diff --git a/.changeset/quiet-pandas-watch.md b/.changeset/quiet-pandas-watch.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..696d132
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/quiet-pandas-watch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"sideshow": patch
+---
+
+Allow Pi-compatible agents to hide the persistent Sideshow TUI status with `SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS=0` while retaining native tools and trace synchronization.
diff --git a/docs/connecting-agents.md b/docs/connecting-agents.md
index 77fb0ae..b312cf7 100644
--- a/docs/connecting-agents.md
+++ b/docs/connecting-agents.md
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ pi install npm:sideshow
 pi -e npm:sideshow
 ```
 
+The extension shows its current server or session in Pi's TUI status area by
+default. Set `SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS=0` before launching Pi to hide that status
+without disabling the native tools or automatic trace synchronization.
+
 ## MCP
 
 Tools: `publish_post`, `update_post`, `list_posts`, `get_post`,
diff --git a/extensions/sideshow.d.ts b/extensions/sideshow.d.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed5ee20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/extensions/sideshow.d.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export default function sideshowExtension(pi: Record<string, unknown>): void;
diff --git a/extensions/sideshow.js b/extensions/sideshow.js
index ade1cf2..4d42e64 100644
--- a/extensions/sideshow.js
+++ b/extensions/sideshow.js
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ function agentName() {
   return process.env.SIDESHOW_AGENT || "pi";
 }
 
+function showTuiStatus() {
+  return process.env.SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS !== "0";
+}
+
 function authHeaders(extra = {}) {
   return {
     ...(process.env.SIDESHOW_TOKEN
@@ -379,12 +383,16 @@ export default function sideshowExtension(pi) {
 
   pi.on("session_start", (_event, ctx) => {
     state.sessionId = reconstructSession(ctx);
-    ctx.ui.setStatus(
-      "sideshow",
-      state.sessionId
-        ? `sideshow ${state.sessionId}`
-        : `sideshow ${baseUrl().replace(/^https?:\/\//, "")}`,
-    );
+    if (showTuiStatus()) {
+      ctx.ui.setStatus(
+        "sideshow",
+        state.sessionId
+          ? `sideshow ${state.sessionId}`
+          : `sideshow ${baseUrl().replace(/^https?:\/\//, "")}`,
+      );
+    } else {
+      ctx.ui.setStatus("sideshow", undefined);
+    }
   });
 
   pi.on("turn_end", async (_event, ctx) => {
@@ -403,7 +411,11 @@ export default function sideshowExtension(pi) {
       const command = args.trim();
       if (command === "reset") {
         state.sessionId = process.env.SIDESHOW_SESSION || undefined;
-        ctx.ui.setStatus("sideshow", `sideshow ${baseUrl().replace(/^https?:\/\//, "")}`);
+        if (showTuiStatus()) {
+          ctx.ui.setStatus("sideshow", `sideshow ${baseUrl().replace(/^https?:\/\//, "")}`);
+        } else {
+          ctx.ui.setStatus("sideshow", undefined);
+        }
         ctx.ui.notify("Reset remembered sideshow session", "info");
         return;
       }
diff --git a/test/piExtension.test.ts b/test/piExtension.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a2f7e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/piExtension.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { afterEach, describe, it } from "node:test";
+
+import sideshowExtension from "../extensions/sideshow.js";
+
+const originalTuiStatus = process.env.SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS;
+
+type Status = [key: string, text: string | undefined];
+interface Context {
+  sessionManager: { getBranch: () => never[] };
+  ui: {
+    setStatus: (key: string, text: string | undefined) => number;
+    notify: () => void;
+  };
+}
+type Handler = (event: object, context: Context) => void;
+type Command = { handler: (args: string, context: Context) => Promise<void> };
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  if (originalTuiStatus === undefined) delete process.env.SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS;
+  else process.env.SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS = originalTuiStatus;
+});
+
+function loadExtension() {
+  const handlers = new Map<string, Handler>();
+  const commands = new Map<string, Command>();
+  const pi = {
+    on(event: string, handler: Handler) {
+      handlers.set(event, handler);
+    },
+    registerCommand(name: string, command: Command) {
+      commands.set(name, command);
+    },
+    registerTool() {},
+  };
+  sideshowExtension(pi);
+  return { handlers, commands };
+}
+
+function context(statuses: Status[]) {
+  return {
+    sessionManager: { getBranch: () => [] },
+    ui: {
+      setStatus: (key: string, text: string | undefined) => statuses.push([key, text]),
+      notify() {},
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+describe("Pi extension TUI status", () => {
+  it("shows status by default", () => {
+    delete process.env.SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS;
+    const { handlers } = loadExtension();
+    const statuses: Status[] = [];
+
+    handlers.get("session_start")!({}, context(statuses));
+
+    assert.deepEqual(statuses, [["sideshow", "sideshow localhost:8228"]]);
+  });
+
+  it("clears status when SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS=0", async () => {
+    process.env.SIDESHOW_TUI_STATUS = "0";
+    const { handlers, commands } = loadExtension();
+    const statuses: Status[] = [];
+    const ctx = context(statuses);
+
+    handlers.get("session_start")!({}, ctx);
+    await commands.get("sideshow")!.handler("reset", ctx);
+
+    assert.deepEqual(statuses, [
+      ["sideshow", undefined],
+      ["sideshow", undefined],
+    ]);
+  });
+});