diff --git a/src/cortex-tui/src/app/streaming.rs b/src/cortex-tui/src/app/streaming.rs
index cd09013..03f5eb1 100644
--- a/src/cortex-tui/src/app/streaming.rs
+++ b/src/cortex-tui/src/app/streaming.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ use std::time::Instant;
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct StreamingState {
     pub is_streaming: bool,
+    /// Whether we are actively receiving tokens from the LLM.
+    /// False when waiting for first token (processing), true when streaming.
+    pub is_actively_streaming: bool,
     pub current_tool: Option<String>,
     pub tool_status: Option<String>,
     pub thinking: bool,
@@ -29,6 +32,7 @@ impl StreamingState {
     ///   If false, preserves existing timer (use for tool continuations).
     pub fn start(&mut self, tool: Option<String>, reset_timer: bool) {
         self.is_streaming = true;
+        self.is_actively_streaming = false; // Not yet receiving tokens
         self.thinking = true;
         self.current_tool = tool;
         self.task_started_at = Some(Instant::now());
@@ -39,6 +43,12 @@ impl StreamingState {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Mark that we started actively receiving tokens from the LLM.
+    /// This transitions from "Execute" (waiting) to "Streaming.." state.
+    pub fn start_active_streaming(&mut self) {
+        self.is_actively_streaming = true;
+    }
+
     /// Get the elapsed seconds since the task started
     pub fn elapsed_seconds(&self) -> u64 {
         self.task_started_at
@@ -57,6 +67,7 @@ impl StreamingState {
     /// Reset streaming state when task completes
     pub fn stop(&mut self) {
         self.is_streaming = false;
+        self.is_actively_streaming = false;
         self.thinking = false;
         self.current_tool = None;
         self.tool_status = None;
diff --git a/src/cortex-tui/src/runner/event_loop/streaming.rs b/src/cortex-tui/src/runner/event_loop/streaming.rs
index 25e5b8c..82ca818 100644
--- a/src/cortex-tui/src/runner/event_loop/streaming.rs
+++ b/src/cortex-tui/src/runner/event_loop/streaming.rs
@@ -305,6 +305,8 @@ impl EventLoop {
         match event {
             StreamEvent::Delta(delta) => {
                 self.stream_controller.append_text(&delta);
+                // Mark that we are now actively receiving tokens (transition from Execute to Streaming..)
+                self.app_state.streaming.start_active_streaming();
                 // Track text for interleaved display
                 self.app_state.append_streaming_text(&delta);
                 // Keep scroll at bottom if pinned (user hasn't scrolled up)
diff --git a/src/cortex-tui/src/views/minimal_session/view.rs b/src/cortex-tui/src/views/minimal_session/view.rs
index 725dd0e..9f48953 100644
--- a/src/cortex-tui/src/views/minimal_session/view.rs
+++ b/src/cortex-tui/src/views/minimal_session/view.rs
@@ -402,7 +402,12 @@ impl<'a> MinimalSessionView<'a> {
         } else if self.app_state.streaming.thinking && self.app_state.thinking_budget.is_some() {
             "Thinking".to_string()
         } else if self.app_state.streaming.is_streaming {
-            "Working".to_string()
+            // Differentiate between waiting for first token and actively streaming
+            if self.app_state.streaming.is_actively_streaming {
+                "Streaming..".to_string()
+            } else {
+                "Execute".to_string()
+            }
         } else {
             "Idle".to_string()
         }