diff --git a/scripts/discord_cmd_smoke.py b/scripts/discord_cmd_smoke.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9dfe969
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/discord_cmd_smoke.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Command-routing smoke test for Discord: /help, /status, /bag as plain text."""
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import os
+import pathlib
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent / "src"))
+
+from matebot.commands import CommandRouter, make_frame_cache  # noqa: E402
+from matebot.config import Config  # noqa: E402
+from matebot.messengers.base import TextReply  # noqa: E402
+from matebot.messengers.discord import DiscordMessenger  # noqa: E402
+from matebot.state import State  # noqa: E402
+
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format="%(asctime)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s")
+log = logging.getLogger("cmdsmoke")
+
+
+class FakeMachine:
+    async def request(self, tp, **f):
+        return {"msg": "Ok"}
+
+    async def send_event(self, tp, **f):
+        log.info("MACHINE would receive: %s %s", tp, f)
+
+
+async def main():
+    messenger = DiscordMessenger(
+        os.environ["DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN"], os.environ["DISCORD_CHANNEL_ID"]
+    )
+    state = State("/tmp/discord-cmd-state.json")
+    state.set("last_shot", {"shot_id": 73, "profile": "Direct Lever v3",
+                            "duration_ms": 42600, "volume_g": 36.4})
+    cache, latest = make_frame_cache()
+    cache({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 0, "ct": 91.2, "tt": 0, "wl": 55})
+    router = CommandRouter(FakeMachine(), state, None, messenger,
+                           Config(journal_url="https://alexnly.github.io/GAGGIMATE-0614/"), latest)
+    await messenger.start()
+    await messenger.send("Command smoke test ready — send /help, /status, /last, /wake as messages.")
+
+    async def pump():
+        handled = 0
+        async for event in messenger.events():
+            log.info("EVENT: %r", event)
+            if isinstance(event, TextReply) and event.text.strip().startswith("/"):
+                consumed = await router.handle(event.text.strip())
+                log.info("router consumed=%s", consumed)
+                handled += 1
+                if handled >= 4:
+                    log.info("✅ command routing works on Discord")
+                    return
+
+    try:
+        await asyncio.wait_for(pump(), timeout=600)
+    except TimeoutError:
+        log.error("timed out")
+    finally:
+        await messenger.stop()
+
+
+asyncio.run(main())
diff --git a/src/matebot/commands.py b/src/matebot/commands.py
index 23fe15e..c5ed19a 100644
--- a/src/matebot/commands.py
+++ b/src/matebot/commands.py
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ def __init__(self, client, state, convo, messenger, config, latest_frame) -> Non
         self.config = config
         self.latest_frame = latest_frame  # () -> (frame dict | None, age seconds)
         self._awaiting_ready = False
+        self._ensure_brew_until = 0.0  # keep resending change-mode until brew is observed
+        self._last_brew_send = 0.0
         self._args: list[str] = []
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------- dispatch
@@ -92,6 +94,20 @@ async def _run_hook(self, hook: str, label: str) -> bool:
                 await asyncio.sleep(3 * (attempt + 1))
         return False
 
+    async def _start_brew(self) -> None:
+        """Send change-mode and keep enforcing it via the status stream.
+
+        The firmware never acknowledges mode changes, and a command sent
+        seconds after boot is silently swallowed while the controller still
+        applies startupMode. So: fire, then verify against frames and resend
+        until the machine actually reports brew.
+        """
+        await self.client.send_event("req:change-mode", mode=1)
+        log.info("brew requested; enforcing until confirmed")
+        self._last_brew_send = time.monotonic()
+        self._ensure_brew_until = self._last_brew_send + 90
+        self._awaiting_ready = True
+
     async def _machine_online(self) -> bool:
         _, age = self.latest_frame()
         return age < 20
@@ -102,8 +118,7 @@ async def _cmd_wake(self) -> None:
         if self.config.wake_hook:
             hook_ok = await self._run_hook(self.config.wake_hook, "wake")
         if online:
-            await self.client.send_event("req:change-mode", mode=1)
-            self._awaiting_ready = True
+            await self._start_brew()
             await self.messenger.send("🔥 Waking the machine — I'll tell you when it's hot.")
             return
         # Machine is off: arm the wake and act the moment it appears — no
@@ -134,6 +149,7 @@ async def _cmd_sleep(self) -> None:
             if not self.config.sleep_hook:
                 raise
         self._awaiting_ready = False
+        self._ensure_brew_until = 0.0
         if self.config.sleep_hook:
             await asyncio.sleep(3)  # let the machine settle into standby first
             if await self._run_hook(self.config.sleep_hook, "sleep"):
@@ -237,9 +253,10 @@ async def _cmd_digest(self) -> None:
     # ------------------------------------------------------------- frames
 
     async def on_frame(self, frame: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-        """Called for every status frame: ready ping after /wake, tank watch."""
+        """Called for every status frame: brew enforcement, ready ping, tank watch."""
         if frame.get("tp") != "evt:status":
             return
+        await self._enforce_brew(frame)
         await self._check_water(frame)
         if not self._awaiting_ready:
             return
@@ -263,10 +280,9 @@ async def on_machine_online(self, frame: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         if frame.get("m") == 0 and self.state.get("pending_wake_until", 0) > time.time():
             self.state.set("pending_wake_until", 0)
             try:
-                await self.client.send_event("req:change-mode", mode=1)
+                await self._start_brew()
             except MachineError:
                 return
-            self._awaiting_ready = True
             await self.messenger.send("🔥 Machine is up — switching to brew. I'll ping when hot.")
             return
         if not self.config.autoheat_window or frame.get("m") != 0:
@@ -278,15 +294,36 @@ async def on_machine_online(self, frame: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
             return
         self.state.set("autoheat_date", today)
         try:
-            await self.client.send_event("req:change-mode", mode=1)
+            await self._start_brew()
         except MachineError:
             return
-        self._awaiting_ready = True
         await self.messenger.send(
             "🌅 Good morning — the machine is on, switching it to brew. "
             "I'll ping when it's hot."
         )
 
+    async def _enforce_brew(self, frame: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        if not self._ensure_brew_until:
+            return
+        now = time.monotonic()
+        if frame.get("m") == 1:
+            log.info("brew mode confirmed")
+            self._ensure_brew_until = 0.0
+        elif now >= self._ensure_brew_until:
+            self._ensure_brew_until = 0.0
+            self._awaiting_ready = False
+            await self.messenger.send(
+                "⚠️ I kept asking, but the machine won't switch to brew — "
+                "check it (or tap the screen)."
+            )
+        elif frame.get("m") == 0 and now - self._last_brew_send >= 8:
+            self._last_brew_send = now
+            log.info("machine still in standby; resending change-mode")
+            try:
+                await self.client.send_event("req:change-mode", mode=1)
+            except MachineError:
+                pass
+
     async def _check_water(self, frame: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         """Warn once when the tank runs low; re-arm after a refill."""
         wl = frame.get("wl")
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index c43886f..a06e750 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -305,3 +305,48 @@ def now():
     router.config.autoheat_window = ""
     await router.on_machine_online(standby)   # disabled
     assert client.requests == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_brew_enforcer_resends_until_confirmed(setup, monkeypatch):
+    router, client, state, convo, fm, cache = setup
+    clock = {"t": 1000.0}
+    monkeypatch.setattr("matebot.commands.time.monotonic", lambda: clock["t"])
+
+    cache({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 0, "ct": 60.0, "tt": 0})
+    await router.handle("/wake")  # machine online -> first send + enforcer armed
+    assert client.requests == [("req:change-mode", {"mode": 1})]
+
+    standby = {"tp": "evt:status", "m": 0, "ct": 25.0, "tt": 0}
+    await router.on_frame(standby)  # 0s later: too soon to resend
+    assert len(client.requests) == 1
+
+    clock["t"] += 9  # command was swallowed during boot; resend kicks in
+    await router.on_frame(standby)
+    assert len(client.requests) == 2
+
+    await router.on_frame({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 1, "ct": 30.0, "tt": 93.0})  # confirmed
+    clock["t"] += 9
+    await router.on_frame({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 1, "ct": 40.0, "tt": 93.0})
+    assert len(client.requests) == 2  # no more resends after confirmation
+
+    # ready ping still works at temperature
+    await router.on_frame({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 1, "ct": 92.4, "tt": 93.0})
+    assert any("ready when you are" in t for t in fm.sent)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_brew_enforcer_gives_up_loudly(setup, monkeypatch):
+    router, client, state, convo, fm, cache = setup
+    clock = {"t": 1000.0}
+    monkeypatch.setattr("matebot.commands.time.monotonic", lambda: clock["t"])
+
+    cache({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 0, "ct": 60.0, "tt": 0})
+    await router.handle("/wake")
+    clock["t"] += 91  # machine never leaves standby
+    await router.on_frame({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 0, "ct": 25.0, "tt": 0})
+    assert any("won't switch to brew" in t for t in fm.sent)
+    # enforcer disarmed: nothing further happens
+    clock["t"] += 9
+    await router.on_frame({"tp": "evt:status", "m": 0, "ct": 25.0, "tt": 0})
+    assert len(client.requests) == 1