diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index 23d7b9394..6e63d2f26 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Fixed package commands such as `pi list`, `pi install`, and `pi update` to terminate after completing even if an extension leaves background handles open ([#5687](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/5687)).
 - Fixed `pi update` for pnpm global installs whose configured `global-bin-dir` no longer matches the active pnpm home ([#5689](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/5689)).
 - Fixed npm package specs that use ranges or tags (for example `@^1.2.7`) so installed package resources still load instead of being treated as mismatched exact pins ([#5695](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/5695)).
 - Fixed inherited OpenCode/OpenCode Go completion model metadata to omit long-retention cache fields for routes that reject `prompt_cache_retention` ([#5702](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/5702)).
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts
index 63d6ec1ef..00f3b208d 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts
@@ -467,6 +467,7 @@ export async function main(args: string[], options?: MainOptions) {
 	}
 
 	if (await handlePackageCommand(args, { extensionFactories: options?.extensionFactories })) {
+		process.exit(process.exitCode ?? 0);
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
index 1cff83f6f..4cc1ce5ec 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
@@ -37,12 +37,21 @@ describe("package commands", () => {
 		originalExitCode = process.exitCode;
 		originalExecPath = process.execPath;
 		process.exitCode = undefined;
+		vi.spyOn(process, "exit").mockImplementation(((code?: string | number | null) => {
+			if (code === undefined || code === null || Number(code) === 0) {
+				process.exitCode = undefined;
+			} else {
+				process.exitCode = code;
+			}
+			return undefined as never;
+		}) as typeof process.exit);
 		process.env[ENV_AGENT_DIR] = agentDir;
 		process.chdir(projectDir);
 	});
 
 	afterEach(() => {
 		vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+		vi.restoreAllMocks();
 		process.chdir(originalCwd);
 		process.exitCode = originalExitCode;
 		if (originalAgentDir === undefined) {