diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__status_indicator_widget__tests__renders_with_queued_messages.snap b/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__status_indicator_widget__tests__renders_with_queued_messages.snap
index 0290eb69..7f2c267f 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__status_indicator_widget__tests__renders_with_queued_messages.snap
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__status_indicator_widget__tests__renders_with_queued_messages.snap
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ source: tui/src/status_indicator_widget.rs
 expression: terminal.backend()
 ---
 " Working (0s • Esc to interrupt)                                                "
+"                                                                                "
 " ↳ first                                                                        "
 " ↳ second                                                                       "
 "   ⌥↑ edit                                                                      "
 "                                                                                "
 "                                                                                "
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-"                                                                                "
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/status_indicator_widget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/status_indicator_widget.rs
index bf392b69..e3a1b854 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/status_indicator_widget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/status_indicator_widget.rs
@@ -63,10 +63,13 @@ impl StatusIndicatorWidget {
     }
 
     pub fn desired_height(&self, width: u16) -> u16 {
-        // Status line + wrapped queued messages (up to 3 lines per message)
+        // Status line + optional blank line + wrapped queued messages (up to 3 lines per message)
         // + optional ellipsis line per truncated message + 1 spacer line
         let inner_width = width.max(1) as usize;
         let mut total: u16 = 1; // status line
+        if !self.queued_messages.is_empty() {
+            total = total.saturating_add(1); // blank line between status and queued messages
+        }
         let text_width = inner_width.saturating_sub(3); // account for " ↳ " prefix
         if text_width > 0 {
             for q in &self.queued_messages {
@@ -168,6 +171,9 @@ impl WidgetRef for StatusIndicatorWidget {
         // Build lines: status, then queued messages, then spacer.
         let mut lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = Vec::new();
         lines.push(Line::from(spans));
+        if !self.queued_messages.is_empty() {
+            lines.push(Line::from(""));
+        }
         // Wrap queued messages using textwrap and show up to the first 3 lines per message.
         let text_width = area.width.saturating_sub(3); // " ↳ " prefix
         for q in &self.queued_messages {