diff --git a/.claude/commands/handoff.md b/.claude/commands/handoff.md
index 22a4091a..6f9e880c 100644
--- a/.claude/commands/handoff.md
+++ b/.claude/commands/handoff.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: Hand off to fresh session, work continues from hook
-allowed-tools: Bash(gt handoff:*)
+allowed-tools: Bash(gt mail send:*),Bash(gt handoff:*)
 argument-hint: [message]
 ---
 
@@ -8,8 +8,14 @@ Hand off to a fresh session.
 
 User's handoff message (if any): $ARGUMENTS
 
-Execute the appropriate command:
-- If user provided a message: `gt handoff --cycle -m "USER_MESSAGE_HERE"`
-- If no message provided: `gt handoff --cycle`
+Execute these steps in order:
 
+1. If user provided a message, send handoff mail to yourself first.
+   Construct your mail address from your identity (e.g., gastown/crew/max for crew, mayor/ for mayor).
+   Example: `gt mail send gastown/crew/max -s "🤝 HANDOFF: Session cycling" -m "USER_MESSAGE_HERE"`
+
+2. Run the handoff command (this will respawn your session with a fresh Claude):
+   `gt handoff`
+
+Note: The new session will auto-prime via the SessionStart hook and find your handoff mail.
 End watch. A new session takes over, picking up any molecule on the hook.
diff --git a/internal/cmd/handoff.go b/internal/cmd/handoff.go
index 0a101a9f..e4cecc39 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/handoff.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/handoff.go
@@ -152,27 +152,28 @@ func resolveRoleToSession(role string) (string, error) {
 	}
 }
 
-// buildRestartCommand creates the gt command to restart a session.
+// buildRestartCommand creates the command to run when respawning a session's pane.
+// This needs to be the actual command to execute (e.g., claude), not a session attach command.
 func buildRestartCommand(sessionName string) (string, error) {
+	// For respawn-pane, we run claude directly. The SessionStart hook will run gt prime.
+	// Use exec to ensure clean process replacement.
+	claudeCmd := "exec claude --dangerously-skip-permissions"
+
 	switch {
 	case sessionName == "gt-mayor":
-		return "gt may at", nil
+		return claudeCmd, nil
 
 	case sessionName == "gt-deacon":
-		return "gt dea at", nil
+		return claudeCmd, nil
 
 	case strings.Contains(sessionName, "-crew-"):
-		// gt-<rig>-crew-<name>
-		// The attach command can auto-detect from cwd, so just use `gt crew at`
-		return "gt crew at", nil
+		return claudeCmd, nil
 
 	case strings.HasSuffix(sessionName, "-witness"):
-		// gt-<rig>-witness
-		return "gt wit at", nil
+		return claudeCmd, nil
 
 	case strings.HasSuffix(sessionName, "-refinery"):
-		// gt-<rig>-refinery
-		return "gt ref at", nil
+		return claudeCmd, nil
 
 	default:
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("unknown session type: %s (try specifying role explicitly)", sessionName)
diff --git a/internal/daemon/lifecycle.go b/internal/daemon/lifecycle.go
index 9335255f..f7d43f2e 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/lifecycle.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/lifecycle.go
@@ -300,10 +300,12 @@ func (d *Daemon) syncWorkspace(workDir string) {
 	}
 }
 
-// closeMessage marks a mail message as read by closing the beads issue.
+// closeMessage removes a lifecycle mail message after processing.
+// We use delete instead of read because gt mail read intentionally
+// doesn't mark messages as read (to preserve handoff messages).
 func (d *Daemon) closeMessage(id string) error {
-	// Use gt mail commands for town-level beads
-	cmd := exec.Command("gt", "mail", "read", id)
+	// Use gt mail delete to actually remove the message
+	cmd := exec.Command("gt", "mail", "delete", id)
 	cmd.Dir = d.config.TownRoot
 	return cmd.Run()
 }