diff --git a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/handlers.rs b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/handlers.rs
index 89742d1f..08ffb186 100644
--- a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/handlers.rs
+++ b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/handlers.rs
@@ -288,6 +288,46 @@ pub async fn list_invites(client: &Client) -> DaemonResponse {
     DaemonResponse::ok(&invites)
 }
 
+/// Rewrite `mcp-loose-ends/matrix.json` with a summary of all pending
+/// room invites. The harness scans this directory generically in
+/// `get_loose_ends` — no matrix-specific code needed there.
+///
+/// Called after an invite arrives (from the sync handler) and after a
+/// room is joined (to remove the accepted invite from loose-ends).
+/// Atomic write (tmp + rename) so the harness never reads a partial file.
+pub async fn refresh_invite_loose_ends(client: &Client) {
+    let invites = client.invited_rooms();
+    let dir = crate::paths::mcp_loose_ends_dir();
+    if let Err(e) = tokio::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).await {
+        tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "matrix: create mcp-loose-ends dir failed");
+        return;
+    }
+    let items: Vec<String> = invites
+        .iter()
+        .map(|room| {
+            let label = room
+                .canonical_alias()
+                .map_or_else(|| room.room_id().to_string(), |a| a.to_string());
+            format!(
+                "[matrix] pending invite: {label} — use list_invites to see, join_room to accept"
+            )
+        })
+        .collect();
+    let dest = dir.join("matrix.json");
+    let tmp = dest.with_extension("json.tmp");
+    let json = serde_json::to_string(&items).unwrap_or_else(|_| "[]".to_owned());
+    match tokio::fs::write(&tmp, &json).await {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            if let Err(e) = tokio::fs::rename(&tmp, &dest).await {
+                tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "matrix: rename mcp-loose-ends/matrix.json failed");
+            }
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "matrix: write mcp-loose-ends/matrix.json.tmp failed");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 pub async fn join_room(client: &Client, room_ref: &str) -> DaemonResponse {
     let parsed: &RoomOrAliasId = match room_ref.try_into() {
         Ok(p) => p,
@@ -297,10 +337,15 @@ pub async fn join_room(client: &Client, room_ref: &str) -> DaemonResponse {
     };
     let server_names: Vec<OwnedServerName> = vec![];
     match client.join_room_by_id_or_alias(parsed, &server_names).await {
-        Ok(room) => DaemonResponse::ok(&serde_json::json!({
-            "joined": true,
-            "room_id": room.room_id().to_string(),
-        })),
+        Ok(room) => {
+            // Refresh loose-ends so the accepted invite is removed from
+            // `get_loose_ends` output immediately after the agent joins.
+            refresh_invite_loose_ends(client).await;
+            DaemonResponse::ok(&serde_json::json!({
+                "joined": true,
+                "room_id": room.room_id().to_string(),
+            }))
+        }
         Err(e) => DaemonResponse::error(format!("join room {room_ref}: {e}")),
     }
 }
diff --git a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/paths.rs b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/paths.rs
index 39913087..a40c4704 100644
--- a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/paths.rs
+++ b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/paths.rs
@@ -66,3 +66,25 @@ pub fn hyperhive_socket() -> PathBuf {
     std::env::var_os("HIVE_CONTROL_SOCKET")
         .map_or_else(|| PathBuf::from("/run/hive/mcp.sock"), PathBuf::from)
 }
+
+/// Directory where MCP daemons write loose-end summary files for the harness.
+/// Each daemon writes `<name>.json` here; the harness scans the dir in
+/// `get_loose_ends` to surface active work from all MCPs generically.
+///
+/// NOTE: the base-dir resolution logic here is intentionally mirrored in
+/// `hive-ag3nt/src/mcp_loose_ends.rs::loose_ends_dir()`. They can't share
+/// code across crates — keep them in sync if the fallback logic changes.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn mcp_loose_ends_dir() -> PathBuf {
+    let base = if let Some(p) = std::env::var_os("HYPERHIVE_HARNESS_DIR") {
+        PathBuf::from(p)
+    } else {
+        let state = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_STATE_DIR").unwrap_or_default();
+        let state_path = PathBuf::from(&state);
+        state_path
+            .parent()
+            .map(|p| p.join("harness"))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from(state))
+    };
+    base.join("mcp-loose-ends")
+}
diff --git a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/timeline.rs b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/timeline.rs
index 6f7894dd..aa8ed353 100644
--- a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/timeline.rs
+++ b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/timeline.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub fn install_invite_handler(client: &Client, hyperhive_socket: PathBuf) {
     let socket = Arc::new(hyperhive_socket);
     let own_user = client.user_id().map(std::borrow::ToOwned::to_owned);
     client.add_event_handler({
-        move |event: StrippedRoomMemberEvent, room: Room, _client: Client| {
+        move |event: StrippedRoomMemberEvent, room: Room, client: Client| {
             let socket = socket.clone();
             let own_user = own_user.clone();
             async move {
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ pub fn install_invite_handler(client: &Client, hyperhive_socket: PathBuf) {
                 let room_id = room.room_id().to_owned();
                 let label = room.name().unwrap_or_else(|| room_id.to_string());
                 tracing::info!(%room_id, "matrix: received room invite, waking agent");
+                // Refresh loose-ends BEFORE waking so the invite is
+                // visible in get_loose_ends during the agent's turn.
+                handlers::refresh_invite_loose_ends(&client).await;
                 let body = format!(
                     "[matrix] invited to {label} ({room_id}) — \
                      use list_invites to see pending invites, join_room to accept"