diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index 3ef9415c..626c61c7 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Fixed first user messages rendering without spacing after existing notices such as compaction summaries or status messages ([#3613](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/3613))
 - Fixed the handoff extension example to use the replacement-session context after creating a new session, avoiding stale `ctx` errors when it installs the generated prompt ([#3606](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/3606))
 - Fixed session replacement and `/quit` teardown ordering to run host-owned extension UI cleanup synchronously after `session_shutdown` handlers complete but before invalidating the old extension context, preventing stale extension UI from rendering against a disposed session.
 - Fixed crash on `/quit` when an extension registers a custom footer whose `render()` accesses `ctx`, by tearing down extension-provided UI before invalidating the extension runner during shutdown ([#3595](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/3595))
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
index 57c21e33..9cd858ed 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
@@ -279,9 +279,6 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 	// Tool execution tracking: toolCallId -> component
 	private pendingTools = new Map<string, ToolExecutionComponent>();
 
-	// Track first user message to avoid leading spacer at top of chat
-	private isFirstUserMessage = true;
-
 	// Tool output expansion state
 	private toolOutputExpanded = false;
 
@@ -3035,7 +3032,7 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 			case "user": {
 				const textContent = this.getUserMessageText(message);
 				if (textContent) {
-					if (!this.isFirstUserMessage) {
+					if (this.chatContainer.children.length > 0) {
 						this.chatContainer.addChild(new Spacer(1));
 					}
 					const skillBlock = parseSkillBlock(textContent);
@@ -3059,7 +3056,6 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 						const userComponent = new UserMessageComponent(textContent, this.getMarkdownThemeWithSettings());
 						this.chatContainer.addChild(userComponent);
 					}
-					this.isFirstUserMessage = false;
 					if (options?.populateHistory) {
 						this.editor.addToHistory?.(textContent);
 					}
@@ -3097,7 +3093,6 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 		options: { updateFooter?: boolean; populateHistory?: boolean } = {},
 	): void {
 		this.pendingTools.clear();
-		this.isFirstUserMessage = true;
 
 		if (options.updateFooter) {
 			this.footer.invalidate();