diff --git a/src/daemon/spawner.py b/src/daemon/spawner.py
index 9b29373..b867c05 100644
--- a/src/daemon/spawner.py
+++ b/src/daemon/spawner.py
@@ -873,13 +873,11 @@ curl -X POST http://{api_host}:{api_port}/api/projects/{project_id}/tasks/{task_
             compact_wait_count = self._compact_waits.get(task_id, 0) + 1
             self._compact_waits[task_id] = compact_wait_count
             if compact_wait_count >= self.max_monitor_timeouts:
-                logger.error("Agent %s max compact waits reached (session=%s, count=%d)",
-                             agent_id, session_id, compact_wait_count)
-                self._mark_task(db_path, task_id, "failed", {
-                    "reason": "compact_hanging",
-                    "compact_wait_count": compact_wait_count,
-                    "diagnostics": state,
-                })
+                # #07.3 ACT-2: compact_hanging 不标 failed，只 release counter
+                # 进程还活着但不 monitor，等 ticker _check_timeouts 超时回收 → 重新 dispatch
+                logger.warning("Agent %s compact hanging after %d waits, releasing counter for ticker re-dispatch",
+                               agent_id, compact_wait_count)
+                self._compact_waits.pop(task_id, None)
                 await self._do_on_complete_async(on_complete, agent_id, "compact_hanging")
                 return
             # 继续等
@@ -1030,10 +1028,12 @@ curl -X POST http://{api_host}:{api_port}/api/projects/{project_id}/tasks/{task_
                 task_db_path=db_path,
                 skip_counter=True,  # Bug-4 fix: counter 已在原始 spawn 中持有
             )
-        except AgentBusyError:
-            # agent 被其他任务占用(不应发生,但防御)
-            logger.warning("Retry spawn skipped: %s busy (unexpected)", agent_id)
-            await self._do_on_complete_async(on_complete, agent_id, "retry_agent_busy")
+        except AgentBusyError as e:
+            # #07.3 ACT-3: session busy（compact/lock/running）= 暂时性阻塞
+            # release counter → 任务保持 working → ticker 重新 dispatch
+            logger.warning("Retry spawn deferred: %s session busy (%s), releasing counter for ticker re-dispatch",
+                           agent_id, e.reason)
+            await self._do_on_complete_async(on_complete, agent_id, "retry_session_busy")
         except Exception:
             logger.exception("Retry spawn failed for %s", agent_id)
             await self._do_on_complete_async(on_complete, agent_id, "retry_spawn_failed")
diff --git a/src/daemon/ticker.py b/src/daemon/ticker.py
index ebc21e4..582e2f0 100644
--- a/src/daemon/ticker.py
+++ b/src/daemon/ticker.py
@@ -1281,7 +1281,8 @@ Parent Task ID: {parent_task.id}
                     logger.error("Task %s: executor crash limit (3/30m), marking failed", task.id)
                     continue
 
-            start_time_str = task.started_at or task.claimed_at
+            # #07.3 ACT-1: updated_at fallback 覆盖 mail auto-working（无 started_at/claimed_at）
+            start_time_str = task.started_at or task.claimed_at or task.updated_at
             if not start_time_str:
                 continue
             try: