diff --git a/nanobot/agent/loop.py b/nanobot/agent/loop.py
index 50f6ec2..7b9317c 100644
--- a/nanobot/agent/loop.py
+++ b/nanobot/agent/loop.py
@@ -240,9 +240,12 @@ class AgentLoop:
                 )
                 try:
                     response = await self._process_message(msg)
-                    await self.bus.publish_outbound(response or OutboundMessage(
-                        channel=msg.channel, chat_id=msg.chat_id, content="",
-                    ))
+                    if response is not None:
+                        await self.bus.publish_outbound(response)
+                    elif msg.channel == "cli":
+                        await self.bus.publish_outbound(OutboundMessage(
+                            channel=msg.channel, chat_id=msg.chat_id, content="", metadata=msg.metadata or {},
+                        ))
                 except Exception as e:
                     logger.error("Error processing message: {}", e)
                     await self.bus.publish_outbound(OutboundMessage(