diff --git a/src/node/services/tools/bash.test.ts b/src/node/services/tools/bash.test.ts
index da063ddd3b..b7c012a027 100644
--- a/src/node/services/tools/bash.test.ts
+++ b/src/node/services/tools/bash.test.ts
@@ -1009,25 +1009,22 @@ describe("bash tool", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it("should block sleep command at start of script", async () => {
+  it("should allow sleep command at start of script", async () => {
     using testEnv = createTestBashTool();
     const tool = testEnv.tool;
     const args: BashToolArgs = {
-      script: "sleep 5",
-      timeout_secs: 10,
+      script: "sleep 0.1; echo done",
+      timeout_secs: 5,
       run_in_background: false,
       display_name: "test",
     };
 
     const result = (await tool.execute!(args, mockToolCallOptions)) as BashToolResult;
 
-    expect(result.success).toBe(false);
-    if (!result.success) {
-      expect(result.error).toContain("do not start commands with sleep");
-      expect(result.error).toContain("prefer <10s sleeps in busy loops");
-      expect(result.error).toContain("while ! condition");
-      expect(result.exitCode).toBe(-1);
-      expect(result.wall_duration_ms).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+    if (result.success) {
+      expect(result.output).toBe("done");
+      expect(result.exitCode).toBe(0);
     }
   });
 
@@ -1096,7 +1093,6 @@ describe("zombie process cleanup", () => {
 
     // Spawn a background sleep process that would become a zombie if not cleaned up
     // Use a unique marker to identify our test process
-    // Note: Start with echo to avoid triggering standalone sleep blocker
     const marker = `zombie-test-${Date.now()}`;
     const args: BashToolArgs = {
       script: `echo "${marker}"; sleep 100 & echo $!`,
diff --git a/src/node/services/tools/bash.ts b/src/node/services/tools/bash.ts
index 8fc77e9dba..92e76d5290 100644
--- a/src/node/services/tools/bash.ts
+++ b/src/node/services/tools/bash.ts
@@ -36,17 +36,6 @@ function validateScript(script: string, config: ToolConfiguration): BashToolResu
     };
   }
 
-  // Block sleep at the beginning of commands - they waste time waiting
-  if (/^\s*sleep\s/.test(script)) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error:
-        "do not start commands with sleep; prefer <10s sleeps in busy loops (e.g., 'while ! condition; do sleep 1; done' or 'until condition; do sleep 1; done').",
-      exitCode: -1,
-      wall_duration_ms: 0,
-    };
-  }
-
   // Detect redundant cd to working directory
   const cdPattern = /^\s*cd\s+['"]?([^'";&|]+)['"]?\s*[;&|]/;
   const match = cdPattern.exec(script);