/compact as a steering message doesn't work

[ovistoica]

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Describe the bug

If while the agent is active, you send /compact *some compact instructions* , the result will be

Output: Chat compaction is not active for this request. This tool is available only while chat compaction is in progress. To compact manually, the user must use the `/compact` command; compaction may also start automatically when context usage reaches the configured threshold.

To Reproduce

1. Have an agent work on a task.
2. while working, send a compaction request with some instructions.
3. Ensure the compact message is in the steering queue.
4. See the compaction request fails after the agent makes it

Expected behavior

Compaction should work, even if sent as a steering message

Doctor

Paste the relevant parts of /doctor command from chat if applicable:

ECA version: 0.159.0

Server cmd: /home/ovistoica/.config/emacs/eca/eca server

Workspaces: /home/ovistoica/workspace/re-frame-query

Default model: anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 (Subscription (oauth), expires 2026-09-13 14:52)

Logged providers: 
anthropic: Subscription (oauth), expires 2026-09-13 14:52

Relevant env vars: 
GUM_LOG_KEY_BACKGROUND=#28*****828
GUM_WRITE_BASE_BACKGROUND=#282828
GUM_WRITE_BASE_FOREGROUND=#d4be98
GUM_LOG_KEY_FOREGROUND=#d4*****e98
DEBUGINFOD_URLS=https://debuginfod.archlinux.org 


Credential files: None found

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