diff --git a/src/agent/channel.rs b/src/agent/channel.rs
index ad9932f81..f606c3b52 100644
--- a/src/agent/channel.rs
+++ b/src/agent/channel.rs
@@ -1822,8 +1822,11 @@ impl Channel {
 
         // Response mode guardrail:
         // In Quiet/MentionOnly modes, ingest messages but only reply when explicitly invoked.
+        // Cron-originated messages carry a platform source (e.g., "slack") for adapter
+        // routing but use sender_id="system" — exempt them from suppression.
         if !matches!(self.resolved_settings.response_mode, ResponseMode::Active)
             && message.source != "system"
+            && message.sender_id != "system"
             && !self.is_dm()
         {
             (invoked_by_command, invoked_by_mention, invoked_by_reply) =
@@ -3809,6 +3812,35 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!invoked_by_reply);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn response_mode_guard_allows_cron_messages_through() {
+        // Cron messages have source="slack" (for adapter routing) but sender_id="system".
+        // The response-mode guard must not suppress them.
+        let mut message = inbound_message("slack", &[], "Check the weather");
+        message.sender_id = "system".into();
+        message.conversation_id = "cron:daily-weather".into();
+
+        // compute_listen_mode_invocation returns all false — no command/mention/reply
+        let (cmd, mention, reply) = compute_listen_mode_invocation(&message, "Check the weather");
+        assert!(!cmd);
+        assert!(!mention);
+        assert!(!reply);
+
+        // The guard condition should NOT enter suppression because sender_id == "system"
+        let response_mode_not_active = true; // Quiet or MentionOnly
+        let source_is_system = message.source == "system"; // false
+        let sender_is_system = message.sender_id == "system"; // true
+        let is_dm = is_dm_conversation_id(&message.conversation_id); // false
+
+        // Full guard: all four conditions must be true to suppress
+        let would_suppress =
+            response_mode_not_active && !source_is_system && !sender_is_system && !is_dm;
+        assert!(
+            !would_suppress,
+            "cron messages (sender_id=system) must bypass response-mode suppression"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn discord_quiet_mode_ping_ack_requires_directed_ping() {
         let directed_message = inbound_message(