# witcheer's Wingtips #82: agent.session_stall_timeout, the stall notice explained

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

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/wingtips/82  
Published: 2026-09-24  
[Original](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/wingtips/82-session-stall-timeout/) · [On X](https://x.com/witcheer/status/2102997146660110386) · [Full collection](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/) · [Official docs](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#session-stall-watchdog)

[Source Markdown](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notwitcheer/hermes-recipes/8653fb699a137a32e81936fa33cabacd3f4f2095/docs/wingtips/82-session-stall-timeout.md): use this file as the base for relative links in the verbatim text below.

Sources: [Hermes docs: Configuration](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#session-stall-watchdog)


if your Hermes bot has ever sent "Agent session appears stalled", that is a watchdog, and it never stops the turn.

it speaks up once when you have sent a follow-up and the agent has shown no activity for 5 minutes. then it is your call: /new, /stop, or keep waiting.

raise the number for long jobs, or set 0 to turn it off.

docs: [https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#session-stall-watchdog](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#session-stall-watchdog)