diff --git a/crates/xgen-cli/src/composition.rs b/crates/xgen-cli/src/composition.rs
index d2fb22f..8a25732 100644
--- a/crates/xgen-cli/src/composition.rs
+++ b/crates/xgen-cli/src/composition.rs
@@ -141,6 +141,14 @@ pub struct LocalRunRequest {
     pub final_response_schema: Option<serde_json::Value>,
     /// Optional exact process checks required before completion. Requires a response schema.
     pub completion_checks: Option<Vec<xgen_provider_openai::CompletionCheck>>,
+    /// Admit `response_candidate` for a goal that plans no steps.
+    ///
+    /// Off, a goal needing only an answer closes as
+    /// `proposal_rejected.completion_without_receipt_completed_plan`: the model
+    /// has nothing to show a receipt for, and `completion_candidate` requires
+    /// one. The REPL has always turned this on; `run` could not, so the same
+    /// question answered interactively failed as a single invocation.
+    pub conversation_responses: bool,
 }
 
 impl LocalRunRequest {
@@ -174,6 +182,7 @@ impl LocalRunRequest {
             max_model_turns: None,
             final_response_schema: None,
             completion_checks: None,
+            conversation_responses: false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -888,7 +897,8 @@ where
     F: FnOnce(&str),
     O: FnMut(DriverProgress) -> DriverProgressControl,
 {
-    run_local_composed(request, None, false, None, on_started, on_progress)
+    let conversational = request.conversation_responses;
+    run_local_composed(request, None, conversational, None, on_started, on_progress)
 }
 
 /// Start an isolated evaluation Run using the ordinary local tools and driver.
@@ -3897,6 +3907,7 @@ mod tests {
             max_model_turns: None,
             final_response_schema: None,
             completion_checks: None,
+            conversation_responses: false,
         };
         assert_eq!(
             run_local(request).unwrap(),
@@ -3955,6 +3966,7 @@ mod tests {
             max_model_turns: None,
             final_response_schema: None,
             completion_checks: None,
+            conversation_responses: false,
         };
         assert!(matches!(
             run_local_with_process_session_progress(
diff --git a/crates/xgen-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/xgen-cli/src/main.rs
index 4315634..2bfafa0 100644
--- a/crates/xgen-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/xgen-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -270,6 +270,13 @@ struct RunArgs {
     /// Bound work performed by this process invocation.
     #[arg(long, default_value_t = 32)]
     max_ticks: u32,
+    /// Answer a goal that plans no steps, instead of requiring receipt-completed steps.
+    ///
+    /// The REPL admits this contract already. Without it a question needing no
+    /// tool closes as `proposal_rejected.completion_without_receipt_completed_plan`,
+    /// so a host that drives `run` per message cannot hold a conversation.
+    #[arg(long)]
+    conversation_responses: bool,
     /// Agent loop budget recorded in the Run manifest for workspace discovery runs.
     #[arg(
         long,
@@ -516,6 +523,9 @@ impl repl::ReplHost for InteractiveHost {
                 max_model_turns: None,
                 final_response_schema: None,
                 completion_checks: None,
+                // The interactive driver admits this contract regardless; said
+                // here so the request describes the Run it actually starts.
+                conversation_responses: true,
             },
             &process_session,
             |run_id| {
@@ -852,6 +862,7 @@ fn run_command(args: RunArgs) -> ExitCode {
             max_model_turns: args.max_model_turns,
             final_response_schema,
             completion_checks,
+            conversation_responses: args.conversation_responses,
         },
         |run_id| eprintln!("XGEN_STARTED run_id={run_id}"),
     ))