diff --git a/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx b/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx
index a73dded..8529066 100644
--- a/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx
@@ -25,11 +25,17 @@ import { api } from '@/lib/api'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { useAuth } from '@/store/auth'
 
-/** Polls the count of held actions awaiting review, so the nav can flag work is waiting. */
+/** Event other pages fire after dispatching a run or deciding a review, so the badge updates at once. */
+export const REVIEWS_CHANGED = 'teamup:reviews-changed'
+
+/** Tracks the count of held actions awaiting review: polls, and refetches on focus / a change event. */
 function usePendingReviewCount(organizationId: string | null): number {
   const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!organizationId) return
+    if (!organizationId) {
+      setCount(0)
+      return
+    }
     let cancelled = false
     const tick = async () => {
       try {
@@ -40,10 +46,17 @@ function usePendingReviewCount(organizationId: string | null): number {
       }
     }
     void tick()
-    const id = setInterval(tick, 12000)
+    const id = setInterval(tick, 6000)
+    const refetch = () => void tick()
+    window.addEventListener(REVIEWS_CHANGED, refetch)
+    window.addEventListener('focus', refetch)
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', refetch)
     return () => {
       cancelled = true
       clearInterval(id)
+      window.removeEventListener(REVIEWS_CHANGED, refetch)
+      window.removeEventListener('focus', refetch)
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', refetch)
     }
   }, [organizationId])
   return count
diff --git a/client/src/pages/BoardPage.tsx b/client/src/pages/BoardPage.tsx
index 39dab93..769ea8c 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/BoardPage.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/BoardPage.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from '@dnd-kit/core'
 import { Bot, Plus, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react'
 import { toast } from 'sonner'
-import { AppShell } from '@/components/AppShell'
+import { AppShell, REVIEWS_CHANGED } from '@/components/AppShell'
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import {
@@ -514,8 +514,13 @@ function TaskDrawer({
                 onClick={() =>
                   act(
                     () => api.post('/api/assembler/runs', { seatId, workItemId: task.id }),
-                    'Dispatched — the proposal will land in the review inbox.',
-                  )
+                    'Dispatched — it will appear in the review inbox shortly.',
+                  ).then(() => {
+                    // The proposal lands ~a few seconds later; nudge the review badge to refetch.
+                    window.dispatchEvent(new Event(REVIEWS_CHANGED))
+                    setTimeout(() => window.dispatchEvent(new Event(REVIEWS_CHANGED)), 4000)
+                    setTimeout(() => window.dispatchEvent(new Event(REVIEWS_CHANGED)), 9000)
+                  })
                 }
               >
                 <Bot data-icon="inline-start" />
diff --git a/client/src/pages/ReviewsPage.tsx b/client/src/pages/ReviewsPage.tsx
index e90d31a..03c5c46 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/ReviewsPage.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/ReviewsPage.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card'
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea'
+import { REVIEWS_CHANGED } from '@/components/AppShell'
 import { AgentFace } from '@/components/AgentFace'
 import { MarkdownEditor } from '@/components/MarkdownEditor'
 import { api } from '@/lib/api'
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ function ReviewCard({ item, onDecided }: { item: ReviewItem; onDecided: (id: str
         toast.info('Sent back to the agent')
       }
       onDecided(item.id)
+      window.dispatchEvent(new Event(REVIEWS_CHANGED))
     } catch (err) {
       toast.error((err as Error).message)
     } finally {
diff --git a/src/Modules/TeamUp.Modules.Assembler/Runtime/AgentRunExecutor.cs b/src/Modules/TeamUp.Modules.Assembler/Runtime/AgentRunExecutor.cs
index 24bd757..fd3d520 100644
--- a/src/Modules/TeamUp.Modules.Assembler/Runtime/AgentRunExecutor.cs
+++ b/src/Modules/TeamUp.Modules.Assembler/Runtime/AgentRunExecutor.cs
@@ -94,12 +94,20 @@ internal sealed class AgentRunExecutor(
             run.Complete(output, assembled.PrimaryAction, assembled.PrimaryActionRisk, result, completion.LatencyMs, clock.GetUtcNow());
             await db.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
 
+            // Only a spec / story-breakdown agent proposes child stories. Other actions (code, design,
+            // tests) produce an artifact, not a backlog — so don't mistake a numbered list in their
+            // output (e.g. a list of file names) for child tasks.
+            var primarySkill = context.SkillKeys.Count > 0 ? context.SkillKeys[0] : null;
+            var childTitles = primarySkill is "spec-writing" or "story-breakdown"
+                ? OutputParser.ExtractChildTitles(output)
+                : Array.Empty<string>();
+
             // Hand the parsed action to the gate: autonomy vs risk → execute now or hold in review.
             var gate = await actionGate.EvaluateAsync(
                 new AgentActionProposal(
                     run.Id, run.SeatId, context.AgentId, run.WorkItemId, context.TeamId, context.OrganizationId,
                     context.Autonomy, assembled.PrimaryAction, assembled.PrimaryActionRisk,
-                    context.TaskTitle, output, OutputParser.ExtractChildTitles(output), assembled.Trace),
+                    context.TaskTitle, output, childTitles, assembled.Trace),
                 cancellationToken);
             logger.LogInformation(
                 "Run {RunId}: {Action} ({Risk}) → {Outcome}.",