diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/cancellable-loader.test.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/cancellable-loader.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f7889402
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/cancellable-loader.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// pi-tui CancellableLoader component regression tests
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Jeremy McSpadden <jeremy@fluxlabs.net>
+
+import { describe, it, mock, beforeEach, afterEach } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { CancellableLoader } from "../cancellable-loader.js";
+
+function makeMockTUI() {
+	return { requestRender: mock.fn() } as any;
+}
+
+describe("CancellableLoader", () => {
+	let loader: CancellableLoader;
+	let tui: ReturnType<typeof makeMockTUI>;
+
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		tui = makeMockTUI();
+	});
+
+	afterEach(() => {
+		loader?.dispose();
+	});
+
+	it("dispose() aborts the AbortController signal", () => {
+		loader = new CancellableLoader(tui, (s) => s, (s) => s, "test");
+		assert.equal(loader.aborted, false);
+		loader.dispose();
+		assert.equal(loader.aborted, true);
+	});
+
+	it("dispose() clears the onAbort callback", () => {
+		loader = new CancellableLoader(tui, (s) => s, (s) => s, "test");
+		loader.onAbort = () => {};
+		loader.dispose();
+		assert.equal(loader.onAbort, undefined);
+	});
+
+	it("signal is aborted after dispose()", () => {
+		loader = new CancellableLoader(tui, (s) => s, (s) => s, "test");
+		const signal = loader.signal;
+		assert.equal(signal.aborted, false);
+		loader.dispose();
+		assert.equal(signal.aborted, true);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/input.test.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/input.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c47100492
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/input.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// pi-tui Input component regression tests
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Jeremy McSpadden <jeremy@fluxlabs.net>
+
+import { describe, it } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { Input } from "../input.js";
+
+describe("Input", () => {
+	it("paste buffer is cleared when focus is lost", () => {
+		const input = new Input();
+		input.focused = true;
+
+		// Simulate starting a paste (bracket paste start marker)
+		input.handleInput("\x1b[200~partial");
+
+		// Now lose focus mid-paste
+		input.focused = false;
+
+		// Regain focus — should not have stale paste state
+		input.focused = true;
+
+		// Typing normal text should work without paste buffer corruption
+		input.handleInput("hello");
+		assert.equal(input.getValue(), "hello");
+	});
+
+	it("focused getter/setter works correctly", () => {
+		const input = new Input();
+		assert.equal(input.focused, false);
+		input.focused = true;
+		assert.equal(input.focused, true);
+		input.focused = false;
+		assert.equal(input.focused, false);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/loader.test.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/loader.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c22056fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/__tests__/loader.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// pi-tui Loader component regression tests
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Jeremy McSpadden <jeremy@fluxlabs.net>
+
+import { describe, it, mock, beforeEach, afterEach } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { Loader } from "../loader.js";
+
+function makeMockTUI() {
+	return { requestRender: mock.fn() } as any;
+}
+
+describe("Loader", () => {
+	let loader: Loader;
+	let tui: ReturnType<typeof makeMockTUI>;
+
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		tui = makeMockTUI();
+	});
+
+	afterEach(() => {
+		loader?.stop();
+	});
+
+	it("start() is idempotent — calling twice does not leak intervals", () => {
+		loader = new Loader(tui, (s) => s, (s) => s, "test");
+		// Constructor calls start() once, call it again
+		loader.start();
+		// stop() should clear the interval cleanly without orphaned timers
+		loader.stop();
+	});
+
+	it("dispose() stops the interval and nulls the TUI reference", () => {
+		loader = new Loader(tui, (s) => s, (s) => s, "test");
+		loader.dispose();
+		// After dispose, calling stop() again should be safe (no-op)
+		loader.stop();
+	});
+
+	it("stop() is safe to call multiple times", () => {
+		loader = new Loader(tui, (s) => s, (s) => s, "test");
+		loader.stop();
+		loader.stop();
+		loader.stop();
+	});
+});
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/cancellable-loader.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/cancellable-loader.ts
index 506b763de..e790659e1 100644
--- a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/cancellable-loader.ts
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/cancellable-loader.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ export class CancellableLoader extends Loader {
 	}
 
 	dispose(): void {
+		this.abortController.abort();
+		this.onAbort = undefined;
 		this.stop();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts
index efa0195d3..ae8c6bb77 100644
--- a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts
@@ -2064,6 +2064,10 @@ https://github.com/EsotericSoftware/spine-runtimes/actions/runs/19536643416/job/
 		this.lastAutocompleteLookupPrefix = null;
 	}
 
+	public dispose(): void {
+		this.clearAutocompleteDebounce();
+	}
+
 	public isShowingAutocomplete(): boolean {
 		return this.autocompleteState !== null;
 	}
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/input.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/input.ts
index 13714b138..627f3557c 100644
--- a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/input.ts
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/input.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,17 @@ export class Input implements Component, Focusable {
 	public placeholder: string = "";
 
 	/** Focusable interface - set by TUI when focus changes */
-	focused: boolean = false;
+	private _focused: boolean = false;
+	get focused(): boolean {
+		return this._focused;
+	}
+	set focused(value: boolean) {
+		this._focused = value;
+		if (!value) {
+			this.isInPaste = false;
+			this.pasteBuffer = "";
+		}
+	}
 
 	// Bracketed paste mode buffering
 	private pasteBuffer: string = "";
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/loader.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/loader.ts
index b071e8ee2..a55a2570c 100644
--- a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/loader.ts
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/loader.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ export class Loader extends Text {
 	}
 
 	start() {
+		if (this.intervalId) {
+			clearInterval(this.intervalId);
+		}
 		this.updateDisplay();
 		this.intervalId = setInterval(() => {
 			this.currentFrame = (this.currentFrame + 1) % this.frames.length;
@@ -40,6 +43,11 @@ export class Loader extends Text {
 		}
 	}
 
+	dispose() {
+		this.stop();
+		this.ui = null;
+	}
+
 	setMessage(message: string) {
 		this.message = message;
 		this.updateDisplay();
diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/tui.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/tui.ts
index 89537f1b3..c3e39acc5 100644
--- a/packages/pi-tui/src/tui.ts
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/tui.ts
@@ -441,6 +441,15 @@ export class TUI extends Container {
 
 	stop(): void {
 		this.stopped = true;
+
+		// Dispose all overlays to stop any running timers
+		for (const entry of this.overlayStack) {
+			if ("dispose" in entry.component && typeof (entry.component as any).dispose === "function") {
+				(entry.component as any).dispose();
+			}
+		}
+		this.overlayStack = [];
+
 		// Move cursor to the end of the content to prevent overwriting/artifacts on exit
 		if (this.previousLines.length > 0) {
 			const targetRow = this.previousLines.length; // Line after the last content
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index fc7a3fc78..db17cc1d3 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { ensureManagedTools } from './tool-bootstrap.js'
 import { loadStoredEnvKeys } from './wizard.js'
 import { getPiDefaultModelAndProvider, migratePiCredentials } from './pi-migration.js'
 import { shouldRunOnboarding, runOnboarding } from './onboarding.js'
+import chalk from 'chalk'
 import { checkForUpdates } from './update-check.js'
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -42,15 +43,10 @@ function exitIfManagedResourcesAreNewer(currentAgentDir: string): void {
     return
   }
 
-  const yellow = '\x1b[33m'
-  const dim = '\x1b[2m'
-  const reset = '\x1b[0m'
-  const bold = '\x1b[1m'
-
   process.stderr.write(
-    `[gsd] ${yellow}Version mismatch detected${reset}\n` +
-    `[gsd] Synced resources are from ${bold}v${managedVersion}${reset}, but this \`gsd\` binary is ${dim}v${currentVersion}${reset}.\n` +
-    `[gsd] Run ${bold}npm install -g gsd-pi@latest${reset} or ${bold}gsd update${reset}, then try again.\n`,
+    `[gsd] ${chalk.yellow('Version mismatch detected')}\n` +
+    `[gsd] Synced resources are from ${chalk.bold(`v${managedVersion}`)}, but this \`gsd\` binary is ${chalk.dim(`v${currentVersion}`)}.\n` +
+    `[gsd] Run ${chalk.bold('npm install -g gsd-pi@latest')} or ${chalk.bold('gsd update')}, then try again.\n`,
   )
   process.exit(1)
 }
@@ -153,6 +149,13 @@ if (!isPrintMode) {
   checkForUpdates().catch(() => {})
 }
 
+// Warn if terminal is too narrow for readable output
+if (!isPrintMode && process.stdout.columns && process.stdout.columns < 40) {
+  process.stderr.write(
+    chalk.yellow(`[gsd] Terminal width is ${process.stdout.columns} columns (minimum recommended: 40). Output may be unreadable.\n`),
+  )
+}
+
 const modelRegistry = new ModelRegistry(authStorage)
 const settingsManager = SettingsManager.create(agentDir)
 
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts
index d3e081ca0..410f3db96 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ export class GSDDashboardOverlay {
   private loading = true;
   private loadedDashboardIdentity?: string;
   private refreshInFlight: Promise<void> | null = null;
+  private disposed = false;
 
   constructor(
     tui: { requestRender: () => void },
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ export class GSDDashboardOverlay {
   }
 
   private scheduleRefresh(initial = false): void {
-    if (this.refreshInFlight) return;
+    if (this.refreshInFlight || this.disposed) return;
     this.refreshInFlight = this.refreshDashboard(initial)
       .finally(() => {
         this.refreshInFlight = null;
@@ -136,11 +137,13 @@ export class GSDDashboardOverlay {
   }
 
   private async refreshDashboard(initial = false): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.disposed) return;
     this.dashData = getAutoDashboardData();
     const nextIdentity = this.computeDashboardIdentity(this.dashData);
 
     if (initial || nextIdentity !== this.loadedDashboardIdentity) {
       const loaded = await this.loadData();
+      if (this.disposed) return;
       if (loaded) {
         this.loadedDashboardIdentity = nextIdentity;
       }
@@ -529,6 +532,7 @@ export class GSDDashboardOverlay {
   }
 
   dispose(): void {
+    this.disposed = true;
     clearInterval(this.refreshTimer);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/guided-flow.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/guided-flow.ts
index eeda2128b..6bc822ea7 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/guided-flow.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/guided-flow.ts
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ export function checkAutoStartAfterDiscuss(): boolean {
   try { unlinkSync(manifestPath); } catch { /* may not exist for single-milestone */ }
 
   pendingAutoStart = null;
-  startAuto(ctx, pi, basePath, false, { step }).catch(() => {});
+  startAuto(ctx, pi, basePath, false, { step }).catch((err) => {
+    if (process.env.GSD_DEBUG) console.error('[gsd] auto start error:', err);
+  });
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/update-check.ts b/src/update-check.ts
index 623a36b5a..18dc66cd1 100644
--- a/src/update-check.ts
+++ b/src/update-check.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync, mkdirSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { dirname, join } from 'node:path'
+import chalk from 'chalk'
 import { appRoot } from './app-paths.js'
 
 const CACHE_FILE = join(appRoot, '.update-check')
@@ -46,14 +47,9 @@ export function writeUpdateCache(cache: UpdateCheckCache, cachePath: string = CA
 }
 
 function printUpdateBanner(current: string, latest: string): void {
-  const yellow = '\x1b[33m'
-  const dim = '\x1b[2m'
-  const reset = '\x1b[0m'
-  const bold = '\x1b[1m'
-
   process.stderr.write(
-    `  ${yellow}Update available:${reset} ${dim}v${current}${reset} → ${bold}v${latest}${reset}\n` +
-    `  ${dim}Run${reset} npm update -g gsd-pi ${dim}or${reset} /gsd:update ${dim}to upgrade${reset}\n\n`,
+    `  ${chalk.yellow('Update available:')} ${chalk.dim(`v${current}`)} → ${chalk.bold(`v${latest}`)}\n` +
+    `  ${chalk.dim('Run')} npm update -g gsd-pi ${chalk.dim('or')} /gsd:update ${chalk.dim('to upgrade')}\n\n`,
   )
 }