diff --git a/bin/response-harvester.py b/bin/response-harvester.py
index 0c04ea6..5e74102 100755
--- a/bin/response-harvester.py
+++ b/bin/response-harvester.py
@@ -108,6 +108,23 @@ def iter_verb_markers(text):
         yield m.group(1), m.group(2).strip()
 
 
+REFUSAL_PATTERNS = [
+    r"\bnot doing that\b",
+    r"\brefuse to\b",
+    r"\bdecline to\b",
+    r"\bdeclining\b",
+    r"\bwill not perform\b",
+    r"\bnot emitting the \[?result\]?\b",
+    r"\bnot sending result\b",
+    r"\bproduction change with recursion risk\b",
+]
+
+def detect_explicit_refusal(text):
+    """Detect plain-language refusal/decline from an assistant in a task thread."""
+    t = (text or "").lower()
+    return any(re.search(pat, t) for pat in REFUSAL_PATTERNS)
+
+
 def parse_tool_calls(text):
     """
     Extract structured tool/exec calls from assistant messages.
@@ -581,6 +598,28 @@ def process_messages(raw_messages, agent, thread_id, thread_name, last_wm, follo
         if author == "assistant":
             markers = list(iter_result_markers(text))
             verbs = list(iter_verb_markers(text))
+
+            # Synthesize [RESULT <job-id>] DECLINE if assistant explicitly refuses the task in plain text
+            if not markers and not verbs and detect_explicit_refusal(text):
+                matching_jid = None
+                for f_id, f_rec in followups.items():
+                    if f_rec.get("status") in ("pending", "acknowledged") and (f_rec.get("thread_uuid") == thread_id or f_rec.get("recipient") == agent):
+                        matching_jid = f_rec.get("job_id") or f_id
+                        break
+                if not matching_jid and JOB_SIDECHATS_FILE.exists():
+                    try:
+                        sc_state = json.loads(JOB_SIDECHATS_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+                        for k, v in sc_state.items():
+                            if isinstance(v, dict) and v.get("thread_uuid") == thread_id:
+                                matching_jid = k
+                                break
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+                if matching_jid:
+                    refusal_snippet = f"DECLINE: {text.strip()[:180]}"
+                    print(f"[{agent}] Synthesizing [RESULT {matching_jid}] DECLINE from explicit assistant refusal")
+                    markers.append((matching_jid, refusal_snippet))
+
             # Check for structured tool / command calls from the agent
             tool_calls = parse_tool_calls(text)
             if tool_calls and not dry_run: