---
title: "Work until a check passes"
description: "Use /goal, /verify and /status to run a task against an independent check."
url: https://barestate.xyz/docs/guides/work-until-it-passes
---

# Work until a check passes

> Use /goal, /verify and /status to run a task against an independent check.

When you have a command that proves the work is done, `/goal` lets OMS keep going until that independent check passes, or until a cap stops it. That saves you from judging "done" yourself, since the check decides.

## Set a goal with a check

```text
/goal <text> --check "<command>"
```

`<text>` describes the work, and `--check` gives the command that must pass. `/goal` uses the same retry and budget caps as a normal task. It stops when the same failure repeats twice, when attempts reach the cap (5 by default), or when the budget runs out.

To clear a goal:

```text
/goal clear
```

## See where you stand

| Command | What it shows |
|---|---|
| `/status` | Requirements, proof and budget |
| `/requirements` | Toggles the requirements panel beside the chat |
| `/usage` | Tokens, spend, time and caps |
| `/diff [path]` | Task changes against the base |

These work while the agent runs. Other commands wait or refuse.

## Run the check yourself

```text
/verify [item-id]
```

`/verify` runs the independent offline verification without a model turn, which makes it the right thing to run after you edit files by hand.

## If it does not finish

If the run stops with `repeated_failure`, the same failure came back twice. Read the feedback, change the requirement or the code, and run `/goal` again.

If a requirement shows `blocked`, it was reopened 3 times. Look at the check output with `/status` and `/diff`.

If the checker is unavailable, OMS stops instead of allowing the work through. Run `/verify` again, and if it keeps failing, check that Surfpool is running with `oms doctor`.

You can stop a run at any time with `/cancel`. See [The independent checker](https://barestate.xyz/docs/concepts/independent-checker) for what a pass means.