[BUG] `AskUserQuestion` Steals Focus and Triggers Unintended Selection

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

In Claude Code (VSCode/Cursor IDE integration), when the agent invokes AskUserQuestion, the response prompt forcibly captures keyboard focus without any user action. If the user is actively typing — either in an open file or composing a follow-up message in the input queue — the next keystroke is interpreted as a response selection, triggering an unintended option pick.

Actual Behavior

• Focus is immediately and silently captured on prompt render.
• Any in-flight keystrokes select and confirm an option unintentionally.
• The user must stop execution, instruct the agent to revert, and re-answer the question — losing flow and context.

Impact

High. Interrupts active editing, causes incorrect agent decisions, and requires manual session recovery. Particularly disruptive during longer agentic runs where the user continues working while the agent processes.

What Should Happen?

Expected Behavior

• The AskUserQuestion prompt should appear visually and notify the user (e.g. via a badge, sound, or highlight) without stealing keyboard focus.
• The user should be required to explicitly click into or tab to the prompt before keystrokes are interpreted as selections.

Suggested Fix / Feature Request

• Do not auto-focus the AskUserQuestion input on render.
• Visually indicate the pending question (e.g. pulsing border, status bar notification) and wait for deliberate user focus before accepting keyboard input.
• Optionally: add a short grace period (e.g. 500ms) before enabling keystroke capture, to absorb in-flight input.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start an agentic session that will call AskUserQuestion at some point.
2. While the agent is processing, begin typing in an open editor tab or the message input field.
3. Observe that when AskUserQuestion renders, keyboard focus is immediately captured by the selection prompt.
4. The next character typed (e.g. a letter or number) selects a response option and submits it.

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.56 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Cursor

Additional Information

_No response_