diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/tools/workflow-tool-executors.ts b/src/resources/extensions/sf/tools/workflow-tool-executors.ts
index e172b4082..f3f489561 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/tools/workflow-tool-executors.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/tools/workflow-tool-executors.ts
@@ -313,6 +313,8 @@ export async function executeTaskComplete(
 		// payload backwards-compatible for callers that always send it.
 		let escalationPath: string | undefined;
 		let escalationStatus: "pending" | "awaiting-review" | undefined;
+		let escalationError: string | undefined;
+		let escalationDisabled = false;
 		if (params.escalation) {
 			try {
 				const { loadEffectiveSFPreferences } = await import(
@@ -337,12 +339,19 @@ export async function executeTaskComplete(
 					escalationStatus = params.escalation.continueWithDefault
 						? "awaiting-review"
 						: "pending";
+				} else {
+					// Feature flag is off — surface this so the agent knows the payload
+					// was dropped and can either turn the feature on or just make the
+					// decision themselves.
+					escalationDisabled = true;
 				}
 			} catch (err) {
-				// Escalation is additive — never block task completion if it fails.
+				// Escalation is additive — never block task completion if it fails,
+				// but DO tell the agent so they don't think the issue was recorded.
+				escalationError = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
 				logError(
 					"tool",
-					`sf_task_complete escalation write failed: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}`,
+					`sf_task_complete escalation write failed: ${escalationError}`,
 					{ tool: "sf_task_complete", op: "escalation" },
 				);
 			}
@@ -351,7 +360,11 @@ export async function executeTaskComplete(
 		const baseText = `Completed task ${result.taskId} (${result.sliceId}/${result.milestoneId})`;
 		const escalationSuffix = escalationStatus
 			? ` — escalation ${escalationStatus} at ${escalationPath}`
-			: "";
+			: escalationError
+				? ` — WARNING: escalation payload was REJECTED (${escalationError}); the next executor will NOT see your decision. Either fix the payload and retry, or make the choice yourself and document it in the summary.`
+				: escalationDisabled
+					? ` — note: escalation payload was DROPPED because phases.mid_execution_escalation is disabled; document the choice in the summary instead.`
+					: "";
 		return {
 			content: [
 				{