diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 4025653..aa0b39b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@fullstackhouse/agentloop",
-  "version": "0.7.1",
+  "version": "0.7.3",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@fullstackhouse/agentloop",
-      "version": "0.7.1",
+      "version": "0.7.3",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "dotenv": "^16.4.7",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9908475..9c1b081 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@fullstackhouse/agentloop",
-  "version": "0.7.2",
+  "version": "0.7.3",
   "description": "AI agent that monitors chat platforms and responds using Claude Code",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 37fd5f3..b8e2bd1 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -110,7 +110,15 @@ async function serve(options: CliOptions): Promise<void> {
     }
 
     const slackApi = new SlackApi(xoxc, xoxd);
-    const adapter = new SlackAdapter(agent, slackApi, slackChannels, slackChannelBlacklist);
+    const adapter = new SlackAdapter(
+      agent,
+      slackApi,
+      slackChannels,
+      slackChannelBlacklist,
+      config.slackUsers,
+      10_000,  // pollIntervalMs
+      config.maxRetries,
+    );
     await adapter.start();
     adapters.push(adapter);
   }
diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 524893f..5b16317 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ export interface AppConfig {
   slackChannels?: string[];
   slackChannelBlacklist?: string[];
   slackUsers?: string[];
+  maxRetries?: number;  // Max retries before giving up on a message (default: 3)
   workspaceDir?: string;  // Working directory for Claude Code subprocess
   mcpServers?: Record<string, McpServerConfig>;
 }
diff --git a/src/platforms/slack.ts b/src/platforms/slack.ts
index 7f743b5..24a98d2 100644
--- a/src/platforms/slack.ts
+++ b/src/platforms/slack.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ export class SlackAdapter {
   private threadSessions = new Map<string, { sessionId: string; lastBotTs: string }>();
   /** Cache of user IDs to display names */
   private userNames = new Map<string, string>();
+  /** Tracks retry attempts per message */
+  private retryCount = new Map<string, number>();
 
   constructor(
     private agent: Agent,
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ export class SlackAdapter {
     private channelBlacklist?: string[],
     private users?: string[],
     private pollIntervalMs = 10_000,
+    private maxRetries = 3,
   ) {}
 
   async start(): Promise<void> {
@@ -262,11 +265,25 @@ ${cleanText}
       await this.slackApi.reactionsRemove(channel, msg.ts, 'eyes').catch(this.ignoreSlackError('no_reaction'));
       await this.slackApi.reactionsAdd(channel, msg.ts, 'white_check_mark').catch(this.ignoreSlackError('already_reacted'));
 
+      // Clear retry counter on success
+      this.retryCount.delete(key);
+
       const elapsed = Date.now() - startTime;
       console.log(`[slack] ${key}: Completed successfully in ${elapsed}ms`);
     } catch (e) {
       const elapsed = Date.now() - startTime;
-      console.error(`[slack] ${key}: Failed after ${elapsed}ms:`, e);
+      const attempt = (this.retryCount.get(key) || 0) + 1;
+      this.retryCount.set(key, attempt);
+
+      if (attempt < this.maxRetries) {
+        console.error(`[slack] ${key}: Failed after ${elapsed}ms (attempt ${attempt}/${this.maxRetries}), will retry:`, e);
+        // Don't add ✅, let next poll retry
+        return;
+      }
+
+      console.error(`[slack] ${key}: Failed after ${elapsed}ms (attempt ${attempt}/${this.maxRetries}, giving up):`, e);
+      this.retryCount.delete(key);
+
       try {
         const threadTs = msg.thread_ts || msg.ts;
         console.log(`[slack] ${key}: Notifying user of error`);
@@ -274,6 +291,8 @@ ${cleanText}
         await this.slackApi.reactionsRemove(channel, msg.ts, 'eyes').catch((e) => {
           console.warn(`[slack] ${key}: Failed to remove eyes reaction:`, e);
         });
+        // Add ✅ after max retries to prevent endless retry loop
+        await this.slackApi.reactionsAdd(channel, msg.ts, 'white_check_mark').catch(this.ignoreSlackError('already_reacted'));
         console.log(`[slack] ${key}: Error notification sent`);
       } catch (e) {
         console.warn(`[slack] ${key}: Failed to notify user of error:`, e);