus) *autonomy.E
 		MaxRoundsWithoutUser:        a.MaxRoundsWithoutUser,
 		TaskHistoryRetentionDays:    a.TaskHistoryRetentionDays,
 		WaitingResumeDebounceSec:    a.WaitingResumeDebounceSec,
+		IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec:   a.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec,
 		AllowedTaskKeywords:         a.AllowedTaskKeywords,
 		ImportantKeywords:           cfg.Agents.Defaults.Texts.AutonomyImportantKeywords,
 		CompletionTemplate:          cfg.Agents.Defaults.Texts.AutonomyCompletionTemplate,
diff --git a/config.example.json b/config.example.json
index 07297fc..8610129 100644
--- a/config.example.json
+++ b/config.example.json
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
         "max_rounds_without_user": 12,
         "task_history_retention_days": 3,
         "waiting_resume_debounce_sec": 5,
+        "idle_round_budget_release_sec": 1800,
         "allowed_task_keywords": [],
         "ekg_consecutive_error_threshold": 3
       },
diff --git a/pkg/autonomy/engine.go b/pkg/autonomy/engine.go
index 314c188..0059507 100644
--- a/pkg/autonomy/engine.go
+++ b/pkg/autonomy/engine.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	QuietHours                  string
 	UserIdleResumeSec           int
 	WaitingResumeDebounceSec    int
+	IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec int
 	MaxRoundsWithoutUser      int
 	TaskHistoryRetentionDays  int
 	AllowedTaskKeywords        []string
@@ -111,6 +112,9 @@ func NewEngine(opts Options, msgBus *bus.MessageBus) *Engine {
 	if opts.MaxRoundsWithoutUser < 0 {
 		opts.MaxRoundsWithoutUser = 0
 	}
+	if opts.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec < 0 {
+		opts.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec = 0
+	}
 	if opts.TaskHistoryRetentionDays <= 0 {
 		opts.TaskHistoryRetentionDays = 3
 	}
@@ -302,8 +306,15 @@ func (e *Engine) tick() {
 				continue
 			}
 			if st.BlockReason == "idle_round_budget" && e.opts.MaxRoundsWithoutUser > 0 && e.roundsWithoutUser >= e.opts.MaxRoundsWithoutUser {
-				// Stay waiting until user activity resets round budget.
-				continue
+				// Optional auto-release without user dialog: allow one round after configured cooldown.
+				if e.opts.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec > 0 && !st.WaitingSince.IsZero() && now.Sub(st.WaitingSince) >= time.Duration(e.opts.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec)*time.Second {
+					e.roundsWithoutUser = e.opts.MaxRoundsWithoutUser - 1
+					e.writeReflectLog("resume", st, fmt.Sprintf("autonomy auto-resumed from idle round budget after %ds", e.opts.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec))
+					e.writeTriggerAudit("resume", st, "idle_round_budget_auto_release")
+				} else {
+					// Stay waiting until user activity resets round budget.
+					continue
+				}
 			}
 			// Debounce waiting/resume flapping
 			if !st.WaitingSince.IsZero() && now.Sub(st.WaitingSince) < time.Duration(e.opts.WaitingResumeDebounceSec)*time.Second {
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index 99b35ce..0348803 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ type AutonomyConfig struct {
 	MaxRoundsWithoutUser       int      `json:"max_rounds_without_user" env:"CLAWGO_AGENTS_DEFAULTS_AUTONOMY_MAX_ROUNDS_WITHOUT_USER"`
 	TaskHistoryRetentionDays   int      `json:"task_history_retention_days" env:"CLAWGO_AGENTS_DEFAULTS_AUTONOMY_TASK_HISTORY_RETENTION_DAYS"`
 	WaitingResumeDebounceSec   int      `json:"waiting_resume_debounce_sec" env:"CLAWGO_AGENTS_DEFAULTS_AUTONOMY_WAITING_RESUME_DEBOUNCE_SEC"`
+	IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec  int      `json:"idle_round_budget_release_sec" env:"CLAWGO_AGENTS_DEFAULTS_AUTONOMY_IDLE_ROUND_BUDGET_RELEASE_SEC"`
 	AllowedTaskKeywords        []string `json:"allowed_task_keywords" env:"CLAWGO_AGENTS_DEFAULTS_AUTONOMY_ALLOWED_TASK_KEYWORDS"`
 	EKGConsecutiveErrorThreshold int  `json:"ekg_consecutive_error_threshold" env:"CLAWGO_AGENTS_DEFAULTS_AUTONOMY_EKG_CONSECUTIVE_ERROR_THRESHOLD"`
 	// Deprecated: kept for backward compatibility with existing config files.
@@ -378,6 +379,7 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 					MaxRoundsWithoutUser:        12,
 					TaskHistoryRetentionDays:    3,
 					WaitingResumeDebounceSec:    5,
+					IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec:   1800,
 					AllowedTaskKeywords:         []string{},
 					EKGConsecutiveErrorThreshold: 3,
 				},
diff --git a/pkg/config/validate.go b/pkg/config/validate.go
index 73f15ff..ec0ff9d 100644
--- a/pkg/config/validate.go
+++ b/pkg/config/validate.go
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ func Validate(cfg *Config) []error {
 		if aut.WaitingResumeDebounceSec <= 0 {
 			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("agents.defaults.autonomy.waiting_resume_debounce_sec must be > 0 when enabled=true"))
 		}
+		if aut.IdleRoundBudgetReleaseSec < 0 {
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("agents.defaults.autonomy.idle_round_budget_release_sec must be >= 0 when enabled=true"))
+		}
 		if aut.TaskHistoryRetentionDays <= 0 {
 			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("agents.defaults.autonomy.task_history_retention_days must be > 0 when enabled=true"))
 		}