diff --git a/cmd/core-runtime/main.go b/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
index d5c718b..f273411 100644
--- a/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
+++ b/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
@@ -817,8 +817,12 @@ func main() {
 			stableAct := interactiondomain.ClassifySpeechAct(utterance.Content, utterance.CorrectsUtteranceID)
 			if stableReply, stable := interactiondomain.StableConversationalReply(utterance.Content, stableAct); stable {
 				planningReply = stableReply
+				needsCognition = false
 			}
 		}
+		if identityReply != "" {
+			needsCognition = false
+		}
 		log.Printf("chat response final message=%q act=%s deterministic=%s handled=%t fallback=%q planning=%q", utterance.Content, semantic.Interpretation.SpeechAct, deterministicSpeechAct, responseResult.Handled, semantic.Reply, planningReply)
 		response := interaction.ChatMessageResponse{
 			ConversationID:                 conversation.ID,