diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index c7832ab37..2bc64c9c5 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -3248,6 +3248,12 @@ class HermesCLI:
         self._slash_confirm_state = None
         self._slash_confirm_deadline = 0
         self._model_picker_state = None
+        # Armed when a bare `/resume` prints the recent-sessions list so the
+        # very next bare numeric input (e.g. `3`) resolves to that session.
+        # Holds the exact list used for index resolution; one-shot (cleared on
+        # the next submitted input, whether it's the selection or anything
+        # else). See #34584.
+        self._pending_resume_sessions = None
         self._secret_state = None
         self._secret_deadline = 0
         self._spinner_text: str = ""  # thinking spinner text for TUI
@@ -6693,10 +6699,21 @@ class HermesCLI:
         if not target:
             _cprint("  Usage: /resume <number|session_id_or_title>")
             if self._show_recent_sessions(reason="resume"):
+                # Arm a one-shot pending-resume selection so the user can type
+                # just the number (`3`) on the next line instead of having to
+                # retype `/resume 3`. The list here must match the one shown by
+                # _show_recent_sessions and used for index resolution below —
+                # all three go through _list_recent_sessions(limit=10). See
+                # #34584.
+                self._pending_resume_sessions = self._list_recent_sessions(limit=10)
                 return
             _cprint("  Tip:   Use /history or `hermes sessions list` to find sessions.")
             return
 
+        # Any explicit /resume <target> supersedes a previously-armed bare
+        # numbered prompt.
+        self._pending_resume_sessions = None
+
         if not self._session_db:
             from hermes_state import format_session_db_unavailable
             _cprint(f"  {format_session_db_unavailable()}")
@@ -6810,6 +6827,44 @@ class HermesCLI:
         else:
             _cprint(f"  ↻ Resumed session {target_id}{title_part} — no messages, starting fresh.")
 
+    def _consume_pending_resume_selection(self, text: str) -> bool:
+        """Resolve a bare numeric reply that follows a bare ``/resume`` prompt.
+
+        After ``/resume`` (no args) prints the recent-sessions list it arms
+        ``self._pending_resume_sessions``. The next submitted input is given
+        one chance to be a bare session number (``3``); if so we resume that
+        session here. Anything else (another command, free text, blank) simply
+        disarms the prompt and is handled normally by the caller.
+
+        Returns True if the input was consumed as a resume selection (caller
+        must not treat it as chat); False otherwise. The pending state is
+        always one-shot: it is cleared on the first submitted input regardless
+        of outcome. See #34584.
+        """
+        pending = self._pending_resume_sessions
+        if not pending:
+            return False
+        # One-shot: disarm now so a non-matching input can't leave the prompt
+        # armed and hijack a later number the user meant as chat.
+        self._pending_resume_sessions = None
+
+        if not isinstance(text, str):
+            return False
+        stripped = text.strip()
+        # Only a pure number selects; let "/resume 3", titles, or any other
+        # text fall through to normal handling.
+        if not stripped.isdigit():
+            return False
+
+        index = int(stripped)
+        if index < 1 or index > len(pending):
+            _cprint(f"  Resume index {index} is out of range.")
+            _cprint("  Use /resume with no arguments to see available sessions.")
+            return True
+
+        self._handle_resume_command(f"/resume {index}")
+        return True
+
     def _handle_sessions_command(self, cmd_original: str) -> None:
         """Handle /sessions [list|<id_or_title>] — browse or resume previous sessions.
 
@@ -8333,7 +8388,14 @@ class HermesCLI:
         _base_word = cmd_lower.split()[0].lstrip("/")
         _cmd_def = _resolve_cmd(_base_word)
         canonical = _cmd_def.name if _cmd_def else _base_word
-        
+
+        # A bare `/resume` prompt is one-shot: any command other than the
+        # resume/sessions handlers (which manage the pending state themselves)
+        # disarms it so a later number isn't swallowed as a stale selection.
+        # See #34584.
+        if canonical not in {"resume", "sessions"}:
+            self._pending_resume_sessions = None
+
         if canonical in {"quit", "exit"}:
             # Parse --delete flag: /exit --delete also removes the current
             # session's transcripts + SQLite history. Ported from
@@ -14543,6 +14605,17 @@ class HermesCLI:
                                 + (f"\n{_remainder}" if _remainder else "")
                             )
 
+                    # A bare number right after a bare `/resume` prompt selects
+                    # that session (see #34584). Checked before chat routing so
+                    # the digit isn't sent to the agent as a message.
+                    if (
+                        not _file_drop
+                        and self._pending_resume_sessions
+                        and isinstance(user_input, str)
+                        and self._consume_pending_resume_selection(user_input)
+                    ):
+                        continue
+
                     if not _file_drop and isinstance(user_input, str) and _looks_like_slash_command(user_input):
                         _cprint(f"\n⚙️  {user_input}")
                         try:
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_cli_resume_command.py b/tests/cli/test_cli_resume_command.py
index 6368d973c..eb691ab00 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_cli_resume_command.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_cli_resume_command.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ def _make_cli():
     cli_obj.conversation_history = []
     cli_obj.agent = None
     cli_obj._session_db = MagicMock()
+    cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions = None
     # _handle_resume_command now triggers _display_resumed_history (#31695),
     # which reads self.resume_display. "minimal" short-circuits the recap so
     # the test only exercises session-switch behavior.
@@ -116,3 +117,107 @@ class TestCliResumeCommand:
 
         printed = " ".join(str(call) for call in mock_cprint.call_args_list)
         assert "<half" in printed
+
+
+class TestPendingResumeNumberedSelection:
+    """Bare `/resume` arms a one-shot prompt so the next bare number resumes.
+
+    Regression coverage for #34584: previously, running `/resume` (no args)
+    printed the recent-sessions list but left no selection state armed, so
+    typing just `3` on the next line was sent to the agent as chat instead of
+    resuming session #3.
+    """
+
+    def test_bare_resume_arms_pending_selection(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        sessions = [
+            {"id": "sess_002", "title": "Coding"},
+            {"id": "sess_001", "title": "Research"},
+        ]
+        cli_obj._list_recent_sessions = MagicMock(return_value=sessions)
+        cli_obj._show_recent_sessions = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+
+        with patch("cli._cprint"):
+            cli_obj._handle_resume_command("/resume")
+
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions == sessions
+
+    def test_bare_resume_no_sessions_does_not_arm(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        cli_obj._show_recent_sessions = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+        cli_obj._list_recent_sessions = MagicMock(return_value=[])
+
+        with patch("cli._cprint"):
+            cli_obj._handle_resume_command("/resume")
+
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions is None
+
+    def test_pending_number_resumes_selected_session(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        sessions = [
+            {"id": "sess_002", "title": "Coding"},
+            {"id": "sess_001", "title": "Research"},
+        ]
+        cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions = sessions
+        # _handle_resume_command("/resume 2") re-resolves the index via
+        # _list_recent_sessions, so it must return the same list.
+        cli_obj._list_recent_sessions = MagicMock(return_value=sessions)
+        cli_obj._session_db.get_session.return_value = {"id": "sess_001", "title": "Research"}
+        cli_obj._session_db.get_messages_as_conversation.return_value = [
+            {"role": "user", "content": "hello"},
+        ]
+        cli_obj._session_db.resolve_resume_session_id.return_value = "sess_001"
+
+        with (
+            patch("hermes_cli.main._resolve_session_by_name_or_id", return_value=None),
+            patch("cli._cprint"),
+        ):
+            consumed = cli_obj._consume_pending_resume_selection("2")
+
+        assert consumed is True
+        assert cli_obj.session_id == "sess_001"
+        # One-shot: prompt is disarmed after consuming.
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions is None
+
+    def test_pending_out_of_range_consumed_with_message(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions = [{"id": "sess_002", "title": "Coding"}]
+
+        with patch("cli._cprint") as mock_cprint:
+            consumed = cli_obj._consume_pending_resume_selection("9")
+
+        printed = " ".join(str(call) for call in mock_cprint.call_args_list)
+        # An out-of-range number is still consumed (not sent to the agent),
+        # and the prompt is disarmed.
+        assert consumed is True
+        assert "out of range" in printed.lower()
+        assert cli_obj.session_id == "current_session"
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions is None
+
+    def test_pending_non_numeric_falls_through_and_disarms(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions = [{"id": "sess_002", "title": "Coding"}]
+
+        with patch("cli._cprint"):
+            consumed = cli_obj._consume_pending_resume_selection("hello there")
+
+        # Free text is NOT consumed (caller treats it as chat), but the
+        # one-shot prompt is disarmed so a later number isn't hijacked.
+        assert consumed is False
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions is None
+
+    def test_no_pending_returns_false(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions is None
+        assert cli_obj._consume_pending_resume_selection("3") is False
+
+    def test_pending_disarmed_by_other_command(self):
+        cli_obj = _make_cli()
+        cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions = [{"id": "sess_002", "title": "Coding"}]
+        # Stub out the help handler so process_command("/help") is cheap.
+        cli_obj.show_help = MagicMock()
+
+        cli_obj.process_command("/help")
+
+        # A non-resume command disarms the one-shot prompt (#34584).
+        assert cli_obj._pending_resume_sessions is None