diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0bb6efe..13971e2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -722,6 +722,12 @@ nanobot provider login openai-codex
 **3. Chat:**
 ```bash
 nanobot agent -m "Hello!"
+
+# Target a specific workspace/config locally
+nanobot agent -c ~/.nanobot-telegram/config.json -m "Hello!"
+
+# One-off workspace override on top of that config
+nanobot agent -c ~/.nanobot-telegram/config.json -w /tmp/nanobot-telegram-test -m "Hello!"
 ```
 
 > Docker users: use `docker run -it` for interactive OAuth login.
@@ -924,6 +930,18 @@ nanobot gateway --config ~/.nanobot-feishu/config.json --port 18792
 
 When using `--config`, nanobot derives its runtime data directory from the config file location. The workspace still comes from `agents.defaults.workspace` unless you override it with `--workspace`.
 
+To open a CLI session against one of these instances locally:
+
+```bash
+nanobot agent -c ~/.nanobot-telegram/config.json -m "Hello from Telegram instance"
+nanobot agent -c ~/.nanobot-discord/config.json -m "Hello from Discord instance"
+
+# Optional one-off workspace override
+nanobot agent -c ~/.nanobot-telegram/config.json -w /tmp/nanobot-telegram-test
+```
+
+> `nanobot agent` starts a local CLI agent using the selected workspace/config. It does not attach to or proxy through an already running `nanobot gateway` process.
+
 | Component | Resolved From | Example |
 |-----------|---------------|---------|
 | **Config** | `--config` path | `~/.nanobot-A/config.json` |
@@ -998,6 +1016,8 @@ nanobot gateway --config ~/.nanobot-telegram/config.json --workspace /tmp/nanobo
 |---------|-------------|
 | `nanobot onboard` | Initialize config & workspace |
 | `nanobot agent -m "..."` | Chat with the agent |
+| `nanobot agent -w <workspace>` | Chat against a specific workspace |
+| `nanobot agent -w <workspace> -c <config>` | Chat against a specific workspace/config |
 | `nanobot agent` | Interactive chat mode |
 | `nanobot agent --no-markdown` | Show plain-text replies |
 | `nanobot agent --logs` | Show runtime logs during chat |
diff --git a/nanobot/cli/commands.py b/nanobot/cli/commands.py
index da8906d..2c8d6d3 100644
--- a/nanobot/cli/commands.py
+++ b/nanobot/cli/commands.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 # Force UTF-8 encoding for Windows console
 if sys.platform == "win32":
-    import locale
     if sys.stdout.encoding != "utf-8":
         os.environ["PYTHONIOENCODING"] = "utf-8"
         # Re-open stdout/stderr with UTF-8 encoding
@@ -265,6 +264,25 @@ def _make_provider(config: Config):
     )
 
 
+def _load_runtime_config(config: str | None = None, workspace: str | None = None) -> Config:
+    """Load config and optionally override the active workspace."""
+    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config, set_config_path
+
+    config_path = None
+    if config:
+        config_path = Path(config).expanduser().resolve()
+        if not config_path.exists():
+            console.print(f"[red]Error: Config file not found: {config_path}[/red]")
+            raise typer.Exit(1)
+        set_config_path(config_path)
+        console.print(f"[dim]Using config: {config_path}[/dim]")
+
+    loaded = load_config(config_path)
+    if workspace:
+        loaded.agents.defaults.workspace = workspace
+    return loaded
+
+
 # ============================================================================
 # Gateway / Server
 # ============================================================================
@@ -278,20 +296,9 @@ def gateway(
     config: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--config", "-c", help="Path to config file"),
 ):
     """Start the nanobot gateway."""
-    # Set config path if provided (must be done before any imports that use get_data_dir)
-    if config:
-        from nanobot.config.loader import set_config_path
-        config_path = Path(config).expanduser().resolve()
-        if not config_path.exists():
-            console.print(f"[red]Error: Config file not found: {config_path}[/red]")
-            raise typer.Exit(1)
-        set_config_path(config_path)
-        console.print(f"[dim]Using config: {config_path}[/dim]")
-    
     from nanobot.agent.loop import AgentLoop
     from nanobot.bus.queue import MessageBus
     from nanobot.channels.manager import ChannelManager
-    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config
     from nanobot.config.paths import get_cron_dir
     from nanobot.cron.service import CronService
     from nanobot.cron.types import CronJob
@@ -302,11 +309,9 @@ def gateway(
         import logging
         logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
 
-    console.print(f"{__logo__} Starting nanobot gateway on port {port}...")
+    config = _load_runtime_config(config, workspace)
 
-    config = load_config()
-    if workspace:
-        config.agents.defaults.workspace = workspace
+    console.print(f"{__logo__} Starting nanobot gateway on port {port}...")
     sync_workspace_templates(config.workspace_path)
     bus = MessageBus()
     provider = _make_provider(config)
@@ -474,6 +479,8 @@ def gateway(
 def agent(
     message: str = typer.Option(None, "--message", "-m", help="Message to send to the agent"),
     session_id: str = typer.Option("cli:direct", "--session", "-s", help="Session ID"),
+    workspace: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--workspace", "-w", help="Workspace directory"),
+    config: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--config", "-c", help="Config file path"),
     markdown: bool = typer.Option(True, "--markdown/--no-markdown", help="Render assistant output as Markdown"),
     logs: bool = typer.Option(False, "--logs/--no-logs", help="Show nanobot runtime logs during chat"),
 ):
@@ -482,11 +489,10 @@ def agent(
 
     from nanobot.agent.loop import AgentLoop
     from nanobot.bus.queue import MessageBus
-    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config
     from nanobot.config.paths import get_cron_dir
     from nanobot.cron.service import CronService
 
-    config = load_config()
+    config = _load_runtime_config(config, workspace)
     sync_workspace_templates(config.workspace_path)
 
     bus = MessageBus()
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index a276653..19c1998 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
-from unittest.mock import patch
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
 
 import pytest
 from typer.testing import CliRunner
@@ -134,6 +134,139 @@ def test_openai_codex_strip_prefix_supports_hyphen_and_underscore():
     assert _strip_model_prefix("openai_codex/gpt-5.1-codex") == "gpt-5.1-codex"
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_agent_runtime(tmp_path):
+    """Mock agent command dependencies for focused CLI tests."""
+    config = Config()
+    config.agents.defaults.workspace = str(tmp_path / "default-workspace")
+    cron_dir = tmp_path / "data" / "cron"
+
+    with patch("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", return_value=config) as mock_load_config, \
+         patch("nanobot.config.paths.get_cron_dir", return_value=cron_dir), \
+         patch("nanobot.cli.commands.sync_workspace_templates") as mock_sync_templates, \
+         patch("nanobot.cli.commands._make_provider", return_value=object()), \
+         patch("nanobot.cli.commands._print_agent_response") as mock_print_response, \
+         patch("nanobot.bus.queue.MessageBus"), \
+         patch("nanobot.cron.service.CronService"), \
+         patch("nanobot.agent.loop.AgentLoop") as mock_agent_loop_cls:
+
+        agent_loop = MagicMock()
+        agent_loop.channels_config = None
+        agent_loop.process_direct = AsyncMock(return_value="mock-response")
+        agent_loop.close_mcp = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+        mock_agent_loop_cls.return_value = agent_loop
+
+        yield {
+            "config": config,
+            "load_config": mock_load_config,
+            "sync_templates": mock_sync_templates,
+            "agent_loop_cls": mock_agent_loop_cls,
+            "agent_loop": agent_loop,
+            "print_response": mock_print_response,
+        }
+
+
+def test_agent_help_shows_workspace_and_config_options():
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["agent", "--help"])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert "--workspace" in result.stdout
+    assert "-w" in result.stdout
+    assert "--config" in result.stdout
+    assert "-c" in result.stdout
+
+
+def test_agent_uses_default_config_when_no_workspace_or_config_flags(mock_agent_runtime):
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["agent", "-m", "hello"])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["load_config"].call_args.args == (None,)
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["sync_templates"].call_args.args == (
+        mock_agent_runtime["config"].workspace_path,
+    )
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["agent_loop_cls"].call_args.kwargs["workspace"] == (
+        mock_agent_runtime["config"].workspace_path
+    )
+    mock_agent_runtime["agent_loop"].process_direct.assert_awaited_once()
+    mock_agent_runtime["print_response"].assert_called_once_with("mock-response", render_markdown=True)
+
+
+def test_agent_uses_explicit_config_path(mock_agent_runtime, tmp_path: Path):
+    config_path = tmp_path / "agent-config.json"
+    config_path.write_text("{}")
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["agent", "-m", "hello", "-c", str(config_path)])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["load_config"].call_args.args == (config_path.resolve(),)
+
+
+def test_agent_config_sets_active_path(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    config_file = tmp_path / "instance" / "config.json"
+    config_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config_file.write_text("{}")
+
+    config = Config()
+    seen: dict[str, Path] = {}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "nanobot.config.loader.set_config_path",
+        lambda path: seen.__setitem__("config_path", path),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda _path=None: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.paths.get_cron_dir", lambda: config_file.parent / "cron")
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.cli.commands.sync_workspace_templates", lambda _path: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.cli.commands._make_provider", lambda _config: object())
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.bus.queue.MessageBus", lambda: object())
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.cron.service.CronService", lambda _store: object())
+
+    class _FakeAgentLoop:
+        def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs) -> None:
+            pass
+
+        async def process_direct(self, *_args, **_kwargs) -> str:
+            return "ok"
+
+        async def close_mcp(self) -> None:
+            return None
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.agent.loop.AgentLoop", _FakeAgentLoop)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.cli.commands._print_agent_response", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: None)
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["agent", "-m", "hello", "-c", str(config_file)])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert seen["config_path"] == config_file.resolve()
+
+
+def test_agent_overrides_workspace_path(mock_agent_runtime):
+    workspace_path = Path("/tmp/agent-workspace")
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["agent", "-m", "hello", "-w", str(workspace_path)])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["config"].agents.defaults.workspace == str(workspace_path)
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["sync_templates"].call_args.args == (workspace_path,)
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["agent_loop_cls"].call_args.kwargs["workspace"] == workspace_path
+
+
+def test_agent_workspace_override_wins_over_config_workspace(mock_agent_runtime, tmp_path: Path):
+    config_path = tmp_path / "agent-config.json"
+    config_path.write_text("{}")
+    workspace_path = Path("/tmp/agent-workspace")
+
+    result = runner.invoke(
+        app,
+        ["agent", "-m", "hello", "-c", str(config_path), "-w", str(workspace_path)],
+    )
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["load_config"].call_args.args == (config_path.resolve(),)
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["config"].agents.defaults.workspace == str(workspace_path)
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["sync_templates"].call_args.args == (workspace_path,)
+    assert mock_agent_runtime["agent_loop_cls"].call_args.kwargs["workspace"] == workspace_path
+
+
 def test_gateway_uses_workspace_from_config_by_default(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     config_file = tmp_path / "instance" / "config.json"
     config_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
@@ -147,7 +280,7 @@ def test_gateway_uses_workspace_from_config_by_default(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Pa
         "nanobot.config.loader.set_config_path",
         lambda path: seen.__setitem__("config_path", path),
     )
-    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda _path=None: config)
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "nanobot.cli.commands.sync_workspace_templates",
         lambda path: seen.__setitem__("workspace", path),
@@ -175,7 +308,7 @@ def test_gateway_workspace_option_overrides_config(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path)
     seen: dict[str, Path] = {}
 
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.set_config_path", lambda _path: None)
-    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda _path=None: config)
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "nanobot.cli.commands.sync_workspace_templates",
         lambda path: seen.__setitem__("workspace", path),
@@ -205,7 +338,7 @@ def test_gateway_uses_config_directory_for_cron_store(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Pat
     seen: dict[str, Path] = {}
 
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.set_config_path", lambda _path: None)
-    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda _path=None: config)
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.paths.get_cron_dir", lambda: config_file.parent / "cron")
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.cli.commands.sync_workspace_templates", lambda _path: None)
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.cli.commands._make_provider", lambda _config: object())