# witcheer's Wingtips #22: steer a task without stopping it

Written by [witcheer](https://x.com/witcheer) at Nous Research. Republished with credit.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/wingtips/22  
Published: 2026-07-16  
[Original](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/wingtips/22-steer-a-task-without-stopping-it/) · [On X](https://x.com/witcheer/status/2077799836804407715) · [Full collection](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/) · [Official docs](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/reference/slash-commands)

[Source Markdown](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notwitcheer/hermes-recipes/8653fb699a137a32e81936fa33cabacd3f4f2095/docs/wingtips/22-steer-a-task-without-stopping-it.md): use this file as the base for relative links in the verbatim text below.

Sources: [Hermes docs: Slash Commands](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/reference/slash-commands)


Hermes Wingtips #22: steer a task without stopping it

a lot of people think you have to stop the agent and start over to change direction mid-task. you don't. there is /steer.

while it works, send a mid-run note: 

`/steer focus on the auth module first`

it arrives after the current tool call finishes, so nothing gets interrupted and it is not a new turn, just fresh direction the agent picks up as it goes.

two siblings worth knowing: 

(1) /queue (alias /q) holds a prompt for the next turn without touching the current one

(2) /busy lets you set what plain Enter does while it works: queue, steer, or interrupt.