diff --git a/src/lib/doctor.ts b/src/lib/doctor.ts
index d8243d5..6cfcaee 100644
--- a/src/lib/doctor.ts
+++ b/src/lib/doctor.ts
@@ -69,12 +69,13 @@ import {
 	stripNoProxyFor,
 } from "@/lib/proxy.js";
 import { spawner } from "@/lib/reexec.js";
-import { agentOnPath } from "@/lib/run.js";
+import { agentOnPath, resolveAgentPath } from "@/lib/run.js";
 import { detectInstalledShims } from "@/lib/shims.js";
 import { isCertError, tlsApi } from "@/lib/tls.js";
 import {
 	describeStdin,
 	rawModeSupported,
+	stdinApi,
 	stdinKind,
 	terminalCause,
 	terminalEvidence,
@@ -1110,6 +1111,101 @@ const terminalCheck: Check = {
 	},
 };
 
+// Windows only. CoDev Code clears ENABLE_PROCESSED_INPUT on the shared console
+// while it runs, so ctrl+c arrives as a keypress its own double-ctrl+c exit can
+// handle. When that guard doesn't take, ctrl+c stays a console break delivered
+// to every process attached to the console — including the cmd.exe shims in the
+// launch chain, which stop at "Terminate batch job (Y/N)?" instead of exiting,
+// and the terminal looks frozen.
+//
+// The agent reports its own verdict (`codev debug console`): it runs under Bun
+// and owns the FFI that reads the console mode, and it installs the real guard
+// to check that clearing the bit actually sticks. This check only relays that.
+const consoleCtrlCCheck: Check = {
+	key: "console-ctrl-c",
+	label: "Console ctrl+c handling",
+	group: "environment",
+	run: async () => {
+		if (process.platform !== "win32")
+			return { status: "skip", detail: "Windows-only check." };
+		if (!stdinApi.isTty())
+			return {
+				status: "skip",
+				detail:
+					"stdin is not a console, so the console mode can't be read. Re-run from an interactive terminal.",
+			};
+		const agent = resolveAgentPath(CLI["codev-code"]);
+		if (!agent)
+			return {
+				status: "skip",
+				detail: "CoDev Code is not installed. Run `codevhub install`.",
+			};
+
+		// Resolved path, not the bare name: the bare name would re-enter our own
+		// PATH shim and relaunch the agent through the hub.
+		const probe = await execAsync(agent, ["debug", "console", "--json"], {
+			inheritStdin: true,
+		});
+		const report = parseConsoleReport(probe.stdout);
+		if (!report)
+			return {
+				status: "skip",
+				detail:
+					"This CoDev Code build has no `debug console` command. Run `codevhub update`.",
+			};
+		if (report.guardEffective)
+			return {
+				status: "pass",
+				detail: `ctrl+c reaches the agent as a keypress (${report.terminal}).`,
+			};
+
+		const cause = !report.ffi
+			? "CoDev Code could not read the console mode at all (kernel32 dlopen or GetConsoleMode failed)."
+			: !report.guardInstalled
+				? "CoDev Code could not install its ctrl+c guard on this console."
+				: "The guard installed but ENABLE_PROCESSED_INPUT stayed set, so something is re-applying it.";
+		return {
+			status: "fail",
+			detail: `ctrl+c will reach this console as a break event (${report.terminal}).`,
+			fix: "Quitting may hang. Until this is fixed, quit with `/exit` instead of ctrl+c, and report this doctor output.",
+			diagnosis: {
+				what: "ctrl+c is not being delivered to CoDev Code as a keypress.",
+				cause,
+				fix: "Report this output — the console mode line is the part that matters.",
+				context: [
+					`${process.platform} ${process.arch} · terminal ${report.terminal}`,
+					`console mode ${report.mode.before ?? "?"} -> ${report.mode.guarded ?? "?"} (guarded)`,
+				],
+				raw: probe.stdout.trim().split("\n"),
+			},
+		};
+	},
+};
+
+interface ConsoleReport {
+	terminal: string;
+	ffi: boolean;
+	guardInstalled: boolean;
+	guardEffective: boolean;
+	mode: { before: string | null; guarded: string | null };
+}
+
+// Returns undefined for anything that isn't the report — a build predating the
+// subcommand answers with yargs' usage text on stderr and an empty stdout.
+function parseConsoleReport(stdout: string): ConsoleReport | undefined {
+	const parsed: unknown = (() => {
+		try {
+			return JSON.parse(stdout.trim() || "null");
+		} catch {
+			return null;
+		}
+	})();
+	if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== "object") return undefined;
+	const report = parsed as Partial<ConsoleReport>;
+	if (typeof report.guardEffective !== "boolean") return undefined;
+	return report as ConsoleReport;
+}
+
 const systemCaCheck: Check = {
 	key: "system-ca",
 	label: "System certificate store",
@@ -1168,6 +1264,7 @@ export const PREFLIGHT_CHECKS: Check[] = [nodeVersionCheck, proxyEnvCheck];
 export const ENVIRONMENT_CHECKS: Check[] = [
 	nodeVersionCheck,
 	terminalCheck,
+	consoleCtrlCCheck,
 	npmAvailableCheck,
 	npmPrefixCheck,
 	npmRegistryCheck,
diff --git a/src/lib/npm.ts b/src/lib/npm.ts
index d87814a..2efcf3e 100644
--- a/src/lib/npm.ts
+++ b/src/lib/npm.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { execFile } from "node:child_process";
+import { execFile, spawn } from "node:child_process";
 import { existsSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import type { Tool } from "@/lib/configure.js";
@@ -89,7 +89,14 @@ export function recordCommands(): void {
 	commandLog.entries = [];
 }
 
-export function execAsync(file: string, args: string[]): Promise<ExecResult> {
+export function execAsync(
+	file: string,
+	args: string[],
+	// `inheritStdin` hands the child our real stdin instead of a pipe. Only the
+	// console-mode probe needs it: it reads the Windows console input mode
+	// through its stdin handle, and a piped stdin is not a console.
+	options: { inheritStdin?: boolean } = {},
+): Promise<ExecResult> {
 	// Every child process codev shells out to funnels through here (npm, the
 	// agent --version probes, `code --install-extension`, JetBrains CLIs,
 	// codegraph), so this one seam gives the diagnostic log full child-process
@@ -151,18 +158,59 @@ export function execAsync(file: string, args: string[]): Promise<ExecResult> {
 		// pass it as the only positional argument. Our args are simple npm
 		// flags + package names with no whitespace, so naive concatenation
 		// matches what Node was already doing — same semantics, no warning.
+		//
+		// Quote the file when it carries spaces: callers may pass a resolved
+		// absolute path (`C:\Program Files\...\codev.cmd`), which cmd.exe would
+		// otherwise split at the space. Args stay unquoted — see above.
+		const shellCommand = `${file.includes(" ") ? `"${file}"` : file} ${args.join(" ")}`;
+
+		if (options.inheritStdin) {
+			// execFile has no stdio option (neither its typings nor its docs), so
+			// a child that needs the caller's real stdin goes through spawn and
+			// collects the streams itself.
+			const child = USE_SHELL
+				? spawn(shellCommand, {
+						stdio: ["inherit", "pipe", "pipe"],
+						shell: true,
+					})
+				: spawn(file, args, { stdio: ["inherit", "pipe", "pipe"] });
+			const out: Buffer[] = [];
+			const err: Buffer[] = [];
+			child.stdout?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => out.push(chunk));
+			child.stderr?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => err.push(chunk));
+			child.once("error", (error) =>
+				done(
+					error as NodeJS.ErrnoException,
+					Buffer.concat(out).toString(),
+					Buffer.concat(err).toString(),
+				),
+			);
+			child.once("close", (code) =>
+				done(
+					code === 0
+						? null
+						: Object.assign(new Error(`${file} exited with code ${code}`), {
+								code: String(code),
+							}),
+					Buffer.concat(out).toString(),
+					Buffer.concat(err).toString(),
+				),
+			);
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if (USE_SHELL) {
 			execFile(
-				`${file} ${args.join(" ")}`,
+				shellCommand,
 				{ shell: true, encoding: "utf-8" },
 				(err, stdout, stderr) =>
 					done(err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | null, stdout, stderr),
 			);
-		} else {
-			execFile(file, args, { encoding: "utf-8" }, (err, stdout, stderr) =>
-				done(err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | null, stdout, stderr),
-			);
+			return;
 		}
+		execFile(file, args, { encoding: "utf-8" }, (err, stdout, stderr) =>
+			done(err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | null, stdout, stderr),
+		);
 	});
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/run.ts b/src/lib/run.ts
index 9b43b54..84cd858 100644
--- a/src/lib/run.ts
+++ b/src/lib/run.ts
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ export const spawner = {
 	spawn: nodeSpawn,
 };
 
-// Cheap PATH probe (no child process) used by the bare-`codevhub` dispatch to
-// decide between opening CoDev Code and falling back to the hub help. Skips
-// the shim dir, mirroring the spawn PATH below. Windows spawns go through the
-// shell (PATHEXT resolution), so probe the standard executable extensions.
-export function agentOnPath(cmd: string): boolean {
+// Cheap PATH lookup (no child process). Skips the shim dir, mirroring the spawn
+// PATH below, so callers get the real agent rather than our own shim — spawning
+// the shim would re-enter the hub. Windows spawns go through the shell (PATHEXT
+// resolution), so probe the standard executable extensions.
+export function resolveAgentPath(cmd: string): string | undefined {
 	const exts =
 		process.platform === "win32"
 			? (process.env.PATHEXT ?? ".COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD").split(";")
@@ -32,15 +32,22 @@ export function agentOnPath(cmd: string): boolean {
 	for (const dir of stripShimDirFromPath(process.env.PATH).split(delimiter)) {
 		if (!dir) continue;
 		for (const ext of exts) {
+			const candidate = join(dir, cmd + ext);
 			try {
-				accessSync(join(dir, cmd + ext), fsConstants.X_OK);
-				return true;
+				accessSync(candidate, fsConstants.X_OK);
+				return candidate;
 			} catch {
 				// Not here — keep scanning.
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return false;
+	return undefined;
+}
+
+// Used by the bare-`codevhub` dispatch to decide between opening CoDev Code and
+// falling back to the hub help.
+export function agentOnPath(cmd: string): boolean {
+	return resolveAgentPath(cmd) !== undefined;
 }
 
 export function runAgent(cmd: string, args: string[]): Promise<number> {
diff --git a/tests/lib/doctor.test.ts b/tests/lib/doctor.test.ts
index a864be8..7be5bb4 100644
--- a/tests/lib/doctor.test.ts
+++ b/tests/lib/doctor.test.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import * as npm from "@/lib/npm.js";
 import * as proxy from "@/lib/proxy.js";
 import { envVarKeys, PROXY_APPLIED_ENV } from "@/lib/proxy.js";
 import * as reexec from "@/lib/reexec.js";
+import * as run from "@/lib/run.js";
 import * as tls from "@/lib/tls.js";
 import * as tty from "@/lib/tty.js";
 
@@ -685,6 +686,83 @@ describe("environment checks", () => {
 	test("terminal is not part of the install pre-flight", () => {
 		expect(PREFLIGHT_CHECKS.some((c) => c.key === "terminal")).toBe(false);
 	});
+
+	// The console check shells out to the agent and grades what it reports.
+	// `windows()` sets up the platform + TTY + installed-agent preconditions so
+	// each test only has to vary the agent's answer.
+	function windows(stdout: string): void {
+		Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+			value: "win32",
+			configurable: true,
+		});
+		vi.spyOn(tty.stdinApi, "isTty").mockReturnValue(true);
+		vi.spyOn(run, "resolveAgentPath").mockReturnValue("C:\\bin\\codev.cmd");
+		vi.spyOn(npm, "execAsync").mockResolvedValue({
+			stdout,
+			stderr: "",
+			error: null,
+		});
+	}
+
+	const REPORT = {
+		terminal: "Windows Terminal",
+		ffi: true,
+		guardInstalled: true,
+		guardEffective: true,
+		mode: { before: "0x01f7", guarded: "0x01f6" },
+	};
+
+	test("console-ctrl-c is skipped off Windows", async () => {
+		Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", {
+			value: "darwin",
+			configurable: true,
+		});
+		expect((await runOne("console-ctrl-c")).status).toBe("skip");
+	});
+
+	test("console-ctrl-c passes when the guard clears processed input", async () => {
+		windows(JSON.stringify(REPORT));
+		const o = await runOne("console-ctrl-c");
+		expect(o.status).toBe("pass");
+		expect(o.detail).toContain("Windows Terminal");
+	});
+
+	test("console-ctrl-c fails and names the cause when the guard is ineffective", async () => {
+		windows(JSON.stringify({ ...REPORT, ffi: false, guardEffective: false }));
+		const o = await runOne("console-ctrl-c");
+		expect(o.status).toBe("fail");
+		expect(o.diagnosis?.cause).toContain("kernel32");
+		// The agent's own report is what a support ticket is read from.
+		expect(o.diagnosis?.raw.join(" ")).toContain("guardEffective");
+	});
+
+	test("console-ctrl-c distinguishes a guard that installed but did not stick", async () => {
+		windows(JSON.stringify({ ...REPORT, guardEffective: false }));
+		expect((await runOne("console-ctrl-c")).diagnosis?.cause).toContain(
+			"re-applying",
+		);
+	});
+
+	// An agent predating `debug console` answers with yargs usage on stderr and
+	// nothing parseable on stdout. That is a stale install, not a broken console.
+	test("console-ctrl-c is skipped on an agent without the subcommand", async () => {
+		windows("");
+		const o = await runOne("console-ctrl-c");
+		expect(o.status).toBe("skip");
+		expect(o.detail).toContain("codevhub update");
+	});
+
+	test("console-ctrl-c probes the resolved path, never the bare name", async () => {
+		windows(JSON.stringify(REPORT));
+		await runOne("console-ctrl-c");
+		// The bare name would re-enter our own PATH shim and relaunch the agent
+		// through the hub, with the upload daemon and key refresh in tow.
+		expect(npm.execAsync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+			"C:\\bin\\codev.cmd",
+			["debug", "console", "--json"],
+			{ inheritStdin: true },
+		);
+	});
 });
 
 // Regression: the probe used to GET the API base path and let `fetch` follow