diff --git a/data/scripts/o b/data/scripts/o
index c2623af..373bd03 100755
--- a/data/scripts/o
+++ b/data/scripts/o
@@ -349,8 +349,16 @@ cmd_approve() {
     
     echo "[$id] approving: $cmd"
     echo "          cwd: $cwd"
-    printf '%s approve' "$id" | ollie-9p write "$bypass_path"
-    echo "approved"
+    local result
+    result=$(printf '%s approve' "$id" | ollie-9p write "$bypass_path" 2>&1)
+    if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+        echo "approved"
+    elif [[ "$result" == *"unknown request ID"* ]]; then
+        echo "request already resolved (expired or handled elsewhere)"
+    else
+        echo "error: $result" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
 }
 
 cmd_deny() {
@@ -396,8 +404,16 @@ cmd_deny() {
     
     echo "[$id] denying: $cmd"
     echo "        cwd: $cwd"
-    printf '%s deny' "$id" | ollie-9p write "$bypass_path"
-    echo "denied"
+    local result
+    result=$(printf '%s deny' "$id" | ollie-9p write "$bypass_path" 2>&1)
+    if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+        echo "denied"
+    elif [[ "$result" == *"unknown request ID"* ]]; then
+        echo "request already resolved (expired or handled elsewhere)"
+    else
+        echo "error: $result" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
 }
 
 cmd_new() {