[DGX Station][CLI&UX] nemohermes exec returns exit code 0 after an iteration-limit failure
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Description
## NVBug 6471146
**Description**
When Hermes reaches the configured maximum iteration count before completing a tool-driven request, `nemohermes exec` returns exit code 0 even though the requested operation and output artifact are incomplete.
The post-limit summary can also contain a new tool call that is never executed because the agent loop has already stopped. This makes the successful process status inconsistent with the actual task result.
**Steps to Reproduce**
1. Create a Hermes sandbox and configure an MCP server.
2. Submit a tool-driven request that cannot complete within the configured iteration limit:
```
nemohermes {sandbox} exec --timeout 1200 -- \
hermes chat -Q --max-turns 15 -q \
"Use the configured Blender MCP server to complete an OVRTX render and verify the output artifact."
```
3. Allow the request to reach the maximum iteration count.
4. Record the final summary and shell exit code.
**Expected Result**
- Non-zero exit code or explicit incomplete status
- Summary should not contain unexecuted tool calls
- Automation should distinguish completed vs incomplete runs
**Actual Result**
`nemohermes exec` returns exit code 0. The summary contains a proposed tool call that was never executed. The requested artifact is absent.
**Environment**
- DGX Station, Ubuntu 24.04 aarch64
- NemoClaw 0.0.84, Hermes Agent 0.18.0
- Model: Nemotron 3 Ultra 550B
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the iteration-limit case with `nemohermes exec` and the shown `hermes chat` command, recording the shell status and final summary. Trace the CLI entry point that handles the stopped agent loop and summary, then verify that incomplete runs return a non-zero or explicit incomplete status and do not report an unexecuted tool call.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- typescript
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 52/100