diff --git a/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts b/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts
index b9a2dd728..2d8a3d832 100644
--- a/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts
+++ b/src/features/background-agent/manager.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,18 @@ export class BackgroundManager {
 
     log("[background-agent] Task queued:", { taskId: task.id, key, queueLength: queue.length })
 
+    const toastManager = getTaskToastManager()
+    if (toastManager) {
+      toastManager.addTask({
+        id: task.id,
+        description: input.description,
+        agent: input.agent,
+        isBackground: true,
+        status: "queued",
+        skills: input.skills,
+      })
+    }
+
     // Trigger processing (fire-and-forget)
     this.processKey(key)
 
@@ -227,13 +239,7 @@ export class BackgroundManager {
 
     const toastManager = getTaskToastManager()
     if (toastManager) {
-      toastManager.addTask({
-        id: task.id,
-        description: input.description,
-        agent: input.agent,
-        isBackground: true,
-        skills: input.skills,
-      })
+      toastManager.updateTask(task.id, "running")
     }
 
     log("[background-agent] Calling prompt (fire-and-forget) for launch with:", {
diff --git a/src/features/task-toast-manager/manager.ts b/src/features/task-toast-manager/manager.ts
index d993e9d06..102946d68 100644
--- a/src/features/task-toast-manager/manager.ts
+++ b/src/features/task-toast-manager/manager.ts
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ export class TaskToastManager {
       for (const task of queued) {
         const bgIcon = task.isBackground ? "⏳" : "⏸️"
         const skillsInfo = task.skills?.length ? ` [${task.skills.join(", ")}]` : ""
-        lines.push(`${bgIcon} ${task.description} (${task.agent})${skillsInfo}`)
+        const isNew = task.id === newTask.id ? " ← NEW" : ""
+        lines.push(`${bgIcon} ${task.description} (${task.agent})${skillsInfo} - Queued${isNew}`)
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/tools/background-task/tools.ts b/src/tools/background-task/tools.ts
index 76b048f23..8e7abaa8d 100644
--- a/src/tools/background-task/tools.ts
+++ b/src/tools/background-task/tools.ts
@@ -128,7 +128,14 @@ function truncateText(text: string, maxLength: number): string {
 }
 
 function formatTaskStatus(task: BackgroundTask): string {
-  const duration = formatDuration(task.startedAt, task.completedAt)
+  let duration: string
+  if (task.status === "pending" && task.queuedAt) {
+    duration = formatDuration(task.queuedAt, undefined)
+  } else if (task.startedAt) {
+    duration = formatDuration(task.startedAt, task.completedAt)
+  } else {
+    duration = "N/A"
+  }
   const promptPreview = truncateText(task.prompt, 500)
   
   let progressSection = ""
@@ -152,7 +159,11 @@ ${truncated}
   }
 
   let statusNote = ""
-  if (task.status === "running") {
+  if (task.status === "pending") {
+    statusNote = `
+
+> **Queued**: Task is waiting for a concurrency slot to become available.`
+  } else if (task.status === "running") {
     statusNote = `
 
 > **Note**: No need to wait explicitly - the system will notify you when this task completes.`
@@ -162,6 +173,8 @@ ${truncated}
 > **Failed**: The task encountered an error. Check the last message for details.`
   }
 
+  const durationLabel = task.status === "pending" ? "Queued for" : "Duration"
+
   return `# Task Status
 
 | Field | Value |
@@ -170,7 +183,7 @@ ${truncated}
 | Description | ${task.description} |
 | Agent | ${task.agent} |
 | Status | **${task.status}** |
-| Duration | ${duration} |
+| ${durationLabel} | ${duration} |
 | Session ID | \`${task.sessionID}\` |${progressSection}
 ${statusNote}
 ## Original Prompt