diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index d82a0b6..20c2ab0 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ func runRoot(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 				return nil
 			},
 		}
+		cfg.Explain = explainFlag
 		return interactiveRun(Version, cmds, cfg, client, shellInfo)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 31613ee..619d4eb 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Provider ProviderConfig `toml:"provider"`
 	Safety   SafetyConfig   `toml:"safety"`
 	Debug    string         `toml:"debug"` // "none", "screen", or "file"
+	Explain  bool           `toml:"-"`     // runtime-only; set from CLI flag, not persisted
 }
 
 type ProviderConfig struct {
diff --git a/internal/executor/executor.go b/internal/executor/executor.go
index 514f026..a7722fb 100644
--- a/internal/executor/executor.go
+++ b/internal/executor/executor.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func Run(commands []llm.Command, cfg *config.Config, shellInfo shell.Info, expla
 		dimColor.Printf(" %d%% certainty\n", cmd.Certainty)
 
 		if explain && cmd.Explanation != "" {
-			dimColor.Printf("  💡 %s\n", cmd.Explanation)
+			dimColor.Fprintf(os.Stdout, "  💡 %s\n", cmd.Explanation)
 		}
 
 		if ShouldConfirm(cmd, cfg) {
diff --git a/internal/executor/executor_test.go b/internal/executor/executor_test.go
index adeba5c..ae8b60d 100644
--- a/internal/executor/executor_test.go
+++ b/internal/executor/executor_test.go
@@ -131,12 +131,13 @@ func TestRunExecutesSafeCommandWithoutConfirmation(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestRunWithExplainTrue(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg := defaultSafetyCfg()
+	const explanationText = "Unique explanation string that only appears in the explanation output."
 	cmds := []llm.Command{{
-		Command:     "echo explain-test",
+		Command:     "echo hello",
 		Description: "echo with explanation",
 		Risk:        "safe",
 		Certainty:   100,
-		Explanation: "Prints the text 'explain-test' to stdout.",
+		Explanation: explanationText,
 	}}
 
 	// Capture stdout to verify explanation is printed
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ func TestRunWithExplainTrue(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v, want nil", runErr)
 	}
 	output := buf.String()
-	if !strings.Contains(output, "explain-test") {
+	if !strings.Contains(output, explanationText) {
 		t.Errorf("output missing explanation text:\n%s", output)
 	}
 }