diff --git a/.beads/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml b/.beads/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml
index 854cc926..aca940d5 100644
--- a/.beads/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml
+++ b/.beads/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Witnesses detect it and escalate to the Mayor.
 The Deacon's agent bead last_activity timestamp is updated during each patrol
 cycle. Witnesses check this timestamp to verify health."""
 formula = "mol-deacon-patrol"
-version = 6
+version = 8
 
 [[steps]]
 id = "inbox-check"
@@ -707,15 +707,39 @@ Burn and let daemon respawn, or exit if context high.
 Decision point at end of patrol cycle:
 
 If context is LOW:
-- **Sleep 60 seconds minimum** before next patrol cycle
-- If town is idle (no in_progress work), sleep longer (2-5 minutes)
-- Return to inbox-check step
+Use await-signal with exponential backoff to wait for activity:
 
-**Why longer sleep?**
-- Idle agents should not be disturbed
-- Health checks every few seconds flood inboxes and waste context
-- The daemon (10-minute heartbeat) is the safety net for dead sessions
-- Active work triggers feed events, which wake agents naturally
+```bash
+gt mol step await-signal --agent-bead hq-deacon \
+  --backoff-base 60s --backoff-mult 2 --backoff-max 10m
+```
+
+This command:
+1. Subscribes to `bd activity --follow` (beads activity feed)
+2. Returns IMMEDIATELY when any beads activity occurs
+3. If no activity, times out with exponential backoff:
+   - First timeout: 60s
+   - Second timeout: 120s
+   - Third timeout: 240s
+   - ...capped at 10 minutes max
+4. Tracks `idle:N` label on hq-deacon bead for backoff state
+
+**On signal received** (activity detected):
+Reset the idle counter and start next patrol cycle:
+```bash
+gt agent state hq-deacon --set idle=0
+```
+Then return to inbox-check step.
+
+**On timeout** (no activity):
+The idle counter was auto-incremented. Continue to next patrol cycle
+(the longer backoff will apply next time). Return to inbox-check step.
+
+**Why this approach?**
+- Any `gt` or `bd` command triggers beads activity, waking the Deacon
+- Idle towns let the Deacon sleep longer (up to 10 min between patrols)
+- Active work wakes the Deacon immediately via the feed
+- No polling or fixed sleep intervals
 
 If context is HIGH:
 - Write state to persistent storage
diff --git a/internal/formula/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml b/internal/formula/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml
index 454f5b35..b02a87ae 100644
--- a/internal/formula/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml
+++ b/internal/formula/formulas/mol-deacon-patrol.formula.toml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Witnesses detect it and escalate to the Mayor.
 The Deacon's agent bead last_activity timestamp is updated during each patrol
 cycle. Witnesses check this timestamp to verify health."""
 formula = "mol-deacon-patrol"
-version = 7
+version = 8
 
 [[steps]]
 id = "inbox-check"
@@ -749,15 +749,39 @@ Burn and let daemon respawn, or exit if context high.
 Decision point at end of patrol cycle:
 
 If context is LOW:
-- **Sleep 60 seconds minimum** before next patrol cycle
-- If town is idle (no in_progress work), sleep longer (2-5 minutes)
-- Return to inbox-check step
+Use await-signal with exponential backoff to wait for activity:
 
-**Why longer sleep?**
-- Idle agents should not be disturbed
-- Health checks every few seconds flood inboxes and waste context
-- The daemon (10-minute heartbeat) is the safety net for dead sessions
-- Active work triggers feed events, which wake agents naturally
+```bash
+gt mol step await-signal --agent-bead hq-deacon \
+  --backoff-base 60s --backoff-mult 2 --backoff-max 10m
+```
+
+This command:
+1. Subscribes to `bd activity --follow` (beads activity feed)
+2. Returns IMMEDIATELY when any beads activity occurs
+3. If no activity, times out with exponential backoff:
+   - First timeout: 60s
+   - Second timeout: 120s
+   - Third timeout: 240s
+   - ...capped at 10 minutes max
+4. Tracks `idle:N` label on hq-deacon bead for backoff state
+
+**On signal received** (activity detected):
+Reset the idle counter and start next patrol cycle:
+```bash
+gt agent state hq-deacon --set idle=0
+```
+Then return to inbox-check step.
+
+**On timeout** (no activity):
+The idle counter was auto-incremented. Continue to next patrol cycle
+(the longer backoff will apply next time). Return to inbox-check step.
+
+**Why this approach?**
+- Any `gt` or `bd` command triggers beads activity, waking the Deacon
+- Idle towns let the Deacon sleep longer (up to 10 min between patrols)
+- Active work wakes the Deacon immediately via the feed
+- No polling or fixed sleep intervals
 
 If context is HIGH:
 - Write state to persistent storage