diff --git a/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs b/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs
index 5e56f8a4..6d755dad 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ use crate::todos::{Todo, Todos};
 /// dashboard's `ctx·Nk` badge before hitting the `/compact` button.
 const COMPACT_MIN_USAGE_FRACTION: f64 = 0.66;
 
+/// Pause after a failed `accept`, so a failure that persists (fd exhaustion)
+/// does not turn the accept loop into a busy spin.
+const ACCEPT_RETRY_DELAY: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(1);
+
 /// Resolve the in-agent socket path from `HIVE_AGENT_SOCKET`. `None` when
 /// unset/empty (e.g. a standalone dev run) — the server then stays off.
 fn socket_path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
@@ -107,7 +111,12 @@ pub async fn run(
                     }
                 });
             }
-            Err(e) => tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "in-agent todo accept failed"),
+            Err(e) => {
+                tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "in-agent todo accept failed");
+                // A persistent failure (fd exhaustion) fails again at once;
+                // without a pause this loop spins and floods the log.
+                tokio::time::sleep(ACCEPT_RETRY_DELAY).await;
+            }
         }
     }
 }