diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index 17f6701063..73f5c6ed7d 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -4047,29 +4047,39 @@ impl Session {
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn defer_mailbox_delivery_to_next_turn(&self, sub_id: &str) {
-        self.set_mailbox_delivery_phase(sub_id, MailboxDeliveryPhase::NextTurn)
-            .await;
-    }
-
-    pub(crate) async fn accept_mailbox_delivery_for_current_turn(&self, sub_id: &str) {
-        self.set_mailbox_delivery_phase(sub_id, MailboxDeliveryPhase::CurrentTurn)
-            .await;
-    }
-
-    async fn set_mailbox_delivery_phase(&self, sub_id: &str, phase: MailboxDeliveryPhase) {
-        let turn_state = {
-            let active = self.active_turn.lock().await;
-            active.as_ref().and_then(|active_turn| {
-                active_turn
-                    .tasks
-                    .contains_key(sub_id)
-                    .then(|| Arc::clone(&active_turn.turn_state))
-            })
-        };
+        let turn_state = self.turn_state_for_sub_id(sub_id).await;
         let Some(turn_state) = turn_state else {
             return;
         };
-        turn_state.lock().await.set_mailbox_delivery_phase(phase);
+        let mut turn_state = turn_state.lock().await;
+        if turn_state.has_pending_input() {
+            return;
+        }
+        turn_state.set_mailbox_delivery_phase(MailboxDeliveryPhase::NextTurn);
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) async fn accept_mailbox_delivery_for_current_turn(&self, sub_id: &str) {
+        let turn_state = self.turn_state_for_sub_id(sub_id).await;
+        let Some(turn_state) = turn_state else {
+            return;
+        };
+        turn_state
+            .lock()
+            .await
+            .set_mailbox_delivery_phase(MailboxDeliveryPhase::CurrentTurn);
+    }
+
+    async fn turn_state_for_sub_id(
+        &self,
+        sub_id: &str,
+    ) -> Option<Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<crate::state::TurnState>>> {
+        let active = self.active_turn.lock().await;
+        active.as_ref().and_then(|active_turn| {
+            active_turn
+                .tasks
+                .contains_key(sub_id)
+                .then(|| Arc::clone(&active_turn.turn_state))
+        })
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn subscribe_mailbox_seq(&self) -> watch::Receiver<u64> {
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs
index f7d343a81e..4ff31e8bd0 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex_tests.rs
@@ -4896,6 +4896,52 @@ async fn steered_input_reopens_mailbox_delivery_for_current_turn() {
     );
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn stale_defer_mailbox_delivery_does_not_override_steered_input() {
+    let (sess, tc, _rx) = make_session_and_context_with_rx().await;
+    let communication = InterAgentCommunication::new(
+        AgentPath::try_from("/root/worker").expect("worker path should parse"),
+        AgentPath::root(),
+        Vec::new(),
+        "queued child update".to_string(),
+        /*trigger_turn*/ false,
+    );
+    sess.spawn_task(
+        Arc::clone(&tc),
+        Vec::new(),
+        NeverEndingTask {
+            kind: TaskKind::Regular,
+            listen_to_cancellation_token: true,
+        },
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    sess.defer_mailbox_delivery_to_next_turn(&tc.sub_id).await;
+    sess.enqueue_mailbox_communication(communication.clone());
+    sess.steer_input(
+        vec![UserInput::Text {
+            text: "follow up".to_string(),
+            text_elements: Vec::new(),
+        }],
+        Some(&tc.sub_id),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("steered input should be accepted");
+
+    sess.defer_mailbox_delivery_to_next_turn(&tc.sub_id).await;
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        sess.get_pending_input().await,
+        vec![
+            ResponseInputItem::from(vec![UserInput::Text {
+                text: "follow up".to_string(),
+                text_elements: Vec::new(),
+            }]),
+            communication.to_response_input_item(),
+        ],
+    );
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn tool_calls_reopen_mailbox_delivery_for_current_turn() {
     let (sess, tc, _rx) = make_session_and_context_with_rx().await;
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/state/mod.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/state/mod.rs
index af318d8017..f3ebc7225d 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/state/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/state/mod.rs
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ pub(crate) use turn::ActiveTurn;
 pub(crate) use turn::MailboxDeliveryPhase;
 pub(crate) use turn::RunningTask;
 pub(crate) use turn::TaskKind;
+pub(crate) use turn::TurnState;
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/state/turn.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/state/turn.rs
index 223edbe7a6..8cfd8555e6 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/state/turn.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/state/turn.rs
@@ -214,10 +214,6 @@ impl TurnState {
         !self.pending_input.is_empty()
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn defer_mailbox_delivery_to_next_turn(&mut self) {
-        self.set_mailbox_delivery_phase(MailboxDeliveryPhase::NextTurn);
-    }
-
     pub(crate) fn accept_mailbox_delivery_for_current_turn(&mut self) {
         self.set_mailbox_delivery_phase(MailboxDeliveryPhase::CurrentTurn);
     }