diff --git a/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.test.ts
index 470ff38351..10c90824f9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.test.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ import * as fs from 'node:fs/promises';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
 import { ApprovalMode } from '@google/gemini-cli-core/src/policy/types.js';
 
+const startMemoryServiceMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+
 vi.mock('../config/config.js', () => ({
   loadCliConfig: vi.fn(),
 }));
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@ vi.mock(
     const actual = await importOriginal();
     return {
       ...actual,
+      startMemoryService: startMemoryServiceMock,
       updatePolicy: vi.fn(),
       createPolicyUpdater: vi.fn(),
       ReadManyFilesTool: vi.fn(),
@@ -148,6 +151,8 @@ describe('GeminiAgent', () => {
   let agent: GeminiAgent;
 
   beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    startMemoryServiceMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
     mockConfig = {
       refreshAuth: vi.fn(),
       initialize: vi.fn(),
@@ -155,6 +160,7 @@ describe('GeminiAgent', () => {
       getFileSystemService: vi.fn(),
       setFileSystemService: vi.fn(),
       getContentGeneratorConfig: vi.fn(),
+      isAutoMemoryEnabled: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
       getActiveModel: vi.fn().mockReturnValue('gemini-pro'),
       getModel: vi.fn().mockReturnValue('gemini-pro'),
       getGeminiClient: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
@@ -354,6 +360,34 @@ describe('GeminiAgent', () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
   });
 
+  it('should start auto memory for new ACP sessions when enabled', async () => {
+    mockConfig.getContentGeneratorConfig = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
+      apiKey: 'test-key',
+    });
+    mockConfig.isAutoMemoryEnabled = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true);
+
+    await agent.newSession({
+      cwd: '/tmp',
+      mcpServers: [],
+    });
+
+    expect(startMemoryServiceMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(mockConfig);
+  });
+
+  it('should not start auto memory for new ACP sessions when disabled', async () => {
+    mockConfig.getContentGeneratorConfig = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
+      apiKey: 'test-key',
+    });
+    mockConfig.isAutoMemoryEnabled = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    await agent.newSession({
+      cwd: '/tmp',
+      mcpServers: [],
+    });
+
+    expect(startMemoryServiceMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('should return modes without plan mode when plan is disabled', async () => {
     mockConfig.getContentGeneratorConfig = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
       apiKey: 'test-key',
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.ts b/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.ts
index ed83417d56..57c7790b05 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/acp/acpClient.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
 import { loadCliConfig, type CliArgs } from '../config/config.js';
 import { runExitCleanup } from '../utils/cleanup.js';
 import { SessionSelector } from '../utils/sessionUtils.js';
+import { startAutoMemoryIfEnabled } from '../utils/autoMemory.js';
 
 import { CommandHandler } from './commandHandler.js';
 
@@ -324,6 +325,7 @@ export class GeminiAgent {
 
     await config.initialize();
     startupProfiler.flush(config);
+    startAutoMemoryIfEnabled(config);
 
     const geminiClient = config.getGeminiClient();
     const chat = await geminiClient.startChat();
@@ -465,6 +467,7 @@ export class GeminiAgent {
     // which starts the MCP servers and other heavy resources.
     await config.initialize();
     startupProfiler.flush(config);
+    startAutoMemoryIfEnabled(config);
 
     return config;
   }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/acp/acpResume.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/acp/acpResume.test.ts
index 3f75119d0b..6a92d68814 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/acp/acpResume.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/acp/acpResume.test.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ describe('GeminiAgent Session Resume', () => {
         unsubscribe: vi.fn(),
       },
       getApprovalMode: vi.fn().mockReturnValue('default'),
+      isAutoMemoryEnabled: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
       isPlanEnabled: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
       getModel: vi.fn().mockReturnValue('gemini-pro'),
       getHasAccessToPreviewModel: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
index f9906f6fb5..fdbaf57fbe 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ import {
   ApiKeyUpdatedEvent,
   LegacyAgentProtocol,
   type InjectionSource,
-  startMemoryService,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { validateAuthMethod } from '../config/auth.js';
 import process from 'node:process';
@@ -125,6 +124,7 @@ import { type BackgroundTask } from './hooks/useExecutionLifecycle.js';
 import { useVim } from './hooks/vim.js';
 import { type LoadableSettingScope, SettingScope } from '../config/settings.js';
 import { type InitializationResult } from '../core/initializer.js';
+import { startAutoMemoryIfEnabled } from '../utils/autoMemory.js';
 import { useFocus } from './hooks/useFocus.js';
 import { useKeypress, type Key } from './hooks/useKeypress.js';
 import { KeypressPriority } from './contexts/KeypressContext.js';
@@ -486,12 +486,7 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
       setConfigInitialized(true);
       startupProfiler.flush(config);
 
-      // Fire-and-forget Auto Memory service (skill extraction from past sessions)
-      if (config.isAutoMemoryEnabled()) {
-        startMemoryService(config).catch((e) => {
-          debugLogger.error('Failed to start memory service:', e);
-        });
-      }
+      startAutoMemoryIfEnabled(config);
 
       const sessionStartSource = resumedSessionData
         ? SessionStartSource.Resume
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/autoMemory.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/autoMemory.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9d4a04f632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/autoMemory.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import {
+  debugLogger,
+  startMemoryService,
+  type Config,
+} from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+
+export function startAutoMemoryIfEnabled(config: Config): void {
+  if (!config.isAutoMemoryEnabled()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  startMemoryService(config).catch((e) => {
+    debugLogger.error('Failed to start memory service:', e);
+  });
+}