diff --git a/docs/chat-apps.md b/docs/chat-apps.md
index 2e3bbd750..7d63f4419 100644
--- a/docs/chat-apps.md
+++ b/docs/chat-apps.md
@@ -577,6 +577,10 @@ Give nanobot its own email account. It polls **IMAP** for incoming mail and repl
 > - `allowFrom`: Add your email address. Use `["*"]` to accept emails from anyone.
 > - `smtpUseTls` and `smtpUseSsl` default to `true` / `false` respectively, which is correct for Gmail (port 587 + STARTTLS). No need to set them explicitly.
 > - Set `"autoReplyEnabled": false` if you only want to read/analyze emails without sending automatic replies.
+> - `postAction`: Optional post-processing for processed emails: `"delete"` or `"move"` (default `null`).
+>   This runs only after an accepted email is successfully delivered to the AI pipeline.
+> - `postActionMoveMailbox`: Destination mailbox used when `postAction` is `"move"` (for example `"Processed"` or `"[Gmail]/Trash"`).
+> - `postActionIgnoreSkipped`: If `true` (default), skipped emails are ignored for post-action and not moved/deleted.
 > - `allowedAttachmentTypes`: Save inbound attachments matching these MIME types — `["*"]` for all, e.g. `["application/pdf", "image/*"]` (default `[]` = disabled).
 > - `maxAttachmentSize`: Max size per attachment in bytes (default `2000000` / 2MB).
 > - `maxAttachmentsPerEmail`: Max attachments to save per email (default `5`).
@@ -597,6 +601,9 @@ Give nanobot its own email account. It polls **IMAP** for incoming mail and repl
       "smtpPassword": "your-app-password",
       "fromAddress": "my-nanobot@gmail.com",
       "allowFrom": ["your-real-email@gmail.com"],
+      "postAction": "move",
+      "postActionMoveMailbox": "[Gmail]/Trash",
+      "postActionIgnoreSkipped": true,
       "allowedAttachmentTypes": ["application/pdf", "image/*"]
     }
   }
diff --git a/nanobot/channels/email.py b/nanobot/channels/email.py
index 436e964cc..21d175bfa 100644
--- a/nanobot/channels/email.py
+++ b/nanobot/channels/email.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from email.parser import BytesParser
 from email.utils import parseaddr
 from fnmatch import fnmatch
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, Literal
 
 from loguru import logger
 from pydantic import Field
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ class EmailConfig(Base):
     auto_reply_enabled: bool = True
     poll_interval_seconds: int = 30
     mark_seen: bool = True
+    post_action: Literal["delete", "move"] | None = None
+    post_action_move_mailbox: str | None = None
+    post_action_ignore_skipped: bool = True
     max_body_chars: int = 12000
     subject_prefix: str = "Re: "
     allow_from: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
@@ -150,7 +153,9 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
         poll_seconds = max(5, int(self.config.poll_interval_seconds))
         while self._running:
             try:
-                inbound_items = await asyncio.to_thread(self._fetch_new_messages)
+                inbound_items, skipped_uids = await asyncio.to_thread(self._fetch_new_messages)
+                should_apply_post_action = self._should_apply_post_action()
+                post_actions_uids: set[str] = set()
                 for item in inbound_items:
                     sender = item["sender"]
                     subject = item.get("subject", "")
@@ -161,13 +166,27 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
                     if message_id:
                         self._last_message_id_by_chat[sender] = message_id
 
-                    await self._handle_message(
-                        sender_id=sender,
-                        chat_id=sender,
-                        content=item["content"],
-                        media=item.get("media") or None,
-                        metadata=item.get("metadata", {}),
-                    )
+                    try:
+                        await self._handle_message(
+                            sender_id=sender,
+                            chat_id=sender,
+                            content=item["content"],
+                            media=item.get("media") or None,
+                            metadata=item.get("metadata", {}),
+                        )
+                    except Exception:
+                        self.logger.exception("Error delivering email from {}", sender)
+                        continue
+
+                    uid = str((item.get("metadata") or {}).get("uid") or "")
+                    if uid and should_apply_post_action:
+                        post_actions_uids.add(uid)
+
+                if should_apply_post_action and not self.config.post_action_ignore_skipped:
+                    post_actions_uids.update(skipped_uids)
+
+                if post_actions_uids:
+                    await asyncio.to_thread(self._apply_post_actions_batch, sorted(post_actions_uids))
             except Exception:
                 self.logger.exception("Polling error")
 
@@ -295,6 +314,9 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
         if not self.config.smtp_password:
             missing.append("smtp_password")
 
+        if self.config.post_action == "move" and not (self.config.post_action_move_mailbox or "").strip():
+            missing.append("post_action_move_mailbox")
+
         if missing:
             self.logger.error("Channel not configured, missing: {}", ', '.join(missing))
             return False
@@ -318,7 +340,7 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
             smtp.login(self.config.smtp_username, self.config.smtp_password)
             smtp.send_message(msg)
 
-    def _fetch_new_messages(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    def _fetch_new_messages(self) -> tuple[list[dict[str, Any]], set[str]]:
         """Poll IMAP and return parsed unread messages."""
         return self._fetch_messages(
             search_criteria=("UNSEEN",),
@@ -341,7 +363,7 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
         if end_date <= start_date:
             return []
 
-        return self._fetch_messages(
+        messages, _ = self._fetch_messages(
             search_criteria=(
                 "SINCE",
                 self._format_imap_date(start_date),
@@ -352,6 +374,7 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
             dedupe=False,
             limit=max(1, int(limit)),
         )
+        return messages
 
     def _fetch_messages(
         self,
@@ -359,8 +382,9 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
         mark_seen: bool,
         dedupe: bool,
         limit: int,
-    ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    ) -> tuple[list[dict[str, Any]], set[str]]:
         messages: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+        skipped_uids: set[str] = set()
         cycle_uids: set[str] = set()
 
         for attempt in range(2):
@@ -371,15 +395,16 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
                     dedupe,
                     limit,
                     messages,
+                    skipped_uids,
                     cycle_uids,
                 )
-                return messages
+                return messages, skipped_uids
             except Exception as exc:
                 if attempt == 1 or not self._is_stale_imap_error(exc):
                     raise
                 self.logger.warning("IMAP connection went stale, retrying once: {}", exc)
 
-        return messages
+        return messages, skipped_uids
 
     def _fetch_messages_once(
         self,
@@ -388,6 +413,7 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
         dedupe: bool,
         limit: int,
         messages: list[dict[str, Any]],
+        skipped_uids: set[str],
         cycle_uids: set[str],
     ) -> None:
         """Fetch messages by arbitrary IMAP search criteria."""
@@ -429,6 +455,8 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
                     self._remember_processed_uid(uid, dedupe, cycle_uids)
                     if mark_seen:
                         client.store(imap_id, "+FLAGS", "\\Seen")
+                    if uid:
+                        skipped_uids.add(uid)
                     continue
 
                 # --- Anti-spoofing: verify Authentication-Results ---
@@ -440,6 +468,8 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
                         sender,
                     )
                     self._remember_processed_uid(uid, dedupe, cycle_uids)
+                    if uid:
+                        skipped_uids.add(uid)
                     continue
                 if self.config.verify_dkim and not dkim_pass:
                     self.logger.warning(
@@ -448,12 +478,16 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
                         sender,
                     )
                     self._remember_processed_uid(uid, dedupe, cycle_uids)
+                    if uid:
+                        skipped_uids.add(uid)
                     continue
 
                 if not self.is_allowed(sender):
                     self._remember_processed_uid(uid, dedupe, cycle_uids)
                     if mark_seen:
                         client.store(imap_id, "+FLAGS", "\\Seen")
+                    if uid:
+                        skipped_uids.add(uid)
                     continue
 
                 subject = self._decode_header_value(parsed.get("Subject", ""))
@@ -588,6 +622,48 @@ class EmailChannel(BaseChannel):
                 # Evict a random half to cap memory; mark_seen is the primary dedup
                 self._processed_uids = set(list(self._processed_uids)[len(self._processed_uids) // 2:])
 
+    def _should_apply_post_action(self) -> bool:
+        return self.config.post_action in {"delete", "move"}
+
+    def _apply_post_actions_batch(self, post_actions_uids: list[str]) -> None:
+        if not self._should_apply_post_action() or not post_actions_uids:
+            return
+
+        mailbox = self.config.imap_mailbox or "INBOX"
+        client = self._open_imap_client(mailbox=mailbox)
+        if client is None:
+            return
+
+        try:
+            for uid in post_actions_uids:
+                if uid:
+                    self._apply_post_action(client, uid)
+        finally:
+            self._close_imap_client(client)
+
+    def _apply_post_action(self, client: Any, uid: str) -> None:
+        status, data = client.search(None, "UID", uid)
+        if status != "OK" or not data or not data[0]:
+            self.logger.warning("Post-action skipped: UID {} not found", uid)
+            return
+
+        imap_id = data[0].split()[0]
+        action = self.config.post_action
+
+        if action == "delete":
+            client.store(imap_id, "+FLAGS", "\\Deleted")
+            client.expunge()
+            return
+
+        if action == "move":
+            target = (self.config.post_action_move_mailbox or "").strip()
+            status, _ = client.copy(imap_id, target)
+            if status != "OK":
+                self.logger.warning("Post-action move failed for UID {} to mailbox {}", uid, target)
+                return
+            client.store(imap_id, "+FLAGS", "\\Deleted")
+            client.expunge()
+
     @classmethod
     def _is_stale_imap_error(cls, exc: Exception) -> bool:
         message = str(exc).lower()
diff --git a/tests/channels/test_email_channel.py b/tests/channels/test_email_channel.py
index f6af636ed..c1fa1f8e5 100644
--- a/tests/channels/test_email_channel.py
+++ b/tests/channels/test_email_channel.py
@@ -79,17 +79,294 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_parses_unseen_and_marks_seen(monkeypatch) -> None:
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: fake)
 
     channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(), MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, skipped_uids = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["sender"] == "alice@example.com"
     assert items[0]["subject"] == "Invoice"
     assert "Please pay" in items[0]["content"]
     assert fake.store_calls == [(b"1", "+FLAGS", "\\Seen")]
+    assert skipped_uids == set()
 
     # Same UID should be deduped in-process.
-    items_again = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items_again, skipped_again = channel._fetch_new_messages()
     assert items_again == []
+    assert skipped_again == set()
+
+
+def test_fetch_new_messages_returns_accepted_and_skipped_uids(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    raw = _make_raw_email(subject="Invoice", body="Please pay")
+
+    class FakeIMAP:
+        def login(self, _user: str, _pw: str):
+            return "OK", [b"logged in"]
+
+        def select(self, _mailbox: str):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def search(self, *_args):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def fetch(self, _imap_id: bytes, _parts: str):
+            return "OK", [(b"1 (UID 123 BODY[] {200})", raw), b")"]
+
+        def store(self, _imap_id: bytes, _op: str, _flags: str):
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def logout(self):
+            return "BYE", [b""]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: FakeIMAP())
+
+    channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(post_action="delete"), MessageBus())
+    items, skipped_uids = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+
+    assert len(items) == 1
+    assert items[0]["metadata"]["uid"] == "123"
+    assert skipped_uids == set()
+
+
+def test_fetch_new_messages_rejected_returns_skipped_uid(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    raw = _make_raw_email(from_addr="Nanobot <bot@example.com>", subject="Loop test")
+
+    class FakeIMAP:
+        def login(self, _user: str, _pw: str):
+            return "OK", [b"logged in"]
+
+        def select(self, _mailbox: str):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def search(self, *_args):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def fetch(self, _imap_id: bytes, _parts: str):
+            return "OK", [(b"1 (UID 123 BODY[] {200})", raw), b")"]
+
+        def store(self, _imap_id: bytes, _op: str, _flags: str):
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def logout(self):
+            return "BYE", [b""]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: FakeIMAP())
+
+    channel_skip = EmailChannel(
+        _make_config(from_address="bot@example.com", post_action="delete", post_action_ignore_skipped=True),
+        MessageBus(),
+    )
+    assert channel_skip._fetch_new_messages() == ([], {"123"})
+
+    channel_apply = EmailChannel(
+        _make_config(from_address="bot@example.com", post_action="delete", post_action_ignore_skipped=False),
+        MessageBus(),
+    )
+    items, skipped_uids = channel_apply._fetch_new_messages()
+    assert items == []
+    assert skipped_uids == {"123"}
+
+
+def test_apply_post_actions_batch_delete_uses_one_connection(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    raw = _make_raw_email(subject="Invoice", body="Please pay")
+
+    class FakeIMAP:
+        def __init__(self) -> None:
+            self.search_calls: list[tuple] = []
+            self.store_calls: list[tuple[bytes, str, str]] = []
+            self.expunge_calls = 0
+
+        def login(self, _user: str, _pw: str):
+            return "OK", [b"logged in"]
+
+        def select(self, _mailbox: str):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def search(self, *_args):
+            self.search_calls.append(_args)
+            if len(_args) >= 3 and _args[1] == "UID":
+                return "OK", [b"1"]
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def fetch(self, _imap_id: bytes, _parts: str):
+            return "OK", [(b"1 (UID 123 BODY[] {200})", raw), b")"]
+
+        def store(self, imap_id: bytes, op: str, flags: str):
+            self.store_calls.append((imap_id, op, flags))
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def expunge(self):
+            self.expunge_calls += 1
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def logout(self):
+            return "BYE", [b""]
+
+    fake = FakeIMAP()
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: fake)
+
+    channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(post_action="delete"), MessageBus())
+    channel._apply_post_actions_batch(["123", "124"])
+
+    assert (b"1", "+FLAGS", "\\Deleted") in fake.store_calls
+    assert fake.expunge_calls == 2
+    uid_searches = [call for call in fake.search_calls if len(call) >= 3 and call[1] == "UID"]
+    assert uid_searches == [(None, "UID", "123"), (None, "UID", "124")]
+
+
+def test_apply_post_actions_batch_move_copies_then_deletes(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    class FakeIMAP:
+        def __init__(self) -> None:
+            self.copy_calls: list[tuple[bytes, str]] = []
+            self.store_calls: list[tuple[bytes, str, str]] = []
+            self.expunge_calls = 0
+
+        def login(self, _user: str, _pw: str):
+            return "OK", [b"logged in"]
+
+        def select(self, _mailbox: str):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def search(self, *_args):
+            return "OK", [b"1"]
+
+        def copy(self, imap_id: bytes, mailbox: str):
+            self.copy_calls.append((imap_id, mailbox))
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def store(self, imap_id: bytes, op: str, flags: str):
+            self.store_calls.append((imap_id, op, flags))
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def expunge(self):
+            self.expunge_calls += 1
+            return "OK", [b""]
+
+        def logout(self):
+            return "BYE", [b""]
+
+    fake = FakeIMAP()
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: fake)
+
+    channel = EmailChannel(
+        _make_config(post_action="move", post_action_move_mailbox="Processed"),
+        MessageBus(),
+    )
+    channel._apply_post_actions_batch(["123"])
+
+    assert fake.copy_calls == [(b"1", "Processed")]
+    assert fake.store_calls == [(b"1", "+FLAGS", "\\Deleted")]
+    assert fake.expunge_calls == 1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_start_applies_post_action_only_after_delivery(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    calls: list[str] = []
+
+    channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(post_action="delete"), MessageBus())
+
+    fetched = ([
+        {
+            "sender": "alice@example.com",
+            "subject": "Hi",
+            "message_id": "<m1@example.com>",
+            "content": "hello",
+            "metadata": {"uid": "123"},
+        }
+    ], [])
+
+    def _fake_fetch():
+        channel._running = False
+        return fetched
+
+    async def _fake_handle_message(**_kwargs):
+        calls.append("delivered")
+
+    def _fake_batch(actions):
+        assert calls == ["delivered"]
+        assert actions == ["123"]
+        calls.append("post_action")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_fetch_new_messages", _fake_fetch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_handle_message", _fake_handle_message)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_apply_post_actions_batch", _fake_batch)
+
+    await channel.start()
+    assert calls == ["delivered", "post_action"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_start_skips_post_action_when_delivery_fails(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    called = {"post_action": False}
+
+    channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(post_action="delete"), MessageBus())
+
+    fetched = ([
+        {
+            "sender": "alice@example.com",
+            "subject": "Hi",
+            "message_id": "<m1@example.com>",
+            "content": "hello",
+            "metadata": {"uid": "123"},
+        }
+    ], [])
+
+    def _fake_fetch():
+        channel._running = False
+        return fetched
+
+    async def _fake_handle_message(**_kwargs):
+        raise RuntimeError("delivery failed")
+
+    def _fake_batch(_actions):
+        called["post_action"] = True
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_fetch_new_messages", _fake_fetch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_handle_message", _fake_handle_message)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_apply_post_actions_batch", _fake_batch)
+
+    await channel.start()
+    assert called["post_action"] is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_start_keeps_post_actions_for_successful_emails_when_later_delivery_fails(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    called_actions: list[str] = []
+
+    channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(post_action="delete"), MessageBus())
+
+    fetched = ([
+        {
+            "sender": "alice@example.com",
+            "subject": "First",
+            "message_id": "<m1@example.com>",
+            "content": "ok",
+            "metadata": {"uid": "123"},
+        },
+        {
+            "sender": "bob@example.com",
+            "subject": "Second",
+            "message_id": "<m2@example.com>",
+            "content": "fail",
+            "metadata": {"uid": "124"},
+        },
+    ], [])
+
+    def _fake_fetch():
+        channel._running = False
+        return fetched
+
+    async def _fake_handle_message(**kwargs):
+        if kwargs["chat_id"] == "bob@example.com":
+            raise RuntimeError("delivery failed")
+
+    def _fake_batch(actions):
+        called_actions.extend(actions)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_fetch_new_messages", _fake_fetch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_handle_message", _fake_handle_message)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(channel, "_apply_post_actions_batch", _fake_batch)
+
+    await channel.start()
+    assert called_actions == ["123"]
 
 
 def test_fetch_new_messages_skips_self_sent_email_and_marks_seen(monkeypatch) -> None:
@@ -122,14 +399,16 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_skips_self_sent_email_and_marks_seen(monkeypatch) ->
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: fake)
 
     channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(from_address="bot@example.com"), MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, skipped_uids = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert items == []
+    assert skipped_uids == {"123"}
     assert fake.store_calls == [(b"1", "+FLAGS", "\\Seen")]
 
     # Same UID should still be deduped after being ignored.
-    items_again = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items_again, skipped_again = channel._fetch_new_messages()
     assert items_again == []
+    assert skipped_again == set()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -189,7 +468,7 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_skips_self_sent_across_identity_sources(
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: fake)
 
     channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(**config_override), MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert items == []
     assert fake.store_calls == [(b"1", "+FLAGS", "\\Seen")]
@@ -237,7 +516,7 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_retries_once_when_imap_connection_goes_stale(monkeyp
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", _factory)
 
     channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(), MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert len(fake_instances) == 2
@@ -283,7 +562,7 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_keeps_messages_collected_before_stale_retry(monkeypa
     monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.email.imaplib.IMAP4_SSL", lambda _h, _p: FlakyIMAP())
 
     channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(), MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert [item["subject"] for item in items] == ["First", "Second"]
 
@@ -306,7 +585,12 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_skips_missing_mailbox(monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(), MessageBus())
 
-    assert channel._fetch_new_messages() == []
+    assert channel._fetch_new_messages() == ([], set())
+
+
+def test_validate_config_requires_move_mailbox_for_move_post_action() -> None:
+    channel = EmailChannel(_make_config(post_action="move", post_action_move_mailbox=None), MessageBus())
+    assert channel._validate_config() is False
 
 
 def test_extract_text_body_falls_back_to_html() -> None:
@@ -662,7 +946,7 @@ def test_spoofed_email_rejected_when_verify_enabled(monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(verify_dkim=True, verify_spf=True)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 0, "Spoofed email without auth headers should be rejected"
 
@@ -679,7 +963,7 @@ def test_email_with_valid_auth_results_accepted(monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(verify_dkim=True, verify_spf=True)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["sender"] == "alice@example.com"
@@ -698,7 +982,7 @@ def test_email_with_partial_auth_rejected(monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(verify_dkim=True, verify_spf=True)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 0, "Email with dkim=fail should be rejected"
 
@@ -711,7 +995,7 @@ def test_backward_compat_verify_disabled(monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(verify_dkim=False, verify_spf=False)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1, "With verification disabled, emails should be accepted as before"
 
@@ -724,7 +1008,7 @@ def test_email_content_tagged_with_email_context(monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(verify_dkim=False, verify_spf=False)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["content"].startswith("[EMAIL-CONTEXT]"), (
@@ -836,7 +1120,7 @@ def test_fetch_new_messages_ignores_unauthorized_sender_before_attachments(monke
     )
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
 
-    assert channel._fetch_new_messages() == []
+    assert channel._fetch_new_messages() == ([], {"500"})
     assert called["attachments"] is False
     assert fake.store_calls == [(b"1", "+FLAGS", "\\Seen")]
 
@@ -851,7 +1135,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_saves_pdf(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(allowed_attachment_types=["application/pdf"], verify_dkim=False, verify_spf=False)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert len(items[0]["media"]) == 1
@@ -871,7 +1155,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_disabled_by_default(monkeypatch) -> None:
     cfg = _make_config(verify_dkim=False, verify_spf=False)
     assert cfg.allowed_attachment_types == []
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["media"] == []
@@ -896,7 +1180,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_mime_type_filter(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
         verify_spf=False,
     )
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["media"] == []
@@ -920,7 +1204,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_empty_allowed_types_rejects_all(tmp_path, monkeypat
         verify_spf=False,
     )
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["media"] == []
@@ -944,7 +1228,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_wildcard_pattern(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
         verify_spf=False,
     )
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert len(items[0]["media"]) == 1
@@ -967,7 +1251,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_size_limit(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
         verify_spf=False,
     )
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert items[0]["media"] == []
@@ -1003,7 +1287,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_max_count(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
         verify_spf=False,
     )
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert len(items[0]["media"]) == 2
@@ -1021,7 +1305,7 @@ def test_extract_attachments_sanitizes_filename(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
 
     cfg = _make_config(allowed_attachment_types=["*"], verify_dkim=False, verify_spf=False)
     channel = EmailChannel(cfg, MessageBus())
-    items = channel._fetch_new_messages()
+    items, _ = channel._fetch_new_messages()
 
     assert len(items) == 1
     assert len(items[0]["media"]) == 1