diff --git a/internal/executor/executor.go b/internal/executor/executor.go
index a15c9772..2e01495f 100644
--- a/internal/executor/executor.go
+++ b/internal/executor/executor.go
@@ -1688,6 +1688,28 @@ func SendKeyToPane(taskID int64, keys ...string) error {
 	return exec.Command("tmux", args...).Run()
 }
 
+// SendLiteralTextToPane sends literal text (using tmux -l flag) followed by Enter
+// to a task's executor tmux pane. Unlike SendKeyToPane, this ensures the text is
+// never interpreted as a tmux key name (e.g. "Enter", "Escape", "Space").
+func SendLiteralTextToPane(taskID int64, text string) error {
+	sessionName := TmuxSessionName(taskID)
+
+	// Check if session exists first
+	if err := exec.Command("tmux", "has-session", "-t", sessionName).Run(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("session not found: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	target := sessionName + ".0"
+
+	// Send text literally (won't interpret key names)
+	if err := exec.Command("tmux", "send-keys", "-t", target, "-l", text).Run(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Send Enter as a key press
+	return exec.Command("tmux", "send-keys", "-t", target, "Enter").Run()
+}
+
 // KillAllWindowsByNameAllSessions kills ALL windows with a given name across all daemon sessions.
 // Also kills any -shell variant windows.
 func KillAllWindowsByNameAllSessions(windowName string) {
diff --git a/internal/ui/app.go b/internal/ui/app.go
index 6edc2658..d1d58e8d 100644
--- a/internal/ui/app.go
+++ b/internal/ui/app.go
@@ -4216,7 +4216,7 @@ func (m *AppModel) denyExecutorPrompt(taskID int64) tea.Cmd {
 func (m *AppModel) sendTextToExecutor(taskID int64, text string) tea.Cmd {
 	database := m.db
 	return func() tea.Msg {
-		err := executor.SendKeyToPane(taskID, text, "Enter")
+		err := executor.SendLiteralTextToPane(taskID, text)
 		if err == nil {
 			database.AppendTaskLog(taskID, "user", fmt.Sprintf("Replied from kanban: %s", text))
 		}
diff --git a/internal/ui/app_test.go b/internal/ui/app_test.go
index 34ed2efb..4e4c2601 100644
--- a/internal/ui/app_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/app_test.go
@@ -1866,6 +1866,81 @@ func TestQuickInput_EmptyEnterUnfocuses(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestQuickInput_EnterWithTextSendsAndUnfocuses verifies pressing Enter with text
+// unfocuses quick input and produces a command (the sendTextToExecutor tea.Cmd).
+func TestQuickInput_EnterWithTextSendsAndUnfocuses(t *testing.T) {
+	replyInput := textinput.New()
+	replyInput.CharLimit = 200
+	replyInput.Focus()
+	replyInput.SetValue("hello world")
+
+	kanban := NewKanbanBoard(100, 50)
+	task := &db.Task{ID: 42, Title: "Test task", Status: db.StatusBlocked}
+	kanban.SetTasks([]*db.Task{task})
+	kanban.SelectTask(42)
+
+	m := &AppModel{
+		width:             100,
+		height:            50,
+		currentView:       ViewDashboard,
+		keys:              DefaultKeyMap(),
+		quickInputFocused: true,
+		replyInput:        replyInput,
+		tasksNeedingInput: map[int64]bool{42: true},
+		questionPrompts:   make(map[int64]bool),
+		executorPrompts:   make(map[int64]string),
+		kanban:            kanban,
+	}
+
+	result, cmd := m.Update(tea.KeyMsg{Type: tea.KeyEnter})
+	model := result.(*AppModel)
+
+	if model.quickInputFocused {
+		t.Error("quickInputFocused should be false after pressing Enter with text")
+	}
+	if model.replyInput.Value() != "" {
+		t.Error("replyInput should be cleared after sending")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Error("expected a command to be returned for sending text to executor")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestQuickInput_EnterWithTextNoSelectedTask verifies pressing Enter with text
+// but no selected task gracefully unfocuses without crashing.
+func TestQuickInput_EnterWithTextNoSelectedTask(t *testing.T) {
+	replyInput := textinput.New()
+	replyInput.CharLimit = 200
+	replyInput.Focus()
+	replyInput.SetValue("some text")
+
+	kanban := NewKanbanBoard(100, 50)
+	// No tasks set - SelectedTask() returns nil
+
+	m := &AppModel{
+		width:             100,
+		height:            50,
+		currentView:       ViewDashboard,
+		keys:              DefaultKeyMap(),
+		quickInputFocused: true,
+		replyInput:        replyInput,
+		tasksNeedingInput: make(map[int64]bool),
+		questionPrompts:   make(map[int64]bool),
+		executorPrompts:   make(map[int64]string),
+		kanban:            kanban,
+	}
+
+	result, _ := m.Update(tea.KeyMsg{Type: tea.KeyEnter})
+	model := result.(*AppModel)
+
+	if model.quickInputFocused {
+		t.Error("quickInputFocused should be false even without a selected task")
+	}
+	if model.replyInput.Value() != "" {
+		t.Error("replyInput should be cleared")
+	}
+}
+
 // TestQuickInput_TabIgnoredWithoutBlockedTask verifies Tab does nothing
 // when the selected task doesn't need input.
 func TestQuickInput_TabIgnoredWithoutBlockedTask(t *testing.T) {