diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index ebcf35844..93183e474 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -89,7 +89,10 @@ case "memory_your_tool": {
 ```
 
 ### Hook Scripts
-Hook scripts in `src/hooks/` are standalone Node.js scripts (no iii-sdk import). They read JSON from stdin, make HTTP calls to the REST API, and exit. Always use `try/catch` with `AbortSignal.timeout()` for best-effort calls.
+Hook scripts in `src/hooks/` are standalone Node.js scripts (no iii-sdk import). They read JSON from stdin, make HTTP calls to the REST API, and exit. There are two patterns depending on whether Claude Code consumes the script's stdout:
+
+- **Context-injecting hooks** (`pre-tool-use`, `pre-compact`, `session-start`) write the recalled context to stdout for Claude Code to inject. These MUST use `try/catch` with `await fetch(..., { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(N) })` — the script has to wait for the response before exiting, and the timeout is the only bound on hang time.
+- **Telemetry-only hooks** (`notification`, `post-tool-failure`, `post-tool-use`, `prompt-submit`, `stop`, `session-end`, `subagent-start`, `subagent-stop`, `task-completed`) write nothing to stdout. These MUST use fire-and-forget `fetch(..., { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(N) }).catch(() => {})` paired with `setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), N).unref()`. The unawaited fetch dispatches the request; the unref'd setTimeout force-exits the process after the request has been flushed to the local daemon's socket buffer (~500ms suffices). Without the setTimeout Node keeps the event loop alive waiting for any in-flight fetch to settle — which means the hook still blocks Claude Code's next-prompt boundary for up to the AbortSignal duration, exactly the bug fire-and-forget is meant to fix.
 
 ## Coding Standards
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/_project-DDQ-L_E2.mjs b/plugin/scripts/_project-DDQ-L_E2.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ed59454c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin/scripts/_project-DDQ-L_E2.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { basename } from "node:path";
+
+//#region src/hooks/_project.ts
+function resolveProject(cwd) {
+	const explicit = process.env["AGENTMEMORY_PROJECT_NAME"];
+	if (explicit && explicit.trim()) return explicit.trim();
+	const dir = cwd && cwd.trim() ? cwd : process.cwd();
+	try {
+		const top = execSync("git rev-parse --show-toplevel", {
+			cwd: dir,
+			stdio: [
+				"ignore",
+				"pipe",
+				"ignore"
+			],
+			timeout: 500
+		}).toString().trim();
+		if (top) return basename(top);
+	} catch {}
+	return basename(dir);
+}
+
+//#endregion
+export { resolveProject as t };
+//# sourceMappingURL=_project-DDQ-L_E2.mjs.map
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/notification.mjs b/plugin/scripts/notification.mjs
index a318848d8..47b9d9587 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/notification.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/notification.mjs
@@ -24,25 +24,24 @@ async function main() {
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	if (data.notification_type !== "permission_prompt") return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({
-				hookType: "notification",
-				sessionId,
-				project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
-				data: {
-					notification_type: data.notification_type,
-					title: data.title,
-					message: data.message
-				}
-			}),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2e3)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			hookType: "notification",
+			sessionId,
+			project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
+			data: {
+				notification_type: data.notification_type,
+				title: data.title,
+				message: data.message
+			}
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2e3)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/post-tool-failure.mjs b/plugin/scripts/post-tool-failure.mjs
index 3a593f3a6..51b9b8d9a 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/post-tool-failure.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/post-tool-failure.mjs
@@ -24,25 +24,24 @@ async function main() {
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	if (data.is_interrupt) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({
-				hookType: "post_tool_failure",
-				sessionId,
-				project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
-				data: {
-					tool_name: data.tool_name,
-					tool_input: typeof data.tool_input === "string" ? data.tool_input.slice(0, 4e3) : JSON.stringify(data.tool_input ?? "").slice(0, 4e3),
-					error: typeof data.error === "string" ? data.error.slice(0, 4e3) : JSON.stringify(data.error ?? "").slice(0, 4e3)
-				}
-			}),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e3)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			hookType: "post_tool_failure",
+			sessionId,
+			project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
+			data: {
+				tool_name: data.tool_name,
+				tool_input: typeof data.tool_input === "string" ? data.tool_input.slice(0, 4e3) : JSON.stringify(data.tool_input ?? "").slice(0, 4e3),
+				error: typeof data.error === "string" ? data.error.slice(0, 4e3) : JSON.stringify(data.error ?? "").slice(0, 4e3)
+			}
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e3)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/post-tool-use.mjs b/plugin/scripts/post-tool-use.mjs
index 5ebec6450..4b4c78812 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/post-tool-use.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/post-tool-use.mjs
@@ -23,27 +23,26 @@ async function main() {
 	}
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	const { imageData, cleanOutput } = extractImageData(data.tool_output);
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({
-				hookType: "post_tool_use",
-				sessionId,
-				project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
-				data: {
-					tool_name: data.tool_name,
-					tool_input: data.tool_input,
-					tool_output: truncate(cleanOutput, 8e3),
-					...imageData ? { image_data: imageData } : {}
-				}
-			}),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e3)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	const { imageData, cleanOutput } = extractImageData(data.tool_response ?? data.tool_output);
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			hookType: "post_tool_use",
+			sessionId,
+			project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
+			data: {
+				tool_name: data.tool_name,
+				tool_input: data.tool_input,
+				tool_output: truncate(cleanOutput, 8e3),
+				...imageData ? { image_data: imageData } : {}
+			}
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e3)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 function isBase64Image(val) {
 	return typeof val === "string" && (val.startsWith("data:image/") || val.startsWith("iVBORw0KGgo") || val.startsWith("/9j/"));
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/prompt-submit.mjs b/plugin/scripts/prompt-submit.mjs
index 18aa040a3..7ea5f92c6 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/prompt-submit.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/prompt-submit.mjs
@@ -23,21 +23,20 @@ async function main() {
 	}
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({
-				hookType: "prompt_submit",
-				sessionId,
-				project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
-				data: { prompt: data.prompt }
-			}),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e3)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			hookType: "prompt_submit",
+			sessionId,
+			project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
+			data: { prompt: data.prompt }
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e3)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/session-end.mjs b/plugin/scripts/session-end.mjs
index 8e1de092e..45fd11af2 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/session-end.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/session-end.mjs
@@ -23,42 +23,35 @@ async function main() {
 	}
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/session/end`, {
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/session/end`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e4)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	if (process.env["CONSOLIDATION_ENABLED"] === "true") {
+		fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/crystals/auto`, {
 			method: "POST",
 			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e4)
-		});
-	} catch {}
-	if (process.env["CONSOLIDATION_ENABLED"] === "true") {
-		try {
-			await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/crystals/auto`, {
-				method: "POST",
-				headers: authHeaders(),
-				body: JSON.stringify({ olderThanDays: 0 }),
-				signal: AbortSignal.timeout(6e4)
-			});
-		} catch {}
-		try {
-			await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/consolidate-pipeline`, {
-				method: "POST",
-				headers: authHeaders(),
-				body: JSON.stringify({
-					tier: "all",
-					force: true
-				}),
-				signal: AbortSignal.timeout(12e4)
-			});
-		} catch {}
-	}
-	if (process.env["CLAUDE_MEMORY_BRIDGE"] === "true") try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/claude-bridge/sync`, {
+			body: JSON.stringify({ olderThanDays: 0 }),
+			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(6e4)
+		}).catch(() => {});
+		fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/consolidate-pipeline`, {
 			method: "POST",
 			headers: authHeaders(),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e4)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+			body: JSON.stringify({
+				tier: "all",
+				force: true
+			}),
+			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(12e4)
+		}).catch(() => {});
+	}
+	if (process.env["CLAUDE_MEMORY_BRIDGE"] === "true") fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/claude-bridge/sync`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3e4)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 1500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/stop.mjs b/plugin/scripts/stop.mjs
index e0ffa3505..f6ec7ead6 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/stop.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/stop.mjs
@@ -23,14 +23,15 @@ async function main() {
 	}
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/summarize`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(12e4)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	// Fire-and-forget; setTimeout below force-exits so Node doesn't
+	// keep the event loop alive waiting for the fetch. See src/hooks/stop.ts.
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/summarize`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(12e4)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/subagent-start.mjs b/plugin/scripts/subagent-start.mjs
index db1434599..c0917da90 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/subagent-start.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/subagent-start.mjs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ async function main() {
 		}),
 		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(TIMEOUT_MS)
 	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/subagent-stop.mjs b/plugin/scripts/subagent-stop.mjs
index 7ec66a7d4..b459e863f 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/subagent-stop.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/subagent-stop.mjs
@@ -24,25 +24,24 @@ async function main() {
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
 	const lastMsg = typeof data.last_assistant_message === "string" ? data.last_assistant_message.slice(0, 4e3) : "";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({
-				hookType: "subagent_stop",
-				sessionId,
-				project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
-				data: {
-					agent_id: data.agent_id,
-					agent_type: data.agent_type,
-					last_message: lastMsg
-				}
-			}),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2e3)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			hookType: "subagent_stop",
+			sessionId,
+			project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
+			data: {
+				agent_id: data.agent_id,
+				agent_type: data.agent_type,
+				last_message: lastMsg
+			}
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2e3)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/plugin/scripts/task-completed.mjs b/plugin/scripts/task-completed.mjs
index e814f67c3..60d39eb76 100755
--- a/plugin/scripts/task-completed.mjs
+++ b/plugin/scripts/task-completed.mjs
@@ -23,27 +23,26 @@ async function main() {
 	}
 	if (isSdkChildContext(data)) return;
 	const sessionId = data.session_id || "unknown";
-	try {
-		await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-			method: "POST",
-			headers: authHeaders(),
-			body: JSON.stringify({
-				hookType: "task_completed",
-				sessionId,
-				project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-				timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
-				data: {
-					task_id: data.task_id,
-					task_subject: data.task_subject,
-					task_description: typeof data.task_description === "string" ? data.task_description.slice(0, 2e3) : "",
-					teammate_name: data.teammate_name,
-					team_name: data.team_name
-				}
-			}),
-			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2e3)
-		});
-	} catch {}
+	fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: authHeaders(),
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			hookType: "task_completed",
+			sessionId,
+			project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+			timestamp: (/* @__PURE__ */ new Date()).toISOString(),
+			data: {
+				task_id: data.task_id,
+				task_subject: data.task_subject,
+				task_description: typeof data.task_description === "string" ? data.task_description.slice(0, 2e3) : "",
+				teammate_name: data.teammate_name,
+				team_name: data.team_name
+			}
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2e3)
+	}).catch(() => {});
+	setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 main();
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/notification.ts b/src/hooks/notification.ts
index 6c4b7b81f..90662c888 100644
--- a/src/hooks/notification.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/notification.ts
@@ -33,27 +33,25 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({
-        hookType: "notification",
-        sessionId,
-        project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        data: {
-          notification_type: data.notification_type,
-          title: data.title,
-          message: data.message,
-        },
-      }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000),
-    });
-  } catch {
-    // fire and forget
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit; see src/hooks/stop.ts for rationale.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      hookType: "notification",
+      sessionId,
+      project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+      data: {
+        notification_type: data.notification_type,
+        title: data.title,
+        message: data.message,
+      },
+    }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/src/hooks/post-tool-failure.ts b/src/hooks/post-tool-failure.ts
index 337aebdd1..8d43e99dd 100644
--- a/src/hooks/post-tool-failure.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/post-tool-failure.ts
@@ -33,33 +33,31 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({
-        hookType: "post_tool_failure",
-        sessionId,
-        project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        data: {
-          tool_name: data.tool_name,
-          tool_input:
-            typeof data.tool_input === "string"
-              ? data.tool_input.slice(0, 4000)
-              : JSON.stringify(data.tool_input ?? "").slice(0, 4000),
-          error:
-            typeof data.error === "string"
-              ? data.error.slice(0, 4000)
-              : JSON.stringify(data.error ?? "").slice(0, 4000),
-        },
-      }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3000),
-    });
-  } catch {
-    // fire and forget
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit; see src/hooks/stop.ts for rationale.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      hookType: "post_tool_failure",
+      sessionId,
+      project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+      data: {
+        tool_name: data.tool_name,
+        tool_input:
+          typeof data.tool_input === "string"
+            ? data.tool_input.slice(0, 4000)
+            : JSON.stringify(data.tool_input ?? "").slice(0, 4000),
+        error:
+          typeof data.error === "string"
+            ? data.error.slice(0, 4000)
+            : JSON.stringify(data.error ?? "").slice(0, 4000),
+      },
+    }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/src/hooks/post-tool-use.ts b/src/hooks/post-tool-use.ts
index 65afc8b1d..7492087c8 100644
--- a/src/hooks/post-tool-use.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/post-tool-use.ts
@@ -32,29 +32,36 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  const { imageData, cleanOutput } = extractImageData(data.tool_output);
+  // Claude Code's actual PostToolUse payload uses `tool_response`, not
+  // `tool_output` — without this fallback, cleanOutput is always
+  // undefined and mem::compress silently fails XML validation on every
+  // real tool call (Rex57 caught this in #561). Keep `tool_output` as a
+  // legacy fallback so any older integration still using the deprecated
+  // field name continues to work.
+  const { imageData, cleanOutput } = extractImageData(
+    data.tool_response ?? data.tool_output,
+  );
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({
-        hookType: "post_tool_use",
-        sessionId,
-        project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        data: {
-          tool_name: data.tool_name,
-          tool_input: data.tool_input,
-          tool_output: truncate(cleanOutput, 8000),
-          ...(imageData ? { image_data: imageData } : {}),
-        },
-      }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3000),
-    });
-  } catch {
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit; see src/hooks/stop.ts for rationale.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      hookType: "post_tool_use",
+      sessionId,
+      project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+      data: {
+        tool_name: data.tool_name,
+        tool_input: data.tool_input,
+        tool_output: truncate(cleanOutput, 8000),
+        ...(imageData ? { image_data: imageData } : {}),
+      },
+    }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 function isBase64Image(val: unknown): val is string {
diff --git a/src/hooks/prompt-submit.ts b/src/hooks/prompt-submit.ts
index 971b11be1..5c206e44c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/prompt-submit.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/prompt-submit.ts
@@ -32,23 +32,21 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({
-        hookType: "prompt_submit",
-        sessionId,
-        project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        data: { prompt: data.prompt },
-      }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3000),
-    });
-  } catch {
-    // fire and forget
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit; see src/hooks/stop.ts for rationale.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      hookType: "prompt_submit",
+      sessionId,
+      project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+      data: { prompt: data.prompt },
+    }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(3000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/src/hooks/session-end.ts b/src/hooks/session-end.ts
index 31bef22e0..bbc59b9a7 100644
--- a/src/hooks/session-end.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/session-end.ts
@@ -32,48 +32,43 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/session/end`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000), // Increased from 5s
-    });
-  } catch {
-    // best-effort
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit. SessionEnd was the slowest hook by a
+  // wide margin — up to ~90s total when CONSOLIDATION_ENABLED+CLAUDE_
+  // MEMORY_BRIDGE were on, since 4 sequential awaits stacked. Now all
+  // four requests dispatch in parallel and the script exits 1500ms later
+  // regardless. The daemon still processes everything server-side.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/session/end`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
 
   if (process.env["CONSOLIDATION_ENABLED"] === "true") {
-    try {
-      await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/crystals/auto`, {
-        method: "POST",
-        headers: authHeaders(),
-        body: JSON.stringify({ olderThanDays: 0 }),
-        signal: AbortSignal.timeout(60000), // Increased from 15s
-      });
-    } catch {}
+    fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/crystals/auto`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: authHeaders(),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ olderThanDays: 0 }),
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(60000),
+    }).catch(() => {});
 
-    try {
-      await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/consolidate-pipeline`, {
-        method: "POST",
-        headers: authHeaders(),
-        body: JSON.stringify({ tier: "all", force: true }),
-        signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120000), // Increased from 30s
-      });
-    } catch {}
+    fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/consolidate-pipeline`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: authHeaders(),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ tier: "all", force: true }),
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120000),
+    }).catch(() => {});
   }
 
   if (process.env["CLAUDE_MEMORY_BRIDGE"] === "true") {
-    try {
-      await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/claude-bridge/sync`, {
-        method: "POST",
-        headers: authHeaders(),
-        signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000), // Increased from 5s
-      });
-    } catch {
-      // best-effort
-    }
+    fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/claude-bridge/sync`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: authHeaders(),
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000),
+    }).catch(() => {});
   }
+
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 1500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/hooks/stop.ts b/src/hooks/stop.ts
index 1f2f5b8a6..10131b175 100644
--- a/src/hooks/stop.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/stop.ts
@@ -39,16 +39,25 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/summarize`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120000), // Increased from 30s to 120s
-    });
-  } catch {
+  // Fire-and-forget: don't block the Stop hook (and therefore Claude
+  // Code's next-prompt boundary) on the daemon's summarize work, which
+  // can run minutes per turn on long sessions / slow LLM providers.
+  //
+  // Subtlety: dropping the `await` is NOT enough. Node keeps the event
+  // loop alive waiting for any pending fetch() to settle, so without an
+  // explicit exit the script still hangs until the AbortSignal.timeout
+  // fires (~120s on slow providers). The unref'd setTimeout below
+  // forcibly exits 500ms after firing the request, which is plenty of
+  // time for the POST to flush to the local daemon's socket buffer.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/summarize`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({ sessionId }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120000),
+  }).catch(() => {
     // summarize is best-effort
-  }
+  });
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/hooks/subagent-start.ts b/src/hooks/subagent-start.ts
index 3f730adb6..851eb60c1 100644
--- a/src/hooks/subagent-start.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/subagent-start.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ async function main() {
     }),
     signal: AbortSignal.timeout(TIMEOUT_MS),
   }).catch(() => {});
+  // Dropping `await` alone wasn't enough — Node keeps the event loop alive
+  // for the pending fetch. Force-exit so this hook never blocks Claude
+  // Code while the daemon (or its LLM provider) is slow.
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/src/hooks/subagent-stop.ts b/src/hooks/subagent-stop.ts
index c555746e7..b91c26e35 100644
--- a/src/hooks/subagent-stop.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/subagent-stop.ts
@@ -36,27 +36,25 @@ async function main() {
       ? data.last_assistant_message.slice(0, 4000)
       : "";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({
-        hookType: "subagent_stop",
-        sessionId,
-        project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        data: {
-          agent_id: data.agent_id,
-          agent_type: data.agent_type,
-          last_message: lastMsg,
-        },
-      }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000),
-    });
-  } catch {
-    // fire and forget
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit; see src/hooks/stop.ts for rationale.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      hookType: "subagent_stop",
+      sessionId,
+      project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+      data: {
+        agent_id: data.agent_id,
+        agent_type: data.agent_type,
+        last_message: lastMsg,
+      },
+    }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/src/hooks/task-completed.ts b/src/hooks/task-completed.ts
index 7f90f6e7f..277d4cfef 100644
--- a/src/hooks/task-completed.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/task-completed.ts
@@ -32,31 +32,29 @@ async function main() {
 
   const sessionId = (data.session_id as string) || "unknown";
 
-  try {
-    await fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: authHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify({
-        hookType: "task_completed",
-        sessionId,
-        project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
-        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        data: {
-          task_id: data.task_id,
-          task_subject: data.task_subject,
-          task_description: typeof data.task_description === "string"
-            ? data.task_description.slice(0, 2000)
-            : "",
-          teammate_name: data.teammate_name,
-          team_name: data.team_name,
-        },
-      }),
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000),
-    });
-  } catch {
-    // fire and forget
-  }
+  // Fire-and-forget + force-exit; see src/hooks/stop.ts for rationale.
+  fetch(`${REST_URL}/agentmemory/observe`, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: authHeaders(),
+    body: JSON.stringify({
+      hookType: "task_completed",
+      sessionId,
+      project: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      cwd: data.cwd || process.cwd(),
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+      data: {
+        task_id: data.task_id,
+        task_subject: data.task_subject,
+        task_description: typeof data.task_description === "string"
+          ? data.task_description.slice(0, 2000)
+          : "",
+        teammate_name: data.teammate_name,
+        team_name: data.team_name,
+      },
+    }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000),
+  }).catch(() => {});
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 500).unref();
 }
 
 main();