diff --git a/src/channels/adapter.ts b/src/channels/adapter.ts
index 82247a1..a2a7069 100644
--- a/src/channels/adapter.ts
+++ b/src/channels/adapter.ts
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ export interface ChannelAdapter {
   // Optional
   setTyping?(platformId: string, threadId: string | null): Promise<void>;
   syncConversations?(): Promise<ConversationInfo[]>;
+  resolveChannelName?(platformId: string): Promise<string | null>;
 
   /**
    * Subscribe the bot to a thread so follow-up messages route via the
diff --git a/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.test.ts b/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.test.ts
index da992d2..a2e6690 100644
--- a/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.test.ts
+++ b/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.test.ts
@@ -153,8 +153,10 @@ describe('unknown-channel registration flow', () => {
     expect(kind).toBe('chat-sdk');
     const payload = JSON.parse(content as string);
     expect(payload.type).toBe('ask_question');
-    // Card names the target agent so the owner knows what they're wiring to.
-    expect(payload.question).toContain('Andy');
+    // Single-agent card offers a direct "Connect to <name>" button.
+    const connectOption = payload.options.find((o: { value: string }) => o.value.startsWith('connect:'));
+    expect(connectOption).toBeDefined();
+    expect(connectOption.label).toContain('Andy');
 
     const { getDb } = await import('../../db/connection.js');
     const rows = getDb().prepare('SELECT * FROM pending_channel_approvals').all() as Array<{
@@ -202,11 +204,11 @@ describe('unknown-channel registration flow', () => {
     };
     expect(pending).toBeDefined();
 
-    // Owner clicks approve.
+    // Owner clicks "Connect to Andy" (single-agent card).
     for (const handler of getResponseHandlers()) {
       const claimed = await handler({
         questionId: pending.messaging_group_id,
-        value: 'approve',
+        value: 'connect:ag-1',
         userId: 'owner', // raw platform id — handler namespaces it
         channelType: 'telegram',
         platformId: 'dm-owner',
@@ -215,7 +217,7 @@ describe('unknown-channel registration flow', () => {
       if (claimed) break;
     }
 
-    // Wiring created with MVP defaults.
+    // Wiring created with defaults.
     const mga = getDb()
       .prepare('SELECT * FROM messaging_group_agents WHERE messaging_group_id = ?')
       .get(pending.messaging_group_id) as {
@@ -261,7 +263,7 @@ describe('unknown-channel registration flow', () => {
     for (const handler of getResponseHandlers()) {
       const claimed = await handler({
         questionId: pending.messaging_group_id,
-        value: 'approve',
+        value: 'connect:ag-1',
         userId: 'owner',
         channelType: 'telegram',
         platformId: 'dm-owner',
diff --git a/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts b/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts
index 8ab41bc..6127cea 100644
--- a/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts
+++ b/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts
@@ -5,24 +5,32 @@
  * addressed to the bot (SDK-confirmed mention or DM), it calls
  * `requestChannelApproval` instead of silently dropping. The flow:
  *
- *   1. Pick the target agent group we'd wire to (MVP: first by name).
- *      Multi-agent picker is a follow-up — see ACTION-ITEMS.
+ *   1. Gather all existing agent groups.
  *   2. Pick an eligible approver (owner / admin) and a reachable DM for
  *      them, reusing the same primitives the sender-approval flow uses.
- *   3. Deliver an Approve / Ignore card that names the target agent
- *      explicitly so the owner knows what they're wiring to.
+ *   3. Deliver a card with three action families:
+ *        a. Connect to [agent] — one button per existing agent group.
+ *           Single-agent installs get a one-click connect.
+ *        b. Connect new agent — prompts for a free-text name, creates
+ *           the agent immediately on reply.
+ *        c. Reject — deny the channel.
  *   4. Record a `pending_channel_approvals` row holding the original event
- *      so it can be re-routed on approve.
+ *      so it can be re-routed on connect/create.
  *
- * On approve (handler in index.ts):
- *   - Create `messaging_group_agents` with MVP defaults
+ * On connect (handler in index.ts):
+ *   - Create `messaging_group_agents` with defaults
  *     (mention-sticky for groups / pattern='.' for DMs,
  *      sender_scope='known', ignored_message_policy='accumulate')
  *   - Add the triggering sender to `agent_group_members` so sender_scope
  *     doesn't bounce the replayed message into a sender-approval cascade
  *   - Delete the pending row, replay the original event
  *
- * On ignore:
+ * On connect new agent (handler in index.ts):
+ *   - Prompt for a free-text agent name via DM
+ *   - On reply: create the agent group + filesystem, then wire
+ *     and replay as above
+ *
+ * On reject:
  *   - Set `messaging_groups.denied_at = now()` so the router stops
  *     escalating on this channel until an admin explicitly re-wires
  *   - Delete the pending row
@@ -36,19 +44,81 @@
  *   - Approver has no reachable DM.
  *   - Delivery adapter missing.
  */
-import { normalizeOptions, type RawOption } from '../../channels/ask-question.js';
-import { getAllAgentGroups } from '../../db/agent-groups.js';
-import { getMessagingGroup } from '../../db/messaging-groups.js';
+import { normalizeOptions, type NormalizedOption, type RawOption } from '../../channels/ask-question.js';
+import { createAgentGroup, getAgentGroup, getAgentGroupByFolder, getAllAgentGroups } from '../../db/agent-groups.js';
+import { getChannelAdapter } from '../../channels/channel-registry.js';
+import { getMessagingGroup, updateMessagingGroup } from '../../db/messaging-groups.js';
 import { getDeliveryAdapter } from '../../delivery.js';
+import { initGroupFilesystem } from '../../group-init.js';
 import { log } from '../../log.js';
 import type { InboundEvent } from '../../channels/adapter.js';
+import type { AgentGroup } from '../../types.js';
 import { pickApprovalDelivery, pickApprover } from '../approvals/primitive.js';
 import { createPendingChannelApproval, hasInFlightChannelApproval } from './db/pending-channel-approvals.js';
 
-const APPROVAL_OPTIONS: RawOption[] = [
-  { label: 'Approve', selectedLabel: '✅ Wired', value: 'approve' },
-  { label: 'Ignore', selectedLabel: '🙅 Ignored', value: 'reject' },
-];
+// ── Value constants (response handler in index.ts parses these) ──
+
+export const CONNECT_PREFIX = 'connect:';
+export const NEW_AGENT_VALUE = 'new_agent';
+export const CHOOSE_EXISTING_VALUE = 'choose_existing';
+export const REJECT_VALUE = 'reject';
+
+// ── Utilities ──
+
+function toFolder(name: string): string {
+  return (
+    name
+      .toLowerCase()
+      .replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, '-')
+      .replace(/^-+|-+$/g, '') || 'unnamed'
+  );
+}
+
+// ── Card builders ──
+
+function buildApprovalOptions(agentGroups: AgentGroup[]): RawOption[] {
+  const options: RawOption[] = [];
+  if (agentGroups.length === 1) {
+    options.push({
+      label: `Connect to ${agentGroups[0].name}`,
+      selectedLabel: `✅ Connected to ${agentGroups[0].name}`,
+      value: `${CONNECT_PREFIX}${agentGroups[0].id}`,
+    });
+  } else {
+    options.push({
+      label: 'Choose existing agent',
+      selectedLabel: '📋 Choosing…',
+      value: CHOOSE_EXISTING_VALUE,
+    });
+  }
+  options.push({
+    label: 'Connect new agent',
+    selectedLabel: '🆕 Connecting new agent…',
+    value: NEW_AGENT_VALUE,
+  });
+  options.push({
+    label: 'Reject',
+    selectedLabel: '🙅 Rejected',
+    value: REJECT_VALUE,
+  });
+  return options;
+}
+
+function buildQuestionText(
+  isGroup: boolean,
+  senderName: string | undefined,
+  channelName: string | null,
+  channelType: string,
+): string {
+  const who = senderName ?? 'Someone';
+  if (isGroup) {
+    const where = channelName ? `${channelName} on ${channelType}` : `a ${channelType} channel`;
+    return `${who} mentioned your bot in ${where}. How would you like to handle this channel?`;
+  }
+  return `${who} sent your bot a DM on ${channelType}. How would you like to handle it?`;
+}
+
+// ── Main flow ──
 
 export interface RequestChannelApprovalInput {
   messagingGroupId: string;
@@ -58,17 +128,11 @@ export interface RequestChannelApprovalInput {
 export async function requestChannelApproval(input: RequestChannelApprovalInput): Promise<void> {
   const { messagingGroupId, event } = input;
 
-  // In-flight dedup: don't spam the owner if the same unwired channel
-  // gets more mentions / DMs while a card is already pending.
   if (hasInFlightChannelApproval(messagingGroupId)) {
-    log.debug('Channel registration already in flight — dropping retry', {
-      messagingGroupId,
-    });
+    log.debug('Channel registration already in flight — dropping retry', { messagingGroupId });
     return;
   }
 
-  // MVP: pick the first agent group by name. Multi-agent systems will get
-  // a richer card later (user picks the target from a list).
   const agentGroups = getAllAgentGroups();
   if (agentGroups.length === 0) {
     log.warn('Channel registration skipped — no agent groups configured. Run /init-first-agent.', {
@@ -76,55 +140,65 @@ export async function requestChannelApproval(input: RequestChannelApprovalInput)
     });
     return;
   }
-  const target = agentGroups[0];
+  // Use first agent group for approver resolution — owners and global admins
+  // are returned regardless of which group we pass.
+  const referenceGroup = agentGroups[0];
 
-  // pickApprover takes the target agent group's id — gets scoped admins +
-  // global admins + owners. For fresh installs with only an owner, the
-  // owner is returned.
-  const approvers = pickApprover(target.id);
+  const approvers = pickApprover(referenceGroup.id);
   if (approvers.length === 0) {
     log.warn('Channel registration skipped — no owner or admin configured', {
       messagingGroupId,
-      targetAgentGroupId: target.id,
+      targetAgentGroupId: referenceGroup.id,
     });
     return;
   }
 
   const originMg = getMessagingGroup(messagingGroupId);
   const originChannelType = originMg?.channel_type ?? '';
+
+  // Resolve channel name if not yet persisted.
+  if (originMg && !originMg.name) {
+    const channelAdapter = getChannelAdapter(originChannelType);
+    if (channelAdapter?.resolveChannelName) {
+      try {
+        const name = await channelAdapter.resolveChannelName(originMg.platform_id);
+        if (name) {
+          updateMessagingGroup(originMg.id, { name });
+          originMg.name = name;
+        }
+      } catch {
+        /* non-critical */
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   const delivery = await pickApprovalDelivery(approvers, originChannelType);
   if (!delivery) {
     log.warn('Channel registration skipped — no DM channel for any approver', {
       messagingGroupId,
-      targetAgentGroupId: target.id,
+      targetAgentGroupId: referenceGroup.id,
     });
     return;
   }
 
   const isGroup = event.message?.isGroup ?? originMg?.is_group === 1;
 
-  // Extract sender name from the event content for a human-readable card.
   let senderName: string | undefined;
   try {
     const parsed = JSON.parse(event.message.content) as Record<string, unknown>;
     senderName = (parsed.senderName ?? parsed.sender) as string | undefined;
   } catch {
-    // non-critical — fall through to generic wording
+    // non-critical
   }
 
-  const title = isGroup ? '📣 Bot mentioned in new chat' : '💬 New direct message';
-  const question = isGroup
-    ? senderName
-      ? `${senderName} mentioned your agent in a ${originChannelType} channel. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it engage?`
-      : `Your agent was mentioned in a ${originChannelType} channel. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it engage?`
-    : senderName
-      ? `${senderName} DM'd your agent on ${originChannelType}. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it respond?`
-      : `Someone DM'd your agent on ${originChannelType}. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it respond?`;
-  const options = normalizeOptions(APPROVAL_OPTIONS);
+  const channelName = originMg?.name ?? null;
+  const title = isGroup ? '📣 Bot mentioned in new channel' : '💬 New direct message';
+  const question = buildQuestionText(isGroup, senderName, channelName, originChannelType);
+  const options = normalizeOptions(buildApprovalOptions(agentGroups));
 
   createPendingChannelApproval({
     messaging_group_id: messagingGroupId,
-    agent_group_id: target.id,
+    agent_group_id: referenceGroup.id,
     original_message: JSON.stringify(event),
     approver_user_id: delivery.userId,
     created_at: new Date().toISOString(),
@@ -134,9 +208,7 @@ export async function requestChannelApproval(input: RequestChannelApprovalInput)
 
   const adapter = getDeliveryAdapter();
   if (!adapter) {
-    log.error('Channel registration row created but no delivery adapter is wired', {
-      messagingGroupId,
-    });
+    log.error('Channel registration row created but no delivery adapter is wired', { messagingGroupId });
     return;
   }
 
@@ -148,9 +220,6 @@ export async function requestChannelApproval(input: RequestChannelApprovalInput)
       'chat-sdk',
       JSON.stringify({
         type: 'ask_question',
-        // Use messaging_group_id as the questionId — it's unique per card
-        // (PK on pending table dedups) and lets the response handler look
-        // up the pending row directly without another index.
         questionId: messagingGroupId,
         title,
         question,
@@ -159,16 +228,56 @@ export async function requestChannelApproval(input: RequestChannelApprovalInput)
     );
     log.info('Channel registration card delivered', {
       messagingGroupId,
-      targetAgentGroupId: target.id,
+      agentGroupCount: agentGroups.length,
       approver: delivery.userId,
     });
   } catch (err) {
-    log.error('Channel registration card delivery failed', {
-      messagingGroupId,
-      err,
-    });
+    log.error('Channel registration card delivery failed', { messagingGroupId, err });
   }
 }
 
-export const APPROVE_VALUE = 'approve';
-export const REJECT_VALUE = 'reject';
+// ── Helpers for the response handler (index.ts) ──
+
+/**
+ * Build normalized options for the agent-selection follow-up card.
+ */
+export function buildAgentSelectionOptions(agentGroups: AgentGroup[]): NormalizedOption[] {
+  const options: RawOption[] = agentGroups.map((ag) => ({
+    label: ag.name,
+    selectedLabel: `✅ Connected to ${ag.name}`,
+    value: `${CONNECT_PREFIX}${ag.id}`,
+  }));
+  options.push({
+    label: 'Cancel',
+    selectedLabel: '🙅 Cancelled',
+    value: REJECT_VALUE,
+  });
+  return normalizeOptions(options);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a new agent group and initialize its filesystem. Handles
+ * folder-name collisions with numeric suffixes.
+ */
+export function createNewAgentGroup(name: string): AgentGroup {
+  let folder = toFolder(name);
+  const baseFolder = folder;
+  let suffix = 2;
+  while (getAgentGroupByFolder(folder)) {
+    folder = `${baseFolder}-${suffix}`;
+    suffix++;
+  }
+
+  const agId = `ag-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 8)}`;
+  createAgentGroup({
+    id: agId,
+    name,
+    folder,
+    agent_provider: null,
+    created_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+  });
+
+  const ag = getAgentGroup(agId)!;
+  initGroupFilesystem(ag);
+  return ag;
+}
diff --git a/src/modules/permissions/db/pending-channel-approvals.ts b/src/modules/permissions/db/pending-channel-approvals.ts
index d402074..24f7209 100644
--- a/src/modules/permissions/db/pending-channel-approvals.ts
+++ b/src/modules/permissions/db/pending-channel-approvals.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ export function hasInFlightChannelApproval(messagingGroupId: string): boolean {
   return row !== undefined;
 }
 
+export function updatePendingChannelApprovalCard(messagingGroupId: string, title: string, optionsJson: string): void {
+  getDb()
+    .prepare('UPDATE pending_channel_approvals SET title = ?, options_json = ? WHERE messaging_group_id = ?')
+    .run(title, optionsJson, messagingGroupId);
+}
+
 export function deletePendingChannelApproval(messagingGroupId: string): void {
   getDb().prepare('DELETE FROM pending_channel_approvals WHERE messaging_group_id = ?').run(messagingGroupId);
 }
diff --git a/src/modules/permissions/index.ts b/src/modules/permissions/index.ts
index 83390d8..98a9463 100644
--- a/src/modules/permissions/index.ts
+++ b/src/modules/permissions/index.ts
@@ -16,27 +16,53 @@
  * access gate is not registered and core defaults to allow-all.
  */
 import { recordDroppedMessage } from '../../db/dropped-messages.js';
+import { getAgentGroup, getAllAgentGroups } from '../../db/agent-groups.js';
 import { createMessagingGroupAgent, setMessagingGroupDeniedAt } from '../../db/messaging-groups.js';
 import {
   routeInbound,
   setAccessGate,
   setChannelRequestGate,
+  setMessageInterceptor,
   setSenderResolver,
   setSenderScopeGate,
   type AccessGateResult,
 } from '../../router.js';
 import type { InboundEvent } from '../../channels/adapter.js';
 import { registerResponseHandler, type ResponsePayload } from '../../response-registry.js';
+import { getDeliveryAdapter } from '../../delivery.js';
 import { log } from '../../log.js';
 import type { MessagingGroup, MessagingGroupAgent } from '../../types.js';
 import { canAccessAgentGroup } from './access.js';
-import { requestChannelApproval } from './channel-approval.js';
+import {
+  buildAgentSelectionOptions,
+  CHOOSE_EXISTING_VALUE,
+  CONNECT_PREFIX,
+  createNewAgentGroup,
+  NEW_AGENT_VALUE,
+  REJECT_VALUE,
+  requestChannelApproval,
+} from './channel-approval.js';
 import { addMember } from './db/agent-group-members.js';
-import { deletePendingChannelApproval, getPendingChannelApproval } from './db/pending-channel-approvals.js';
+import {
+  deletePendingChannelApproval,
+  getPendingChannelApproval,
+  updatePendingChannelApprovalCard,
+} from './db/pending-channel-approvals.js';
 import { deletePendingSenderApproval, getPendingSenderApproval } from './db/pending-sender-approvals.js';
 import { hasAdminPrivilege } from './db/user-roles.js';
 import { getUser, upsertUser } from './db/users.js';
 import { requestSenderApproval } from './sender-approval.js';
+import { ensureUserDm } from './user-dm.js';
+
+// ── Free-text name input state ──
+// Tracks approvers waiting for a text reply with the agent name. Keyed by
+// namespaced userId (e.g. "slack:U0ABC"). Cleared on receipt or restart.
+interface PendingNameInput {
+  channelMgId: string;
+  dmChannelType: string;
+  dmPlatformId: string;
+}
+const awaitingNameInput = new Map<string, PendingNameInput>();
 
 function extractAndUpsertUser(event: InboundEvent): string | null {
   let content: Record<string, unknown>;
@@ -271,22 +297,17 @@ setChannelRequestGate(async (mg, event) => {
  * by messaging_group_id). If no such row, return false so downstream
  * handlers get a shot.
  *
- * Approve: create the wiring with MVP defaults (mention-sticky for
- * groups / pattern='.' for DMs; sender_scope='known';
- * ignored_message_policy='accumulate'), add the triggering sender as a
- * member so sender_scope doesn't immediately bounce them into a
- * sender-approval card, then replay the original event.
- *
- * Deny: set `messaging_groups.denied_at = now()` so future mentions on
- * this channel drop silently until an admin explicitly wires it.
+ * Value dispatch:
+ *   connect:<id>    — wire to an existing agent group, replay the message
+ *   choose_existing — send a follow-up card listing all agents
+ *   new_agent       — prompt for a free-text agent name (interceptor
+ *                     captures the reply and creates immediately)
+ *   reject          — set denied_at, delete pending row
  */
 async function handleChannelApprovalResponse(payload: ResponsePayload): Promise<boolean> {
   const row = getPendingChannelApproval(payload.questionId);
   if (!row) return false;
 
-  // Click-auth: same pattern as sender-approval (see commit 68058cb).
-  // Raw platform userId → namespace with channelType → must match the
-  // designated approver OR have admin privilege over the target agent.
   const clickerId = payload.userId ? `${payload.channelType}:${payload.userId}` : null;
   const isAuthorized =
     clickerId !== null && (clickerId === row.approver_user_id || hasAdminPrivilege(clickerId, row.agent_group_id));
@@ -296,25 +317,129 @@ async function handleChannelApprovalResponse(payload: ResponsePayload): Promise<
       clickerId,
       expectedApprover: row.approver_user_id,
     });
-    return true; // claim but take no action
+    return true;
   }
   const approverId = clickerId;
-  const approved = payload.value === 'approve';
 
-  if (!approved) {
+  // ── Reject / Cancel ──
+  if (payload.value === REJECT_VALUE) {
     setMessagingGroupDeniedAt(row.messaging_group_id, new Date().toISOString());
     deletePendingChannelApproval(row.messaging_group_id);
     log.info('Channel registration denied', {
       messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
-      agentGroupId: row.agent_group_id,
       approverId,
     });
     return true;
   }
 
-  // Rehydrate the original event to know (a) whether it was a DM or group
-  // (chooses engage_mode default), and (b) who the triggering sender was
-  // (auto-member-add so sender_scope='known' doesn't bounce the replay).
+  // ── Choose existing agent — send agent-selection follow-up card ──
+  if (payload.value === CHOOSE_EXISTING_VALUE) {
+    const approverDm = await ensureUserDm(row.approver_user_id);
+    if (!approverDm) {
+      log.error('Channel registration: no DM channel for approver', {
+        messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+        approverUserId: row.approver_user_id,
+      });
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    const adapter = getDeliveryAdapter();
+    if (!adapter) return true;
+
+    const agentGroups = getAllAgentGroups();
+    const options = buildAgentSelectionOptions(agentGroups);
+    const title = '📋 Choose an agent';
+    updatePendingChannelApprovalCard(row.messaging_group_id, title, JSON.stringify(options));
+
+    try {
+      await adapter.deliver(
+        approverDm.channel_type,
+        approverDm.platform_id,
+        null,
+        'chat-sdk',
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: 'ask_question',
+          questionId: row.messaging_group_id,
+          title,
+          question: 'Which agent should handle this channel?',
+          options,
+        }),
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      log.error('Channel registration: agent-selection card delivery failed', {
+        messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+        err,
+      });
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // ── Create new agent — prompt for free-text name ──
+  if (payload.value === NEW_AGENT_VALUE) {
+    const approverDm = await ensureUserDm(row.approver_user_id);
+    if (!approverDm) {
+      log.error('Channel registration: no DM channel for approver', {
+        messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+        approverUserId: row.approver_user_id,
+      });
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    const adapter = getDeliveryAdapter();
+    if (!adapter) {
+      log.error('Channel registration: no delivery adapter for name prompt', {
+        messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+      });
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    awaitingNameInput.set(row.approver_user_id, {
+      channelMgId: row.messaging_group_id,
+      dmChannelType: approverDm.channel_type,
+      dmPlatformId: approverDm.platform_id,
+    });
+
+    try {
+      await adapter.deliver(
+        approverDm.channel_type,
+        approverDm.platform_id,
+        null,
+        'chat-sdk',
+        JSON.stringify({ text: 'Reply with the name for your new agent:' }),
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      log.error('Channel registration: name prompt delivery failed', {
+        messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+        err,
+      });
+      awaitingNameInput.delete(row.approver_user_id);
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // ── Resolve target agent group (connect to existing or create new) ──
+  let targetAgentGroupId: string;
+
+  if (payload.value.startsWith(CONNECT_PREFIX)) {
+    targetAgentGroupId = payload.value.slice(CONNECT_PREFIX.length);
+    const ag = getAgentGroup(targetAgentGroupId);
+    if (!ag) {
+      log.error('Channel registration: target agent group no longer exists', {
+        messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+        targetAgentGroupId,
+      });
+      deletePendingChannelApproval(row.messaging_group_id);
+      return true;
+    }
+  } else {
+    log.warn('Channel registration: unknown response value', {
+      messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+      value: payload.value,
+    });
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // ── Wire + replay (shared path for connect and create) ──
   let event: InboundEvent;
   try {
     event = JSON.parse(row.original_message) as InboundEvent;
@@ -327,15 +452,6 @@ async function handleChannelApprovalResponse(payload: ResponsePayload): Promise<
     return true;
   }
 
-  // Decide engage_mode from the original event. DMs (`isMention=true` &
-  // not in a group) get `pattern='.'` (always respond). Group mentions
-  // get `mention-sticky` (respond now + follow the thread).
-  //
-  // We can't read `mg.is_group` reliably here because we only auto-create
-  // the mg with `is_group=0` on first sight — the adapter hasn't told us
-  // yet whether it's actually a group. Fall back to the InboundEvent's
-  // `threadId`: a non-null threadId implies a threaded platform (Slack
-  // channel thread, Discord thread), which we treat as a group.
   const isGroup = event.threadId !== null;
   const engageMode: MessagingGroupAgent['engage_mode'] = isGroup ? 'mention-sticky' : 'pattern';
   const engagePattern = isGroup ? null : '.';
@@ -344,7 +460,7 @@ async function handleChannelApprovalResponse(payload: ResponsePayload): Promise<
   createMessagingGroupAgent({
     id: mgaId,
     messaging_group_id: row.messaging_group_id,
-    agent_group_id: row.agent_group_id,
+    agent_group_id: targetAgentGroupId,
     engage_mode: engageMode,
     engage_pattern: engagePattern,
     sender_scope: 'known',
@@ -355,28 +471,22 @@ async function handleChannelApprovalResponse(payload: ResponsePayload): Promise<
   });
   log.info('Channel registration approved — wiring created', {
     messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
-    agentGroupId: row.agent_group_id,
+    agentGroupId: targetAgentGroupId,
     mgaId,
     engageMode,
     approverId,
   });
 
-  // Auto-admit the triggering sender. Without this, the replay below
-  // would bounce through sender-approval (sender_scope='known' +
-  // sender-is-not-a-member).
   const senderUserId = extractAndUpsertUser(event);
   if (senderUserId) {
     addMember({
       user_id: senderUserId,
-      agent_group_id: row.agent_group_id,
+      agent_group_id: targetAgentGroupId,
       added_by: approverId,
       added_at: new Date().toISOString(),
     });
   }
 
-  // Clear the pending row BEFORE replay so the gate check on the second
-  // attempt sees a wired channel (agentCount > 0) and takes the fan-out
-  // path normally.
   deletePendingChannelApproval(row.messaging_group_id);
 
   try {
@@ -391,3 +501,117 @@ async function handleChannelApprovalResponse(payload: ResponsePayload): Promise<
 }
 
 registerResponseHandler(handleChannelApprovalResponse);
+
+// ── Free-text name interceptor ──
+// Captures the next DM from an approver who clicked "Create new agent",
+// creates the agent immediately, wires the channel, and replays.
+
+setMessageInterceptor(async (event: InboundEvent): Promise<boolean> => {
+  const userId = extractAndUpsertUser(event);
+  if (!userId) return false;
+
+  const pending = awaitingNameInput.get(userId);
+  if (!pending) return false;
+  if (event.channelType !== pending.dmChannelType || event.platformId !== pending.dmPlatformId) return false;
+
+  awaitingNameInput.delete(userId);
+
+  let text: string | undefined;
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(event.message.content) as Record<string, unknown>;
+    text = (typeof parsed.text === 'string' ? parsed.text : undefined)?.trim();
+  } catch {
+    /* fall through */
+  }
+
+  if (!text) {
+    log.warn('Channel registration: empty name reply, ignoring', { userId });
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  const row = getPendingChannelApproval(pending.channelMgId);
+  if (!row) return true;
+
+  const ag = createNewAgentGroup(text);
+  log.info('Channel registration: new agent group created', {
+    messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+    agentGroupId: ag.id,
+    agentName: ag.name,
+    folder: ag.folder,
+  });
+
+  let originalEvent: InboundEvent;
+  try {
+    originalEvent = JSON.parse(row.original_message) as InboundEvent;
+  } catch (err) {
+    log.error('Channel registration: failed to parse stored event', {
+      messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+      err,
+    });
+    deletePendingChannelApproval(row.messaging_group_id);
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  const isGroup = originalEvent.threadId !== null;
+  const engageMode: MessagingGroupAgent['engage_mode'] = isGroup ? 'mention-sticky' : 'pattern';
+  const engagePattern = isGroup ? null : '.';
+
+  const mgaId = `mga-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 8)}`;
+  createMessagingGroupAgent({
+    id: mgaId,
+    messaging_group_id: row.messaging_group_id,
+    agent_group_id: ag.id,
+    engage_mode: engageMode,
+    engage_pattern: engagePattern,
+    sender_scope: 'known',
+    ignored_message_policy: 'accumulate',
+    session_mode: 'shared',
+    priority: 0,
+    created_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+  });
+  log.info('Channel registration approved — wiring created', {
+    messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+    agentGroupId: ag.id,
+    mgaId,
+    engageMode,
+    approverId: userId,
+  });
+
+  const senderUserId = extractAndUpsertUser(originalEvent);
+  if (senderUserId) {
+    addMember({
+      user_id: senderUserId,
+      agent_group_id: ag.id,
+      added_by: userId,
+      added_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+  }
+
+  deletePendingChannelApproval(row.messaging_group_id);
+
+  try {
+    await routeInbound(originalEvent);
+  } catch (err) {
+    log.error('Failed to replay message after channel approval', {
+      messagingGroupId: row.messaging_group_id,
+      err,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const adapter = getDeliveryAdapter();
+  if (adapter) {
+    const dm = await ensureUserDm(row.approver_user_id);
+    if (dm) {
+      adapter
+        .deliver(
+          dm.channel_type,
+          dm.platform_id,
+          null,
+          'chat-sdk',
+          JSON.stringify({ text: `✅ Agent "${ag.name}" created and connected.` }),
+        )
+        .catch(() => {});
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+});
diff --git a/src/router.ts b/src/router.ts
index 995496d..844041e 100644
--- a/src/router.ts
+++ b/src/router.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,20 @@ export function setSenderScopeGate(fn: SenderScopeGateFn): void {
   senderScopeGate = fn;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Message-interceptor hook. Runs at the very top of routeInbound, before
+ * messaging-group resolution. When the interceptor returns true the message
+ * is consumed and routing stops. Used by the permissions module to capture
+ * free-text replies during multi-step approval flows (e.g. agent naming).
+ */
+export type MessageInterceptorFn = (event: InboundEvent) => Promise<boolean>;
+
+let messageInterceptor: MessageInterceptorFn | null = null;
+
+export function setMessageInterceptor(fn: MessageInterceptorFn): void {
+  messageInterceptor = fn;
+}
+
 /**
  * Channel-registration hook. Runs when the router sees a mention/DM on a
  * messaging group that has no wirings AND hasn't been denied. The hook is
@@ -142,6 +156,10 @@ function safeParseContent(raw: string): { text?: string; sender?: string; sender
  * Creates messaging group + session if they don't exist yet.
  */
 export async function routeInbound(event: InboundEvent): Promise<void> {
+  // Pre-route interceptor — lets modules consume messages before any routing
+  // (e.g. free-text replies during multi-step approval flows).
+  if (messageInterceptor && (await messageInterceptor(event))) return;
+
   // 0. Apply the adapter's thread policy. Non-threaded adapters (Telegram,
   //    WhatsApp, iMessage, email) collapse threads to the channel.
   const adapter = getChannelAdapter(event.channelType);