diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 90483019..f031f0e4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ heading, and (b) bumping `pubspec.yaml` `version:` in the same commit.
 
 ### Added
 
+- Interrupt a running Claude turn (D-78) — Escape in the composer (when no
+  typeahead is open) or a Stop button shown while busy cancels the current
+  turn over the stream-json control channel. The escape hatch from a
+  runaway turn.
 - Native permission & AskUserQuestion prompts (T-166, T-175, T-176, T-179,
   D-78) — the composer becomes a prompt: Allow / Allow-and-don't-ask-again /
   Deny showing the command, or an AskUserQuestion option picker (single or
diff --git a/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_composer.dart b/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_composer.dart
index 0f914d45..56a09e4c 100644
--- a/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_composer.dart
+++ b/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_composer.dart
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ class ClaudeComposer extends StatefulWidget {
     this.hint = 'Message Claude…  (Enter to send · Shift+Enter for newline)',
     this.pasteResolver,
     this.slashCommandsResolver,
+    this.onInterrupt,
+    this.busy = false,
   });
 
   /// Called with the composed message (typed text plus attachment `@path`
@@ -65,6 +67,13 @@ class ClaudeComposer extends StatefulWidget {
   /// app-wide [ClaudeConfig]; injected in tests (T-152).
   final Iterable<String> Function()? slashCommandsResolver;
 
+  /// Interrupt the running turn — fired by the Stop button and by Escape
+  /// (when the typeahead is closed). The escape hatch for a runaway turn.
+  final VoidCallback? onInterrupt;
+
+  /// Whether a turn is in flight; shows the Stop affordance.
+  final bool busy;
+
   @override
   State<ClaudeComposer> createState() => _ClaudeComposerState();
 }
@@ -159,8 +168,21 @@ class _ClaudeComposerState extends State<ClaudeComposer> {
   }
 
   KeyEventResult _onKey(FocusNode node, KeyEvent e) {
-    if (_overlay == null) return KeyEventResult.ignored;
     if (e is! KeyDownEvent && e is! KeyRepeatEvent) return KeyEventResult.ignored;
+    // Escape: dismiss the typeahead if open, otherwise interrupt the running
+    // turn — the escape hatch from a runaway (D-78).
+    if (e.logicalKey == LogicalKeyboardKey.escape) {
+      if (_overlay != null) {
+        _closeTypeahead();
+        return KeyEventResult.handled;
+      }
+      if (widget.onInterrupt != null) {
+        widget.onInterrupt!();
+        return KeyEventResult.handled;
+      }
+      return KeyEventResult.ignored;
+    }
+    if (_overlay == null) return KeyEventResult.ignored;
     switch (e.logicalKey) {
       case LogicalKeyboardKey.arrowDown:
         _moveSelection(1);
@@ -168,9 +190,6 @@ class _ClaudeComposerState extends State<ClaudeComposer> {
       case LogicalKeyboardKey.arrowUp:
         _moveSelection(-1);
         return KeyEventResult.handled;
-      case LogicalKeyboardKey.escape:
-        _closeTypeahead();
-        return KeyEventResult.handled;
       case LogicalKeyboardKey.enter:
       case LogicalKeyboardKey.numpadEnter:
       case LogicalKeyboardKey.tab:
@@ -312,6 +331,23 @@ class _ClaudeComposerState extends State<ClaudeComposer> {
             crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.stretch,
             mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
             children: [
+              // Running turn → an always-reachable Stop (also bound to Escape).
+              if (widget.busy && widget.onInterrupt != null)
+                Padding(
+                  padding: const EdgeInsets.only(bottom: 8),
+                  child: Row(
+                    children: [
+                      ClideText('running…', muted: true, fontSize: clideFontMeta),
+                      const Spacer(),
+                      ClideButton(
+                        label: 'Stop  ⎋',
+                        variant: ClideButtonVariant.primary,
+                        onPressed: widget.onInterrupt,
+                        semanticHint: 'Interrupt the running turn (Escape)',
+                      ),
+                    ],
+                  ),
+                ),
               if (_attachments.isNotEmpty)
                 Padding(
                   padding: const EdgeInsets.only(bottom: 8),
diff --git a/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_pane.dart b/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_pane.dart
index cc24aa62..c7cd0e1b 100644
--- a/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_pane.dart
+++ b/lib/builtin/claude/src/claude_pane.dart
@@ -311,10 +311,16 @@ class _ClaudePaneState extends State<ClaudePane> {
               if (prompt != null && _session != null)
                 ToolPromptCard(prompt: prompt, onResolve: _session!.resolvePrompt)
               else
-                ClaudeComposer(
-                  enabled: _session != null,
-                  onSubmit: _send,
-                  pasteResolver: () => resolveClipboardAttachment(const NativeClipboard()),
+                StreamBuilder<bool>(
+                  stream: _session?.busyStream,
+                  initialData: _session?.busy ?? false,
+                  builder: (context, busySnap) => ClaudeComposer(
+                    enabled: _session != null,
+                    busy: busySnap.data ?? false,
+                    onInterrupt: _session?.interrupt,
+                    onSubmit: _send,
+                    pasteResolver: () => resolveClipboardAttachment(const NativeClipboard()),
+                  ),
                 ),
             ],
           );
diff --git a/lib/builtin/claude/src/stream_json_session.dart b/lib/builtin/claude/src/stream_json_session.dart
index 26e3b2ee..91ca03b3 100644
--- a/lib/builtin/claude/src/stream_json_session.dart
+++ b/lib/builtin/claude/src/stream_json_session.dart
@@ -186,6 +186,19 @@ class StreamJsonSession {
   Set<String> get promptedToolUseIds => _promptedToolUses;
   Map<String, bool> get toolUseOutcomes => _toolUseOutcome;
 
+  /// Whether a turn is in flight (between a send and claude's `result`). Drives
+  /// the composer's Stop affordance.
+  bool _busy = false;
+  final _busyCtl = StreamController<bool>.broadcast();
+  bool get busy => _busy;
+  Stream<bool> get busyStream => _busyCtl.stream;
+
+  void _setBusy(bool value) {
+    if (_busy == value) return;
+    _busy = value;
+    _busyCtl.add(value);
+  }
+
   /// The prompt currently awaiting a decision (queue head), or null.
   ToolPrompt? get pendingPrompt => _queue.isEmpty ? null : _queue.first;
 
@@ -220,6 +233,8 @@ class StreamJsonSession {
       _onControlRequest(ev);
       return;
     }
+    // A `result` ends the turn — clear the busy/interruptible state.
+    if (ev['type'] == 'result') _setBusy(false);
     // Items + assistant model/tokens reuse the transcript parser (identical
     // message.content shapes).
     final parsed = parseTranscriptChunk(trimmed);
@@ -320,6 +335,18 @@ class StreamJsonSession {
       isSidechain: false,
       text: text,
     ));
+    _setBusy(true);
+  }
+
+  /// Interrupt the running turn (the escape hatch for a runaway — D-78). Sends
+  /// the `interrupt` control_request; claude cancels the current turn and ends
+  /// it with a `result`, which clears [busy]. Safe to call when idle.
+  void interrupt() {
+    _proc.writeLine(jsonEncode({
+      'type': 'control_request',
+      'request_id': 'interrupt-${_localSeq++}',
+      'request': {'subtype': 'interrupt'},
+    }));
   }
 
   Future<void> dispose() async {
@@ -328,5 +355,6 @@ class StreamJsonSession {
     await _items.close();
     await _statusCtl.close();
     await _pendingCtl.close();
+    await _busyCtl.close();
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/builtin/claude/claude_composer_test.dart b/test/builtin/claude/claude_composer_test.dart
index d7f5492a..a9213c66 100644
--- a/test/builtin/claude/claude_composer_test.dart
+++ b/test/builtin/claude/claude_composer_test.dart
@@ -231,5 +231,66 @@ void main() {
       await tester.pumpAndSettle();
       expect(submitted, ['just text']);
     });
+
+    testWidgets('Escape interrupts when the typeahead is closed', (tester) async {
+      var interrupts = 0;
+      await tester.pumpWidget(harness(
+        f,
+        ClaudeComposer(onSubmit: (_) {}, onInterrupt: () => interrupts++),
+      ));
+      tester.widget<EditableText>(find.byType(EditableText)).focusNode.requestFocus();
+      await tester.pump();
+
+      await tester.sendKeyEvent(LogicalKeyboardKey.escape);
+      await tester.pump();
+      expect(interrupts, 1);
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('Escape closes the typeahead before it interrupts', (tester) async {
+      var interrupts = 0;
+      await tester.pumpWidget(harness(
+        f,
+        ClaudeComposer(
+          onSubmit: (_) {},
+          onInterrupt: () => interrupts++,
+          slashCommandsResolver: () => ['model'],
+        ),
+      ));
+      await tester.enterText(find.byType(EditableText), '/mo');
+      await tester.pump();
+      expect(find.text('/model'), findsOneWidget);
+
+      // First Escape only dismisses the popup; it does not interrupt.
+      await tester.sendKeyEvent(LogicalKeyboardKey.escape);
+      await tester.pump();
+      expect(find.text('/model'), findsNothing);
+      expect(interrupts, 0);
+
+      // A second Escape, now with the popup closed, interrupts.
+      await tester.sendKeyEvent(LogicalKeyboardKey.escape);
+      await tester.pump();
+      expect(interrupts, 1);
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('the Stop button shows when busy and interrupts on tap', (tester) async {
+      var interrupts = 0;
+      await tester.pumpWidget(harness(
+        f,
+        ClaudeComposer(onSubmit: (_) {}, busy: true, onInterrupt: () => interrupts++),
+      ));
+      expect(find.text('Stop  ⎋'), findsOneWidget);
+
+      await tester.tap(find.text('Stop  ⎋'));
+      await tester.pump();
+      expect(interrupts, 1);
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('no Stop button when idle', (tester) async {
+      await tester.pumpWidget(harness(
+        f,
+        ClaudeComposer(onSubmit: (_) {}, onInterrupt: () {}),
+      ));
+      expect(find.text('Stop  ⎋'), findsNothing);
+    });
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/builtin/claude/stream_json_session_test.dart b/test/builtin/claude/stream_json_session_test.dart
index 3d3f8f73..5c26e06f 100644
--- a/test/builtin/claude/stream_json_session_test.dart
+++ b/test/builtin/claude/stream_json_session_test.dart
@@ -337,6 +337,26 @@ void main() {
     expect(resp['error'], contains('mystery_subtype'));
   });
 
+  test('interrupt writes an interrupt control_request', () async {
+    session.interrupt();
+    final sent = jsonDecode(proc.writes.single) as Map<String, dynamic>;
+    expect(sent['type'], 'control_request');
+    expect((sent['request'] as Map)['subtype'], 'interrupt');
+    expect(sent['request_id'], isNotNull);
+  });
+
+  test('busy goes true on send and false on a result event', () async {
+    final busy = <bool>[];
+    session.busyStream.listen(busy.add);
+    session.send('hi');
+    expect(session.busy, isTrue);
+
+    proc.emit(jsonEncode({'type': 'result', 'subtype': 'success'}));
+    await Future<void>.delayed(Duration.zero);
+    expect(session.busy, isFalse);
+    expect(busy, [true, false]);
+  });
+
   test('dispose kills the process', () async {
     await session.dispose();
     expect(proc.killed, isTrue);