diff --git a/src/tests/websocket/listen-queue-events.test.ts b/src/tests/websocket/listen-queue-events.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d082397
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/websocket/listen-queue-events.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+/**
+ * Integration-level tests for PRQ5: queue lifecycle event emission in
+ * listen-client.ts.
+ *
+ * These tests drive QueueRuntime directly, mirroring the wiring pattern in
+ * listen-client to verify:
+ *  - Single message: enqueued → dequeued, no blocked, real queue_len
+ *  - Two rapid synchronous arrivals: second gets blocked(runtime_busy)
+ *    because pendingTurns is incremented before the .then() chain
+ *  - Connection close: queue_cleared("shutdown") emitted once
+ *  - Per-turn error: no queue_cleared — queue continues for remaining turns
+ *  - ApprovalCreate payloads (no `content` field) are not enqueued
+ *  - QueueLifecycleEvent is assignable to WsProtocolEvent (type-level)
+ */
+
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import type { MessageCreate } from "@letta-ai/letta-client/resources/agents/agents";
+import type { ApprovalCreate } from "@letta-ai/letta-client/resources/agents/messages";
+import type {
+  DequeuedBatch,
+  QueueBlockedReason,
+  QueueClearedReason,
+  QueueItem,
+} from "../../queue/queueRuntime";
+import { QueueRuntime } from "../../queue/queueRuntime";
+import type { QueueLifecycleEvent } from "../../types/protocol";
+import type { WsProtocolEvent } from "../../websocket/listen-client";
+
+// ── Type-level assertion: QueueLifecycleEvent ⊆ WsProtocolEvent ──
+// Imports the real WsProtocolEvent from listen-client. If QueueLifecycleEvent
+// is ever removed from that union, this assertion fails at compile time.
+type _AssertAssignable = QueueLifecycleEvent extends WsProtocolEvent
+  ? true
+  : never;
+const _typeCheck: _AssertAssignable = true;
+void _typeCheck; // suppress unused warning
+
+// ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+type Recorded = {
+  enqueued: Array<{ item: QueueItem; queueLen: number }>;
+  dequeued: DequeuedBatch[];
+  blocked: Array<{ reason: QueueBlockedReason; queueLen: number }>;
+  cleared: Array<{ reason: QueueClearedReason; count: number }>;
+};
+
+function buildRuntime(): { q: QueueRuntime; rec: Recorded } {
+  const rec: Recorded = {
+    enqueued: [],
+    dequeued: [],
+    blocked: [],
+    cleared: [],
+  };
+  const q = new QueueRuntime({
+    callbacks: {
+      onEnqueued: (item, queueLen) => rec.enqueued.push({ item, queueLen }),
+      onDequeued: (batch) => rec.dequeued.push(batch),
+      onBlocked: (reason, queueLen) => rec.blocked.push({ reason, queueLen }),
+      onCleared: (reason, count) => rec.cleared.push({ reason, count }),
+    },
+  });
+  return { q, rec };
+}
+
+/** Mirrors listen-client message arrival logic for a MessageCreate payload. */
+function simulateMessageArrival(
+  q: QueueRuntime,
+  pendingTurnsRef: { value: number },
+  payload: MessageCreate | ApprovalCreate,
+): boolean {
+  const isUserMessage = "content" in payload;
+  if (isUserMessage) {
+    q.enqueue({
+      kind: "message",
+      source: "user",
+      content: (payload as MessageCreate).content,
+    } as Parameters<typeof q.enqueue>[0]);
+    if (pendingTurnsRef.value > 0) {
+      q.tryDequeue("runtime_busy");
+    }
+  }
+  pendingTurnsRef.value++; // synchronous before .then()
+  return isUserMessage;
+}
+
+/** Mirrors the start of the .then() chain callback. */
+function simulateTurnStart(
+  q: QueueRuntime,
+  _pendingTurnsRef: { value: number },
+  isUserMessage: boolean,
+): void {
+  if (isUserMessage) q.consumeItems(1);
+}
+
+/** Mirrors the finally block. */
+function simulateTurnEnd(
+  q: QueueRuntime,
+  pendingTurnsRef: { value: number },
+): void {
+  pendingTurnsRef.value--;
+  if (pendingTurnsRef.value === 0) q.resetBlockedState();
+}
+
+function makeMessageCreate(text = "hello"): MessageCreate {
+  return { role: "user", content: text } as unknown as MessageCreate;
+}
+
+function makeApprovalCreate(): ApprovalCreate {
+  // ApprovalCreate does NOT have a `content` field — used for legacy approval path
+  return { type: "approval", approvals: [] } as unknown as ApprovalCreate;
+}
+
+// ── Tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("single message — idle path", () => {
+  test("enqueued → dequeued, no blocked, real queue_len values", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+
+    const isUser = simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate());
+    expect(rec.enqueued).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rec.enqueued.at(0)?.queueLen).toBe(1);
+    expect(rec.blocked).toHaveLength(0);
+
+    simulateTurnStart(q, turns, isUser);
+    expect(rec.dequeued).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rec.dequeued.at(0)?.mergedCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(rec.dequeued.at(0)?.queueLenAfter).toBe(0);
+
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(0);
+    expect(q.length).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("two rapid messages — busy path", () => {
+  test("second arrival gets blocked(runtime_busy) due to sync pendingTurns", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+
+    // First message arrives
+    const isUser1 = simulateMessageArrival(
+      q,
+      turns,
+      makeMessageCreate("first"),
+    );
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(1); // synchronously incremented
+    expect(rec.blocked).toHaveLength(0); // was 0 at arrival
+
+    // Second message arrives BEFORE first turn's .then() runs
+    const isUser2 = simulateMessageArrival(
+      q,
+      turns,
+      makeMessageCreate("second"),
+    );
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(2);
+    expect(rec.blocked).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rec.blocked.at(0)?.reason).toBe("runtime_busy");
+    expect(rec.blocked.at(0)?.queueLen).toBe(2); // both enqueued
+
+    // First turn runs
+    simulateTurnStart(q, turns, isUser1);
+    expect(rec.dequeued).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rec.dequeued.at(0)?.mergedCount).toBe(1);
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(1); // second still pending
+
+    // Second turn runs
+    simulateTurnStart(q, turns, isUser2);
+    expect(rec.dequeued).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(rec.dequeued.at(1)?.mergedCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(rec.dequeued.at(1)?.queueLenAfter).toBe(0);
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("blocked fires only once for same reason; resets when fully drained", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("a"));
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("b")); // blocked
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("c")); // same reason — no extra blocked
+    expect(rec.blocked).toHaveLength(1);
+
+    // Drain all three
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      simulateTurnStart(q, turns, true);
+      simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    }
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(0);
+
+    // New arrival after full drain — should be idle (no blocked)
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("d"));
+    expect(rec.blocked).toHaveLength(1); // still just the original one
+  });
+});
+
+describe("pendingTurns safety — always decremented", () => {
+  test("pendingTurns decrements even when simulateTurnStart would throw", () => {
+    // Mirrors the production fix: onStatusChange("receiving") moved inside try
+    // so the finally always fires. Here we verify that the turn-end path
+    // (finally equivalent) always restores pendingTurns to 0.
+    const { q } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("msg"));
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(1);
+
+    // Simulate: consumeItems fires, then an error before handleIncomingMessage
+    q.consumeItems(1);
+    // finally fires (error path)
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(0); // not leaked
+    expect(q.length).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("ApprovalCreate payloads", () => {
+  test("ApprovalCreate is not enqueued (no content field)", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+
+    const isUser = simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeApprovalCreate());
+    expect(isUser).toBe(false);
+    expect(rec.enqueued).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(1); // pendingTurns still increments
+
+    // No consumeItems called in .then()
+    simulateTurnStart(q, turns, isUser);
+    expect(rec.dequeued).toHaveLength(0);
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("connection close", () => {
+  test("clear(shutdown) emits queue_cleared exactly once for intentional close", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    q.clear("shutdown");
+    expect(rec.cleared).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rec.cleared.at(0)?.reason).toBe("shutdown");
+    expect(rec.cleared.at(0)?.count).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("clear(shutdown) emits with correct count when items are pending", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("pending"));
+    q.clear("shutdown"); // connection closed before turn ran
+    expect(rec.cleared.at(0)?.count).toBe(1);
+    expect(q.length).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("per-turn error — no queue_cleared", () => {
+  test("turn error only decrements pendingTurns; remaining turns still dequeue", () => {
+    const { q, rec } = buildRuntime();
+    const turns = { value: 0 };
+
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("first"));
+    simulateMessageArrival(q, turns, makeMessageCreate("second"));
+
+    // First turn: simulate error — finally still runs
+    simulateTurnStart(q, turns, true);
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns); // error path still hits finally
+    expect(rec.cleared).toHaveLength(0); // no queue_cleared
+
+    // Second turn still runs
+    simulateTurnStart(q, turns, true);
+    expect(rec.dequeued).toHaveLength(2);
+    simulateTurnEnd(q, turns);
+    expect(turns.value).toBe(0);
+    expect(rec.cleared).toHaveLength(0); // still no queue_cleared
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/websocket/listen-client.ts b/src/websocket/listen-client.ts
index fb90034..37721a0 100644
--- a/src/websocket/listen-client.ts
+++ b/src/websocket/listen-client.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import { generatePlanFilePath } from "../cli/helpers/planName";
 import { drainStreamWithResume } from "../cli/helpers/stream";
 import { computeDiffPreviews } from "../helpers/diffPreview";
 import { permissionMode } from "../permissions/mode";
+import { QueueRuntime } from "../queue/queueRuntime";
 import { settingsManager } from "../settings-manager";
 import { isInteractiveApprovalTool } from "../tools/interactivePolicy";
 import { loadTools } from "../tools/manager";
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ import type {
   ErrorMessage,
   MessageWire,
   ResultMessage as ProtocolResultMessage,
+  QueueLifecycleEvent,
   RecoveryMessage,
   RetryMessage,
   StopReasonType,
@@ -140,6 +142,11 @@ type ListenerRuntime = {
   controlResponseCapable: boolean;
   /** Stable session ID for MessageEnvelope-based emissions (scoped to runtime lifecycle). */
   sessionId: string;
+  /** Queue lifecycle tracking — parallel tracking layer, does not affect message processing. */
+  queueRuntime: QueueRuntime;
+  /** Count of turns currently queued or in-flight in the promise chain. Incremented
+   *  synchronously on message arrival (before .then()) to avoid async scheduling races. */
+  pendingTurns: number;
 };
 
 type ApprovalSlot =
@@ -192,7 +199,7 @@ const INITIAL_RETRY_DELAY_MS = 1000; // 1 second
 const MAX_RETRY_DELAY_MS = 30000; // 30 seconds
 
 function createRuntime(): ListenerRuntime {
-  return {
+  const runtime: ListenerRuntime = {
     socket: null,
     heartbeatInterval: null,
     reconnectTimeout: null,
@@ -202,7 +209,63 @@ function createRuntime(): ListenerRuntime {
     pendingApprovalResolvers: new Map(),
     controlResponseCapable: false,
     sessionId: `listen-${crypto.randomUUID()}`,
+    pendingTurns: 0,
+    // queueRuntime assigned below — needs runtime ref in callbacks
+    queueRuntime: null as unknown as QueueRuntime,
   };
+  runtime.queueRuntime = new QueueRuntime({
+    callbacks: {
+      onEnqueued: (item, queueLen) => {
+        if (runtime.socket?.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+          emitToWS(runtime.socket, {
+            type: "queue_item_enqueued",
+            item_id: item.id,
+            source: item.source,
+            kind: item.kind,
+            queue_len: queueLen,
+            session_id: runtime.sessionId,
+            uuid: `q-enq-${item.id}`,
+          });
+        }
+      },
+      onDequeued: (batch) => {
+        if (runtime.socket?.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+          emitToWS(runtime.socket, {
+            type: "queue_batch_dequeued",
+            batch_id: batch.batchId,
+            item_ids: batch.items.map((i) => i.id),
+            merged_count: batch.mergedCount,
+            queue_len_after: batch.queueLenAfter,
+            session_id: runtime.sessionId,
+            uuid: `q-deq-${batch.batchId}`,
+          });
+        }
+      },
+      onBlocked: (reason, queueLen) => {
+        if (runtime.socket?.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+          emitToWS(runtime.socket, {
+            type: "queue_blocked",
+            reason,
+            queue_len: queueLen,
+            session_id: runtime.sessionId,
+            uuid: `q-blk-${crypto.randomUUID()}`,
+          });
+        }
+      },
+      onCleared: (reason, clearedCount) => {
+        if (runtime.socket?.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+          emitToWS(runtime.socket, {
+            type: "queue_cleared",
+            reason,
+            cleared_count: clearedCount,
+            session_id: runtime.sessionId,
+            uuid: `q-clr-${crypto.randomUUID()}`,
+          });
+        }
+      },
+    },
+  });
+  return runtime;
 }
 
 function clearRuntimeTimers(runtime: ListenerRuntime): void {
@@ -303,13 +366,14 @@ function sendControlMessageOverWebSocket(
 
 // ── Typed protocol event adapter ────────────────────────────────
 
-type WsProtocolEvent =
+export type WsProtocolEvent =
   | MessageWire
   | AutoApprovalMessage
   | ErrorMessage
   | RetryMessage
   | RecoveryMessage
-  | ProtocolResultMessage;
+  | ProtocolResultMessage
+  | QueueLifecycleEvent;
 
 /**
  * Single adapter for all outbound typed protocol events.
@@ -672,21 +736,59 @@ async function connectWithRetry(
 
     // Handle incoming messages (queued for sequential processing)
     if (parsed.type === "message") {
+      // Queue lifecycle tracking: only enqueue if first payload is a
+      // MessageCreate (has `content`). ApprovalCreate payloads (legacy
+      // approval path) do not represent user-initiated messages.
+      const firstPayload = parsed.messages.at(0);
+      const isUserMessage =
+        firstPayload !== undefined && "content" in firstPayload;
+      if (isUserMessage) {
+        runtime.queueRuntime.enqueue({
+          kind: "message",
+          source: "user",
+          content: (firstPayload as MessageCreate).content,
+        } as Parameters<typeof runtime.queueRuntime.enqueue>[0]);
+        // Emit blocked on state transition when turns are already queued.
+        // pendingTurns is incremented synchronously (below) before .then(),
+        // so a second arrival always sees the correct count.
+        if (runtime.pendingTurns > 0) {
+          runtime.queueRuntime.tryDequeue("runtime_busy");
+        }
+      }
+      // Increment synchronously before chaining to avoid scheduling races
+      runtime.pendingTurns++;
+
       runtime.messageQueue = runtime.messageQueue
         .then(async () => {
           if (runtime !== activeRuntime || runtime.intentionallyClosed) {
+            runtime.pendingTurns--;
             return;
           }
 
-          opts.onStatusChange?.("receiving", opts.connectionId);
-          await handleIncomingMessage(
-            parsed,
-            socket,
-            runtime,
-            opts.onStatusChange,
-            opts.connectionId,
-          );
-          opts.onStatusChange?.("idle", opts.connectionId);
+          // Signal dequeue for exactly this one turn (one message per chain cb)
+          if (isUserMessage) {
+            runtime.queueRuntime.consumeItems(1);
+          }
+
+          // onStatusChange("receiving") is inside try so that any throw
+          // still reaches the finally and decrements pendingTurns.
+          try {
+            opts.onStatusChange?.("receiving", opts.connectionId);
+            await handleIncomingMessage(
+              parsed,
+              socket,
+              runtime,
+              opts.onStatusChange,
+              opts.connectionId,
+            );
+            opts.onStatusChange?.("idle", opts.connectionId);
+          } finally {
+            runtime.pendingTurns--;
+            // Reset blocked state only when queue is fully drained
+            if (runtime.pendingTurns === 0) {
+              runtime.queueRuntime.resetBlockedState();
+            }
+          }
         })
         .catch((error: unknown) => {
           if (process.env.DEBUG) {
@@ -702,6 +804,10 @@ async function connectWithRetry(
       return;
     }
 
+    // Single authoritative queue_cleared emission for all close paths
+    // (intentional and unintentional). Must fire before early returns.
+    runtime.queueRuntime.clear("shutdown");
+
     if (process.env.DEBUG) {
       console.log(
         `[Listen] WebSocket disconnected (code: ${code}, reason: ${reason.toString()})`,