diff --git a/packages/zcode-tui/src/choice-dialog.ts b/packages/zcode-tui/src/choice-dialog.ts
index 07763eb..315238a 100644
--- a/packages/zcode-tui/src/choice-dialog.ts
+++ b/packages/zcode-tui/src/choice-dialog.ts
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ class ChoiceDialog implements Component {
   private contentOffset = 0;
   private contentLineCount = 0;
   private contentPageSize = 1;
+  /** Number of quick-selectable items; digits beyond this are ignored. */
+  numberShortcutCount = 0;
 
   constructor(
     private readonly title: string,
@@ -263,6 +265,29 @@ class ChoiceDialog implements Component {
       this.contentExpanded = !this.contentExpanded;
       return;
     }
+    // Number shortcut: pressing 1-9 confirms the option at that list position
+    // (1 = first item) in a single keystroke. Absolute index, not scroll
+    // position. The caller explicitly opts into this behavior; when it is not
+    // enabled, digits continue through the filter path below.
+    if (
+      this.numberShortcutCount > 0
+      && this.filter === ""
+      && !this.contentExpanded
+      && data.length === 1
+      && data >= "1"
+      && data <= "9"
+    ) {
+      const index = data.charCodeAt(0) - "1".charCodeAt(0);
+      // setSelectedIndex clamps to the last item, so guard explicitly:
+      // a digit past the option count must be a no-op.
+      if (index >= this.numberShortcutCount) return;
+      this.list.setSelectedIndex(index);
+      const item = this.list.getSelectedItem();
+      if (item) {
+        this.list.onSelect?.(item);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
     const contentInput = (this.content as (Component & {
       handleInput?: (input: string) => boolean;
     }) | undefined)?.handleInput;
@@ -399,6 +424,8 @@ export function choose(
     selectedIndex?: number;
     signal?: AbortSignal;
     showSelectedItemDetails?: boolean;
+    /** Enable 1-9 label hints and quick-select. Only lists with at most 9 items support it. */
+    numberShortcuts?: boolean;
   }
 ): Promise<ChoiceItem | null> {
   if (options.items.length === 0) return Promise.resolve(null);
@@ -406,6 +433,11 @@ export function choose(
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
     const choicesByValue = new Map<string, ChoiceItem>();
     const detailsByValue = new Map<string, Component>();
+    // Number shortcuts are opt-in and intentionally limited to 1-9. Generic
+    // choice dialogs remain filter-first unless the caller explicitly enables
+    // this interaction.
+    const numberShortcutsEnabled = options.numberShortcuts === true
+      && options.items.length <= 9;
     const searchableItems = options.items.map((item, index): SelectItem => {
       const safeItem: ChoiceItem = {
         ...item,
@@ -414,12 +446,17 @@ export function choose(
           ? sanitizeTerminalText(item.description, { preserveSgr: false })
           : undefined
       };
+      // Prefix labels when the caller opted into the 1-9 quick-select mode.
+      const showNumberHint = numberShortcutsEnabled;
+      const displayLabel = showNumberHint
+        ? `${index + 1}. ${safeItem.label}`
+        : safeItem.label;
       const value = `${safeItem.label}\u0000${index}`;
       choicesByValue.set(value, safeItem);
       if (options.showSelectedItemDetails) {
         detailsByValue.set(value, new ChoiceItemDetails(safeItem, theme));
       }
-      return { value, label: safeItem.label, description: safeItem.description };
+      return { value, label: displayLabel, description: safeItem.description };
     });
     const hasDetails = Boolean(
       options.content
@@ -440,8 +477,12 @@ export function choose(
       sanitizeTerminalText(options.prompt, { preserveSgr: false }),
       sanitizeTerminalText(
         options.help ?? (hasDetails
-          ? "Type to filter · Up/Down choose · Ctrl+O details · ←/→ or PgUp/PgDn scroll · Enter confirm · Esc cancel"
-          : "Type to filter · Up/Down choose · Enter confirm · Esc cancel · Ctrl+U clear"),
+          ? (numberShortcutsEnabled
+            ? "Type to filter · number selects · Up/Down choose · Ctrl+O details · ←/→ or PgUp/PgDn scroll · Enter confirm · Esc cancel"
+            : "Type to filter · Up/Down choose · Ctrl+O details · ←/→ or PgUp/PgDn scroll · Enter confirm · Esc cancel")
+          : (numberShortcutsEnabled
+            ? "Type to filter · number selects · Up/Down choose · Enter confirm · Esc cancel · Ctrl+U clear"
+            : "Type to filter · Up/Down choose · Enter confirm · Esc cancel · Ctrl+U clear")),
         { preserveSgr: false }
       ),
       list,
@@ -451,6 +492,7 @@ export function choose(
       maxContentLines,
       maxExpandedContentLines
     );
+    dialog.numberShortcutCount = numberShortcutsEnabled ? options.items.length : 0;
     const previewFor = (item: SelectItem | null): Component | undefined => {
       if (!item) return undefined;
       return options.showSelectedItemDetails
diff --git a/packages/zcode-tui/src/index.ts b/packages/zcode-tui/src/index.ts
index 3eac537..1293b18 100644
--- a/packages/zcode-tui/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/zcode-tui/src/index.ts
@@ -3327,6 +3327,7 @@ class ZCodeTui {
       prompt: asString(request.reason) ?? `${toolName} requests permission to continue.`,
       items,
       signal,
+      numberShortcuts: true,
       content: this.permissionPreview(toolName, request.input, asString(request.riskLevel))
     });
     if (!selected) return { decision: "deny", reason: "Cancelled by user" };
diff --git a/test/choice-dialog-number-shortcuts.test.ts b/test/choice-dialog-number-shortcuts.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8435e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/choice-dialog-number-shortcuts.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { Container, type Component, type TUI } from "@earendil-works/pi-tui";
+
+import { choose } from "../packages/zcode-tui/src/choice-dialog.ts";
+import type { ChoiceItem } from "../packages/zcode-tui/src/choice-dialog.ts";
+import { createTheme } from "../packages/zcode-tui/src/theme.ts";
+
+const theme = createTheme(false);
+
+// Inline-mode harness matching choice-dialog.test.ts: real pi-tui Container,
+// dialog mounts into `host`, render `root` to assert on actual dialog output.
+function makeHarness() {
+  const root = new Container();
+  const host = new Container();
+  const focusState: { current: Component | null } = { current: null };
+  const ui = {
+    terminal: { rows: 24 },
+    requestRender() {},
+    setFocus(component: Component | null) {
+      focusState.current = component;
+    }
+  } as unknown as TUI;
+  root.addChild(host);
+  return { root, host, focusState, ui };
+}
+
+function rendered(root: Container): string {
+  return root.render(80).join("\n");
+}
+
+function items(count: number): ChoiceItem[] {
+  return Array.from({ length: count }, (_, i) => ({
+    value: `opt${i + 1}`,
+    label: `Option ${i + 1}`,
+    description: `desc ${i + 1}`
+  }));
+}
+
+describe("choice dialog number shortcuts", () => {
+  test("digit '1' confirms the first option in one keystroke", async () => {
+    const { host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    const dialog = focusState.current as Component;
+    expect(dialog).toBeTruthy();
+    dialog.handleInput!("1");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result?.label).toBe("Option 1");
+  });
+
+  test("digit '3' confirms the third option", async () => {
+    const { host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    (focusState.current as Component).handleInput!("3");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result?.label).toBe("Option 3");
+  });
+
+  test("digits beyond the item count do nothing", async () => {
+    const { host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    const dialog = focusState.current as Component;
+    dialog.handleInput!("9"); // out of range -> no confirm
+    // settle the promise via Escape
+    dialog.handleInput!("\x1b");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("digit is filter input when filter is active (no confirm)", async () => {
+    const { root, host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    const dialog = focusState.current as Component;
+    dialog.handleInput!("O"); // starts filter with "O"
+    dialog.handleInput!("2"); // continues filter, must NOT confirm option 2
+    expect(rendered(root)).toContain("Filter: O2");
+    // Cancel to settle the promise; result should be null (nothing was confirmed)
+    dialog.handleInput!("\x1b");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("labels carry number hints and the number-selects help by default", async () => {
+    const { root, host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    const output = rendered(root);
+    expect(output).toContain("1. Option 1");
+    expect(output).toContain("4. Option 4");
+    expect(output).not.toContain("5. Option");
+    expect(output.replace(/\n/g, " ")).toContain("number selects");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("\x1b");
+    expect(await promise).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("number shortcuts are opt-in for generic choice dialogs", async () => {
+    const { root, host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4)
+    });
+    const output = rendered(root);
+    expect(output).not.toContain("1. Option 1");
+    expect(output).not.toContain("number selects");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("1");
+    expect(rendered(root)).toContain("Filter: 1");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("\x1b");
+    expect(await promise).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("numberShortcuts: false omits hints and keeps digits as filter input", async () => {
+    const { root, host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: false
+    });
+    const output = rendered(root);
+    expect(output).not.toContain("1. Option 1");
+    expect(output).toContain("Option 1");
+    expect(output.replace(/\n/g, " ")).not.toContain("number selects");
+    // The shortcut is off: the digit must remain filter input.
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("1");
+    expect(rendered(root)).toContain("Filter: 1");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("\x1b");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("more than 9 items: no hints, no shortcut, help line not advertised", async () => {
+    const { root, host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      items: items(12),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    const output = rendered(root);
+    expect(output).not.toContain("1. Option 1");
+    expect(output.replace(/\n/g, " ")).not.toContain("number selects");
+    // A digit must remain filter input because lists over 9 items never expose
+    // single-key numeric selection.
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("3");
+    expect(rendered(root)).toContain("Filter: 3");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("\x1b");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("custom help suppresses hints and the shortcut by default", async () => {
+    const { root, host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      help: "custom help line",
+      items: items(4)
+    });
+    const output = rendered(root);
+    expect(output).toContain("custom help line");
+    expect(output).not.toContain("1. Option 1");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("1");
+    expect(rendered(root)).toContain("Filter: 1");
+    focusState.current?.handleInput?.("\x1b");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("numberShortcuts: true force-enables the shortcut despite custom help", async () => {
+    const { host, focusState, ui } = makeHarness();
+    const promise = choose(ui, host, theme, {
+      title: "T",
+      prompt: "P",
+      help: "custom help line",
+      items: items(4),
+      numberShortcuts: true
+    });
+    const dialog = focusState.current as Component;
+    dialog.handleInput!("2");
+    const result = await promise;
+    expect(result?.label).toBe("Option 2");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/choice-dialog.test.ts b/test/choice-dialog.test.ts
index 7d3f454..caa4698 100644
--- a/test/choice-dialog.test.ts
+++ b/test/choice-dialog.test.ts
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ describe("TUI choice dialog", () => {
     expect(output).toContain("plan line 1");
     expect(output).not.toContain("plan line 30");
     expect(output).toContain("Plan 1–6 of 30");
-    expect(output).toContain("Ctrl+O details");
+    expect(output.replace(/\n/g, " ")).toContain("Ctrl+O details");
 
     focusState.current?.handleInput?.("\x0f");
     output = root.render(60).join("\n");