diff --git a/crates/cli/src/lib.rs b/crates/cli/src/lib.rs
index 31f186ec..1ee04c95 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/lib.rs
@@ -92,15 +92,14 @@ struct Cli {
     no_mouse_capture: bool,
     #[arg(long = "skip-onboarding")]
     skip_onboarding: bool,
-    #[arg(
-        short = 'p',
-        long = "prompt",
-        value_name = "PROMPT",
-        conflicts_with = "prompt"
-    )]
+    #[arg(short = 'p', long = "prompt", value_name = "PROMPT")]
     prompt_flag: Option<String>,
-    #[arg(value_name = "PROMPT")]
-    prompt: Option<String>,
+    #[arg(
+        value_name = "PROMPT",
+        trailing_var_arg = true,
+        allow_hyphen_values = true
+    )]
+    prompt: Vec<String>,
     #[command(subcommand)]
     command: Option<Commands>,
 }
@@ -513,7 +512,17 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
         None => {
             let resolved_runtime = resolve_runtime_for_dispatch(&mut store, &runtime_overrides);
             let mut forwarded = Vec::new();
-            if let Some(prompt) = cli.prompt_flag.clone().or_else(|| cli.prompt.clone()) {
+            let prompt = cli.prompt_flag.iter().chain(cli.prompt.iter()).fold(
+                String::new(),
+                |mut acc, part| {
+                    if !acc.is_empty() {
+                        acc.push(' ');
+                    }
+                    acc.push_str(part);
+                    acc
+                },
+            );
+            if !prompt.is_empty() {
                 forwarded.push("--prompt".to_string());
                 forwarded.push(prompt);
             }
@@ -2533,7 +2542,31 @@ mod tests {
         let cli = parse_ok(&["deepseek", "-p", "Reply with exactly OK."]);
 
         assert_eq!(cli.prompt_flag.as_deref(), Some("Reply with exactly OK."));
-        assert_eq!(cli.prompt, None);
+        assert!(cli.prompt.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_split_top_level_prompt_words_for_windows_cmd_shims() {
+        let cli = parse_ok(&["deepseek", "hello", "world"]);
+
+        assert_eq!(cli.prompt, vec!["hello", "world"]);
+        assert!(cli.command.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn prompt_flag_keeps_split_tail_words_for_windows_cmd_shims() {
+        let cli = parse_ok(&["deepseek", "-p", "hello", "world"]);
+
+        assert_eq!(cli.prompt_flag.as_deref(), Some("hello"));
+        assert_eq!(cli.prompt, vec!["world"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn known_subcommands_still_parse_before_prompt_tail() {
+        let cli = parse_ok(&["deepseek", "doctor"]);
+
+        assert!(cli.prompt.is_empty());
+        assert!(matches!(cli.command, Some(Commands::Doctor(_))));
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/main.rs b/crates/tui/src/main.rs
index 2ab4f2de..1557a25a 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/main.rs
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ struct Cli {
     feature_toggles: FeatureToggles,
 
     /// Send a one-shot prompt (non-interactive)
-    #[arg(short, long)]
-    prompt: Option<String>,
+    #[arg(short, long, value_name = "PROMPT", num_args = 1..)]
+    prompt: Vec<String>,
 
     /// YOLO mode: enable agent tools + shell execution
     #[arg(long)]
@@ -265,7 +265,13 @@ enum Commands {
 #[derive(Args, Debug, Clone)]
 struct ExecArgs {
     /// Prompt to send to the model
-    prompt: String,
+    #[arg(
+        value_name = "PROMPT",
+        required = true,
+        trailing_var_arg = true,
+        allow_hyphen_values = true
+    )]
+    prompt: Vec<String>,
     /// Override model for this run
     #[arg(long)]
     model: Option<String>,
@@ -277,6 +283,10 @@ struct ExecArgs {
     json: bool,
 }
 
+fn join_prompt_parts(parts: &[String]) -> String {
+    parts.join(" ")
+}
+
 #[derive(Args, Debug, Clone, Default)]
 struct SetupArgs {
     /// Initialize MCP configuration at the configured path
@@ -654,6 +664,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                     .model
                     .or_else(|| config.default_text_model.clone())
                     .unwrap_or_else(|| config.default_model());
+                let prompt = join_prompt_parts(&args.prompt);
                 if args.auto || cli.yolo {
                     let workspace = cli.workspace.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| {
                         std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from("."))
@@ -666,7 +677,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                     run_exec_agent(
                         &config,
                         &model,
-                        &args.prompt,
+                        &prompt,
                         workspace,
                         max_subagents,
                         true,
@@ -675,9 +686,9 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                     )
                     .await
                 } else if args.json {
-                    run_one_shot_json(&config, &model, &args.prompt).await
+                    run_one_shot_json(&config, &model, &prompt).await
                 } else {
-                    run_one_shot(&config, &model, &args.prompt).await
+                    run_one_shot(&config, &model, &prompt).await
                 }
             }
             Commands::Review(args) => {
@@ -765,7 +776,8 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     // One-shot prompt mode
     let config = load_config_from_cli(&cli)?;
-    if let Some(prompt) = cli.prompt {
+    if !cli.prompt.is_empty() {
+        let prompt = join_prompt_parts(&cli.prompt);
         let model = config.default_model();
         return run_one_shot(&config, &model, &prompt).await;
     }
@@ -4567,6 +4579,34 @@ mod terminal_mode_tests {
         Cli::try_parse_from(args).expect("CLI args should parse")
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn prompt_flag_accepts_split_prompt_words_for_windows_cmd_shims() {
+        let cli = parse_cli(&["deepseek", "-p", "hello", "world"]);
+
+        assert_eq!(cli.prompt, vec!["hello", "world"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn exec_accepts_split_prompt_words_for_windows_cmd_shims() {
+        let cli = parse_cli(&["deepseek", "exec", "hello", "world"]);
+        let Some(Commands::Exec(args)) = cli.command else {
+            panic!("expected exec command");
+        };
+
+        assert_eq!(args.prompt, vec!["hello", "world"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn exec_keeps_flags_before_split_prompt_words() {
+        let cli = parse_cli(&["deepseek", "exec", "--json", "hello", "world"]);
+        let Some(Commands::Exec(args)) = cli.command else {
+            panic!("expected exec command");
+        };
+
+        assert!(args.json);
+        assert_eq!(args.prompt, vec!["hello", "world"]);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn alternate_screen_defaults_on_in_auto_mode() {
         let cli = parse_cli(&["deepseek"]);