diff --git a/.claude/memory/bash-tool-shell-gotchas.md b/.claude/memory/bash-tool-shell-gotchas.md
index 13d1fd4..cbe12a0 100644
--- a/.claude/memory/bash-tool-shell-gotchas.md
+++ b/.claude/memory/bash-tool-shell-gotchas.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: bash-tool-shell-gotchas
-description: Bash-tool zsh has noclobber ON and pi --mode json gives 0 bytes (non-tty); workarounds
+description: Bash-tool zsh has noclobber ON; pi --mode json hangs on stdin (fix: </dev/null); workarounds
 metadata: 
   node_type: memory
   type: feedback
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@ fails with `file exists: <path>` and writes 0 bytes.
 
 Two recurring consequences and fixes:
 
-1. **`pi --mode json` writes to the tty, not stdout.** In this non-tty shell,
-   `pi ... | extractor` or `pi ... > file` yields 0 bytes (silently). Fix: skip pi,
-   hit OpenRouter HTTP directly — see `~/.claude/skills/external-review/panel_direct.py`
-   (stdlib-only, reads key from /root/.env). This is the robust path for the
-   external-review comprehension panel and external-panel Q&A.
+1. **`pi --mode json` HANGS waiting on stdin in the Bash tool** (exit 124 on timeout,
+   0 bytes, even on a fast valid model; text mode works fine). The earlier "writes to
+   tty" diagnosis was wrong. Real fix: redirect `</dev/null` so pi sees EOF on stdin and
+   runs non-interactively. Full working recipe (external-review skill + the one missing bit):
+   `pi --model openrouter/<slug> --no-tools --no-skills -nc --system-prompt "$SYS" -p "$P" --mode json </dev/null | jq -j --unbuffered 'select(.type=="message_update" and .assistantMessageEvent.type=="text_delta") | .assistantMessageEvent.delta' | tee out.md`
+   tee is correct (skill uses it); do NOT pkill -f (kills the launching shell). Slugs: verify
+   with `pi --list-models | grep ^openrouter` — a bad slug ALSO hangs silently. panel_direct.py
+   (HTTP direct, reads /root/.env) stays a fallback but `</dev/null` makes plain pi work.
 
 2. **noclobber refuses `>` onto existing files.** Use `>|` to force-overwrite, or
    `rm -f` first, or have the program write the file itself (Python `Path.write_text`,