diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/app.py b/src/plyngent/cli/app.py
index 261a583..ee052a5 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/app.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/app.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from plyngent.cli.editor import (
     resolve_config_path,
 )
 from plyngent.cli.exit_codes import EXIT_CANCELLED, EXIT_OK, EXIT_TURN_FAILED
+from plyngent.cli.interrupt import install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint
 from plyngent.cli.limits import install_cli_limit_hooks
 from plyngent.cli.repl import run_repl
 from plyngent.cli.retry import run_user_text_with_retries
@@ -484,6 +485,13 @@ def chat_cmd(
         raise click.ClickException(msg)
 
     root = workspace if workspace is not None else Path.cwd()
+    # asyncio.run installs its own SIGINT handler when the current one is the
+    # default: the first Ctrl+C then silently cancels the main task (invisible
+    # at the REPL prompt) and the second raises KeyboardInterrupt, which also
+    # cancels memory.close() on a Ctrl+D exit ("Aborted!"). Pre-install a plain
+    # KeyboardInterrupt-raising handler so Ctrl+C stays a normal KeyboardInterrupt
+    # that the REPL / turn-retry / oneshot code handles deliberately.
+    install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint()
     code = asyncio.run(
         _run_chat(
             config_path=config_path,
diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/interrupt.py b/src/plyngent/cli/interrupt.py
index 36e39a3..f38c5e9 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/interrupt.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/interrupt.py
@@ -29,6 +29,33 @@ def set_sigint_reinstall(callback: Callable[[], None] | None) -> None:
     _reinstall_holder[0] = callback
 
 
+def raise_keyboard_interrupt_sigint(signum: int, frame: FrameType | None) -> None:
+    """SIGINT handler: raise KeyboardInterrupt (same effect as the default).
+
+    A distinct function object — deliberately *not*
+    ``signal.default_int_handler`` — so that :func:`asyncio.run`'s Runner does
+    not recognise it and install its own silent-cancel handler on top.
+    """
+    del signum, frame
+    raise KeyboardInterrupt
+
+
+def install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint() -> None:
+    """Install :func:`raise_keyboard_interrupt_sigint` as the SIGINT handler.
+
+    ``asyncio.run`` (Runner) replaces the SIGINT handler with its own when the
+    current one *is* ``signal.default_int_handler``: the first Ctrl+C then
+    silently cancels the main task (invisible at the REPL prompt, leaving the
+    task marked cancelled) and only the second raises KeyboardInterrupt. A
+    later Ctrl+D (EOF) is then cancelled mid-``memory.close()`` and the CLI
+    exits with ``Aborted!``. Installing a plain KeyboardInterrupt-raising
+    handler first keeps every Ctrl+C a normal KeyboardInterrupt that the CLI
+    (prompt, turn-retry, oneshot) already handles deliberately.
+    """
+    with contextlib.suppress(ValueError):
+        _ = signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, raise_keyboard_interrupt_sigint)
+
+
 @contextmanager
 def pause_task_cancel_for_prompt() -> Generator[None]:
     """Disable turn-task cancel during blocking TTY prompts (confirm, etc.).
diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/retry.py b/src/plyngent/cli/retry.py
index c14c77a..4401900 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/retry.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/retry.py
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ async def run_cancellable[T](coro: Coroutine[object, object, T]) -> T:
     task: asyncio.Task[T] = asyncio.create_task(coro)
     loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
     installed = False
+    # What to restore once the turn-cancel handler is removed. remove_signal_handler
+    # leaves SIG_DFL, which would terminate the process on a stray Ctrl+C between
+    # turns; restore the handler from before (the CLI installs a
+    # KeyboardInterrupt-raising one so the REPL can catch it).
+    previous_sigint = signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT)
 
     def _on_sigint() -> None:
         # allow_task_cancel() uses a process-level depth counter (not ContextVar)
@@ -98,6 +103,8 @@ async def run_cancellable[T](coro: Coroutine[object, object, T]) -> T:
         if installed:
             with contextlib.suppress(NotImplementedError, RuntimeError, ValueError):
                 _ = loop.remove_signal_handler(signal.SIGINT)
+            with contextlib.suppress(ValueError):
+                _ = signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, previous_sigint)
         # Only cancel if still running (e.g. KeyboardInterrupt path above).
         # Do not cancel a finished task — that would mask success.
         if not task.done():
diff --git a/tests/test_cli/test_interrupt.py b/tests/test_cli/test_interrupt.py
index c8be061..f550464 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli/test_interrupt.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli/test_interrupt.py
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ import pytest
 
 from plyngent.cli.interrupt import (
     allow_task_cancel,
+    install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint,
     pause_task_cancel_for_prompt,
+    raise_keyboard_interrupt_sigint,
     run_in_prompt_thread,
     set_sigint_reinstall,
 )
@@ -113,3 +115,71 @@ async def test_sigint_cancels_after_prompt_pause() -> None:
     assert cancelled.is_set()
     # Cleanup any leftover reinstall hook from run_cancellable
     set_sigint_reinstall(None)
+
+
+def test_install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint() -> None:
+    """Installs a non-default SIGINT handler that raises KeyboardInterrupt.
+
+    The handler must be a distinct function object: ``asyncio.run`` only skips
+    installing its own silent-cancel handler when the current handler is not
+    ``signal.default_int_handler``.
+    """
+    install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint()
+    try:
+        handler = signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT)
+        assert handler is not signal.default_int_handler
+        assert handler is not signal.SIG_DFL
+        assert callable(handler)
+        with pytest.raises(KeyboardInterrupt):
+            handler(signal.SIGINT, None)  # type: ignore[call-arg]
+    finally:
+        signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.default_int_handler)
+
+
+def test_asyncio_run_keeps_keyboard_interrupt_sigint() -> None:
+    """Regression: Runner must not replace our handler with its own.
+
+    Previously the first Ctrl+C under ``asyncio.run`` silently cancelled the
+    main task (invisible at the REPL prompt) and the second raised
+    KeyboardInterrupt, which also cancelled ``memory.close()`` on a Ctrl+D exit.
+    With a non-default handler installed first, Runner leaves SIGINT alone.
+    """
+    import asyncio
+
+    install_keyboard_interrupt_sigint()
+    try:
+
+        async def quick() -> int:
+            return 7
+
+        assert asyncio.run(quick()) == 7
+        assert signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT) is raise_keyboard_interrupt_sigint
+    finally:
+        signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.default_int_handler)
+
+
+async def test_run_cancellable_restores_previous_sigint() -> None:
+    """Regression: after a turn SIGINT is restored, not left as SIG_DFL.
+
+    ``loop.remove_signal_handler`` leaves SIG_DFL, which would terminate the
+    process on a stray Ctrl+C between turns instead of letting the REPL catch
+    a KeyboardInterrupt.
+    """
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    try:
+        loop.add_signal_handler(signal.SIGINT, lambda: None)
+        loop.remove_signal_handler(signal.SIGINT)
+    except NotImplementedError, RuntimeError, ValueError:
+        pytest.skip("asyncio signal handlers not available on this platform")
+
+    previous = signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT)
+
+    async def quick() -> None:
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        await run_cancellable(quick())
+        assert signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT) is previous
+        assert signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT) is not signal.SIG_DFL
+    finally:
+        signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.default_int_handler)