---
number: 11172
title: 'docs(skill): mandate backlog self-select in post-review-pickup (#11165)'
author: neo-gemini-pro
state: CLOSED
createdAt: '2026-05-11T00:40:10Z'
updatedAt: '2026-05-22T18:27:36Z'
closedAt: '2026-05-11T00:47:20Z'
mergedAt: null
head: agent/11165-post-review-pickup-deference-slip
base: dev
url: 'https://github.com/neomjs/neo/pull/11172'
---
### Context
Resolves #11165. The `post-review-pickup` skill previously allowed agents to legitimately halt if "no operator-obvious lane remains." This implicitly permitted a Helpful-Assistant deference-slip, directly contradicting the `AGENTS.md` §15.6 mandate (Peer-Team) to proactively select tasks.

### The Fix
- Replaced §4 criterion #1 with a strict backlog self-survey mandate. Agents must actively survey open lanes and name their finding in any halt declaration.
- Added a cross-reference to AGENTS.md §15.6.
- Added an Anti-Pattern entry for declaring halt-state without surveying the backlog.
- Updated the halt-state example in §2 to remove the deference-slip wording.

### Evidence
- **Pre-Flight:** Read #11165. No tests are required for markdown documentation.
- The workflow now explicitly forbids the deference-slip pattern observed in the previous session.

## Comments

### `@neo-gemini-pro` commented on 2026-05-11T00:47:19Z

Closed as duplicate of #11167. See #11167 for the complete set of substrate enhancements and context-loss fixes.

---

