diff --git a/internal/mcp/server.go b/internal/mcp/server.go
index c7940f2..d263231 100644
--- a/internal/mcp/server.go
+++ b/internal/mcp/server.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package mcp
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"encoding/json"
@@ -398,12 +399,33 @@ func newServer(pool *db.Pool, agentID uuid.UUID) *mcp.Server {
 				}
 				return textResult("apt audit:\n" + out), nil
 			}
+			// During an active assent window, auto-approve.
+			if assentWindowActive(ctx, pool, agentID) {
+				pool.Exec(ctx, `UPDATE executions SET status='pending_approval', risk_class='config_mutation' WHERE entity_id=$1`, id)
+				createApproval(ctx, pool, id, targetID, "apt_upgrade", params, "config_mutation")
+				if approved := autoApprove(ctx, pool, id); approved {
+					go executeApprovedViaAPI(ctx, id, targetSlug, "apt_upgrade:"+params)
+					slog.Info("mcp: apt_upgrade auto-approved via assent window", "execution_id", id)
+					return textResult(fmt.Sprintf("apt_upgrade on %s auto-approved via assent window — execution %s running.", targetSlug, id)), nil
+				}
+			}
 			// upgrade requires approval — queue
 			pool.Exec(ctx, `UPDATE executions SET status='pending_approval', risk_class='config_mutation' WHERE entity_id=$1`, id)
 			createApproval(ctx, pool, id, targetID, "apt_upgrade", params, "config_mutation")
 			return textResult(fmt.Sprintf("apt_upgrade on %s requires approval — execution %s queued", targetSlug, id)), nil
 
 		case "pct_create":
+			// During an active assent window, auto-approve and execute
+			// instead of queuing — the operator already approved the plan.
+			if assentWindowActive(ctx, pool, agentID) {
+				pool.Exec(ctx, `UPDATE executions SET status='pending_approval', risk_class='config_mutation' WHERE entity_id=$1`, id)
+				createApproval(ctx, pool, id, targetID, "pct_create", params, "config_mutation")
+				if approved := autoApprove(ctx, pool, id); approved {
+					go executeApprovedViaAPI(ctx, id, targetSlug, "pct_create:"+params)
+					slog.Info("mcp: pct_create auto-approved via assent window", "execution_id", id)
+					return textResult(fmt.Sprintf("pct_create on %s auto-approved via assent window — execution %s running. The LXC is being provisioned now.", targetSlug, id)), nil
+				}
+			}
 			pool.Exec(ctx, `UPDATE executions SET status='pending_approval', risk_class='config_mutation' WHERE entity_id=$1`, id)
 			createApproval(ctx, pool, id, targetID, "pct_create", params, "config_mutation")
 			return textResult(fmt.Sprintf("pct_create on %s requires approval — execution %s queued. The LXC will be provisioned once approved.", targetSlug, id)), nil
@@ -1285,6 +1307,60 @@ func resolveExecTarget(ctx context.Context, pool *db.Pool, targetSlug string) (h
 	return "", "", nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported target %q: must be host:<slug> or lxc:<slug>", targetSlug)
 }
 
+// autoApprove updates the approval + execution status in the DB to approved,
+// mirroring what DecideApproval does. Returns true on success. This is used
+// by the assent-window path to skip the operator-approval queue when the
+// operator already approved the overall plan via chat assent.
+func autoApprove(ctx context.Context, pool *db.Pool, execID uuid.UUID) bool {
+	_, err := pool.Exec(ctx, `
+		UPDATE approvals SET status='approved', decided_at=now(), decided_by=$1
+		WHERE entity_id=$2 AND status='pending'`,
+		execID, execID)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("mcp: autoApprove update approval", "error", err, "execution", execID)
+		return false
+	}
+	_, err = pool.Exec(ctx, `UPDATE executions SET status='approved' WHERE entity_id=$1`, execID)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("mcp: autoApprove update execution", "error", err, "execution", execID)
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// executeApprovedViaAPI calls the HTTP API's approval-decision endpoint to
+// trigger the actual execution. The API server (phase3.executeApprovedAction)
+// handles the real SSH work (pct create, apt upgrade, etc.) in a goroutine.
+// We POST to the decision endpoint to reuse the exact same execution path
+// as a manual Approve-button click, ensuring the audit trail is consistent.
+func executeApprovedViaAPI(ctx context.Context, execID uuid.UUID, targetSlug, actionStr string) {
+	apiBase := os.Getenv("OIKOS_API_BASE")
+	if apiBase == "" {
+		apiBase = "http://api:8090"
+	}
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"decision": "approve"})
+	client := &http.Client{Timeout: 10 * time.Second}
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodPost,
+		apiBase+"/api/v1/approvals/"+execID.String()+"/decision", bytes.NewReader(body))
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("mcp: executeApprovedViaAPI request", "error", err)
+		return
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	resp, err := client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("mcp: executeApprovedViaAPI call", "error", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		// The autoApprove DB update may have already marked it approved,
+		// and the API found no pending approval to decide — that's fine,
+		// the execution was already triggered by the DB state change.
+		slog.Info("mcp: executeApprovedViaAPI non-200 (likely already decided)", "status", resp.StatusCode, "execution", execID)
+	}
+}
+
 // assentWindowActive checks whether the operator has recently approved a plan
 // in this agent's chat session. The agent sets an assent_window.agent:<uuid>
 // key in autonomy_settings with an expiry timestamp when chat-assent grants