diff --git a/src/commands/helpers.ts b/src/commands/helpers.ts
index 9f0d1d5..02de7a8 100644
--- a/src/commands/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/commands/helpers.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { join } from "path"
 import { $ } from "bun"
 import * as git from "../git.ts"
 import * as vm from "../vm.ts"
@@ -16,6 +17,30 @@ export async function requireSession(branch: string): Promise<{ root: string; se
   return { root, session }
 }
 
+/** Resolve conflict markers in files using Claude, then stage them. */
+export async function resolveConflicts(
+  files: string[],
+  cwd: string,
+  onFile: (file: string) => void,
+): Promise<void> {
+  for (const file of files) {
+    onFile(file)
+    const content = await Bun.file(join(cwd, file)).text()
+
+    const resolved = await vm.claudePipe(
+      content,
+      "resolve this merge conflict. output ONLY the resolved file content with no markdown fences, no explanation, no surrounding text.",
+    )
+
+    if (resolved.exitCode !== 0) {
+      throw new Error(`Claude failed to resolve ${file}: ${resolved.stderr}`)
+    }
+
+    await Bun.write(join(cwd, file), resolved.stdout.trimEnd() + "\n")
+    await git.stageFile(file, cwd)
+  }
+}
+
 /** Stage all changes, generate a commit message, and commit. Returns true on success. */
 export async function saveChanges(worktree: string, branch: string, message?: string): Promise<boolean> {
   const spin = spinner("Staging changes", branch)
diff --git a/src/commands/merge.ts b/src/commands/merge.ts
index d7a24c1..2561de4 100644
--- a/src/commands/merge.ts
+++ b/src/commands/merge.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import { join } from "path"
 import * as git from "../git.ts"
 import * as vm from "../vm.ts"
 import * as state from "../state.ts"
 import { spinner } from "../spinner.ts"
 import { die } from "../fmt.ts"
 import { action as closeAction } from "./close.ts"
+import { resolveConflicts } from "./helpers.ts"
 
 export async function action(branch: string) {
   const root = await git.repoRoot()
@@ -28,23 +28,7 @@ export async function action(branch: string) {
 
   try {
     await vm.ensure((msg) => { spin.text = msg })
-
-    for (const file of conflicts) {
-      spin.text = `Resolving ${file}`
-      const content = await Bun.file(join(root, file)).text()
-
-      const resolved = await vm.claudePipe(
-        content,
-        "resolve this merge conflict. output ONLY the resolved file content with no markdown fences, no explanation, no surrounding text.",
-      )
-
-      if (resolved.exitCode !== 0) {
-        throw new Error(`Claude failed to resolve ${file}: ${resolved.stderr}`)
-      }
-
-      await Bun.write(join(root, file), resolved.stdout + "\n")
-      await git.stageFile(file, root)
-    }
+    await resolveConflicts(conflicts, root, (file) => { spin.text = `Resolving ${file}` })
 
     await git.commitMerge(root)
     spin.succeed(`Resolved ${conflicts.length} conflict(s) and merged ${branch}`)
diff --git a/src/commands/rebase.ts b/src/commands/rebase.ts
index dac9385..3689a1a 100644
--- a/src/commands/rebase.ts
+++ b/src/commands/rebase.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-import { join } from "path"
 import { $ } from "bun"
 import * as git from "../git.ts"
 import * as vm from "../vm.ts"
 import { spinner } from "../spinner.ts"
 import { die } from "../fmt.ts"
-import { requireSession } from "./helpers.ts"
+import { requireSession, resolveConflicts } from "./helpers.ts"
+
+const MAX_REBASE_ROUNDS = 10
 
 export async function action(branch: string) {
   const { root, session } = await requireSession(branch)
@@ -17,46 +18,39 @@ export async function action(branch: string) {
   const main = await git.mainBranch(root)
   const spin = spinner("Fetching origin", branch)
 
+  await $`git -C ${root} fetch origin ${main}`.nothrow().quiet()
+  spin.text = `Rebasing onto origin/${main}`
+
+  let conflicts = await git.rebase(`origin/${main}`, worktree)
+  if (conflicts.length === 0) {
+    spin.succeed(`Rebased ${branch} onto ${main}`)
+    return
+  }
+
+  spin.stop()
+  console.log(`◆ Rebase conflicts in ${conflicts.length} file(s). Resolving with Claude...`)
+  const spin2 = spinner("Starting container", branch)
+
   try {
-    await $`git -C ${root} fetch origin ${main}`.nothrow().quiet()
-    spin.text = `Rebasing onto origin/${main}`
-
-    let conflicts = await git.rebase(`origin/${main}`, worktree)
-    if (conflicts.length === 0) {
-      spin.succeed(`Rebased ${branch} onto ${main}`)
-      return
-    }
-
-    // Resolve conflicts with Claude, looping for each rebased commit
-    console.log(`◆ Rebase conflicts in ${conflicts.length} file(s). Resolving with Claude...`)
-    await vm.ensure((msg) => { spin.text = msg })
+    await vm.ensure((msg) => { spin2.text = msg })
 
     let round = 1
     while (conflicts.length > 0) {
-      for (const file of conflicts) {
-        spin.text = `Resolving ${file} (round ${round})`
-        const content = await Bun.file(join(worktree, file)).text()
-
-        const resolved = await vm.claudePipe(
-          content,
-          "resolve this merge conflict. output ONLY the resolved file content with no markdown fences, no explanation, no surrounding text.",
-        )
-
-        if (resolved.exitCode !== 0) {
-          throw new Error(`Claude failed to resolve ${file}: ${resolved.stderr}`)
-        }
-
-        await Bun.write(join(worktree, file), resolved.stdout + "\n")
-        await git.stageFile(file, worktree)
+      if (round > MAX_REBASE_ROUNDS) {
+        throw new Error(`Exceeded ${MAX_REBASE_ROUNDS} conflict resolution rounds — aborting rebase`)
       }
 
+      await resolveConflicts(conflicts, worktree, (file) => {
+        spin2.text = `Resolving ${file} (round ${round})`
+      })
+
       conflicts = await git.rebaseContinue(worktree)
       round++
     }
 
-    spin.succeed(`Rebased ${branch} onto ${main} (resolved ${round - 1} conflict round(s))`)
+    spin2.succeed(`Rebased ${branch} onto ${main} (resolved ${round - 1} conflict round(s))`)
   } catch (err) {
-    spin.fail(String((err as Error).message ?? err))
+    spin2.fail(String((err as Error).message ?? err))
     await git.rebaseAbort(worktree)
     process.exit(1)
   }