diff --git a/hive-ag3nt/src/bash_runner.rs b/hive-ag3nt/src/bash_runner.rs
index b048a705..2f123450 100644
--- a/hive-ag3nt/src/bash_runner.rs
+++ b/hive-ag3nt/src/bash_runner.rs
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ use tokio::io::AsyncWriteExt;
 
 const POLL_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(200);
 /// Soft cap on stdout/stderr captured in the done JSON summary.
-/// Full output always lives in the .out/.err files.
-const SUMMARY_BYTES: usize = 4096;
+/// Full output always lives in the .out/.err files. Exposed so
+/// `format_bash_status` can detect truncation and surface the full-output
+/// file path when the on-disk file is larger.
+pub const SUMMARY_BYTES: usize = 4096;
 /// Default timeout for tasks that don't specify one.
 pub const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECS: u64 = 180;
 
@@ -77,6 +79,20 @@ fn task_err(id: &str) -> PathBuf {
     tasks_dir().join(format!("{id}.err"))
 }
 
+/// Path to the full stdout capture file for `id`.
+/// Exposed so `format_bash_status` can surface it when output is truncated.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn task_out_path(id: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    task_out(id)
+}
+
+/// Path to the full stderr capture file for `id`.
+/// Exposed so `format_bash_status` can surface it when output is truncated.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn task_err_path(id: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    task_err(id)
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Wire types (shared between MCP tool writers and runner readers)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/hive-ag3nt/src/mcp.rs b/hive-ag3nt/src/mcp.rs
index c0b0e4cc..e9328d00 100644
--- a/hive-ag3nt/src/mcp.rs
+++ b/hive-ag3nt/src/mcp.rs
@@ -426,6 +426,10 @@ pub struct BashStatusArgs {
 }
 
 /// Format the result of `bash_status` from a task ID.
+///
+/// Includes inline output tails (up to [`crate::bash_runner::SUMMARY_BYTES`])
+/// and, when the full output file is larger than the inline tail, appends
+/// the file path so the caller can read the rest with the `Read` tool.
 #[must_use]
 fn format_bash_status(id: &str) -> String {
     use std::fmt::Write as _;
@@ -447,16 +451,31 @@ fn format_bash_status(id: &str) -> String {
             let _ = write!(out, ", took {}s", t - s);
         }
     }
+
+    // Inline tail for stdout.
+    let out_path = crate::bash_runner::task_out_path(id);
+    let out_file_len = std::fs::metadata(&out_path).map(|m| m.len()).unwrap_or(0);
     if let Some(ref stdout) = task.stdout_tail {
         if !stdout.trim().is_empty() {
             let _ = write!(out, "\n\nstdout:\n```\n{}\n```", stdout.trim());
         }
     }
+    if out_file_len > crate::bash_runner::SUMMARY_BYTES as u64 {
+        let _ = write!(out, "\n\nFull stdout lives in `{}`", out_path.display());
+    }
+
+    // Inline tail for stderr.
+    let err_path = crate::bash_runner::task_err_path(id);
+    let err_file_len = std::fs::metadata(&err_path).map(|m| m.len()).unwrap_or(0);
     if let Some(ref stderr) = task.stderr_tail {
         if !stderr.trim().is_empty() {
             let _ = write!(out, "\n\nstderr:\n```\n{}\n```", stderr.trim());
         }
     }
+    if err_file_len > crate::bash_runner::SUMMARY_BYTES as u64 {
+        let _ = write!(out, "\n\nFull stderr lives in `{}`", err_path.display());
+    }
+
     out
 }