diff --git a/apps/interfaces/tui/src/action.rs b/apps/interfaces/tui/src/action.rs
index 6927692..5225110 100644
--- a/apps/interfaces/tui/src/action.rs
+++ b/apps/interfaces/tui/src/action.rs
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ pub fn apply_action(state: &mut crate::state::AppStateRest, action: Action) {
             state.mark_dirty();
         }
         Action::Tick => {
+            state.misc.tick_count = state.misc.tick_count.wrapping_add(1);
+
             // Drain turn events from the shared queue — collect events first,
             // then mutate state, to avoid borrow conflicts with the mutex guard.
             let events: Vec<zesdex_infrastructure::TurnEvent> = state
diff --git a/apps/interfaces/tui/src/turn.rs b/apps/interfaces/tui/src/turn.rs
index 55af1d5..9e4ff02 100644
--- a/apps/interfaces/tui/src/turn.rs
+++ b/apps/interfaces/tui/src/turn.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use std::collections::VecDeque;
 
 use tracing::{debug, info, warn};
 
+use zesdex_domain::core::tool_call::sanitize_tool_arguments;
 use zesdex_domain::core::ChatMessage;
 use zesdex_infrastructure::llm::provider::LlmClient;
 use zesdex_infrastructure::tools::{all_tools, tool_defs, ToolCtx};
@@ -67,6 +68,26 @@ fn run_turn(
     let tools = all_tools();
     let defs = tool_defs(&tools);
 
+    // Build tool description list for the system prompt
+    let tool_desc: Vec<String> = tools.iter().map(|t| {
+        let params = t.parameters();
+        let required = params.get("required").and_then(|r| r.as_array())
+            .map(|a| a.iter().filter_map(|v| v.as_str()).collect::<Vec<_>>().join(", "))
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        format!("- {}: {} (required params: {})", t.name(), t.description(), required)
+    }).collect();
+    let tool_desc_text = tool_desc.join("\n");
+
+    // Prepend system message with tool descriptions
+    let sys_msg = ChatMessage::system(format!(
+        "You are Zesdex, an AI coding agent with access to the following tools:\n\n{}\n\n\
+         When using tools, always provide ALL required parameters in your tool call. \
+         If a tool returns an error, fix the issue before retrying. \
+         Respond conversationally and helpfully.",
+        tool_desc_text
+    ));
+    messages.insert(0, sys_msg);
+
     let tool_ctx = ToolCtx::builder()
         .session_dir(session_dir.clone())
         .workspaces(workspace_roots.to_vec())
@@ -118,7 +139,7 @@ fn run_turn(
 
                 for tc in &tool_calls {
                     let name = &tc.function.name;
-                    let args = tc.function.arguments.clone();
+                    let args = sanitize_tool_arguments(&tc.function.arguments);
 
                     debug!("executing tool: {name}");