diff --git a/tools/watch.py b/tools/watch.py
index d412ae0..816d011 100644
--- a/tools/watch.py
+++ b/tools/watch.py
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ def main():
     ap.add_argument("--every", type=float, default=60)
     ap.add_argument("--stall", type=float, default=15, help="minutes without a tool call before a running agent "
                                                              "counts as stalled (0: off)")
+    ap.add_argument("--quiet-traffic", action="store_true",
+                    help="skip review items and messages (helpers handle them); wake only on stalls, stops and resting")
     args = ap.parse_args()
     project = projects.resolve(args.project)
     conn = sqlite3.connect(f"file:{project.db}?mode=ro", uri=True, timeout=30)
@@ -70,13 +72,14 @@ def main():
         found = []
         for eid, item, state, agent in conn.execute(
                 "SELECT id, item_id, to_state, agent FROM item_events WHERE id > ? ORDER BY id", (last_event,)):
-            if state in ("submitted", "approved", "changes_requested") and agent != args.me:   # not my own moves
+            if state in ("submitted", "approved", "changes_requested") and agent != args.me and not args.quiet_traffic:   # not my own moves
                 title = conn.execute("SELECT title FROM items WHERE id=?", (item,)).fetchone()[0]
                 found.append(f"item #{item} {state} by {agent}: {title}")
         for mid, sender, body in conn.execute(
                 "SELECT m.id, m.sender, m.body FROM messages m JOIN deliveries d ON d.message_id=m.id WHERE d.agent=? "
                 "AND m.id > ? AND m.origin != 'system' ORDER BY m.id", (args.me, last_msg)):
-            found.append(f"message #{mid} from {sender}: {body.splitlines()[0][:140]}")
+            if not args.quiet_traffic:
+                found.append(f"message #{mid} from {sender}: {(body.splitlines() or [''])[0][:140]}")
         if now["flags"] != start["flags"]:
             found.append("stop flags changed")
         if now["resting"] != start["resting"] and now["resting"]: