diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
index 305cedc97f..efae760cc1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
@@ -525,12 +525,22 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
     refreshStatic();
   }, [refreshStatic, isAlternateBuffer, app, config]);
 
+  const [editorError, setEditorError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const {
+    isEditorDialogOpen,
+    openEditorDialog,
+    handleEditorSelect,
+    exitEditorDialog,
+  } = useEditorSettings(settings, setEditorError, historyManager.addItem);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     coreEvents.on(CoreEvent.ExternalEditorClosed, handleEditorClose);
+    coreEvents.on(CoreEvent.RequestEditorSelection, openEditorDialog);
     return () => {
       coreEvents.off(CoreEvent.ExternalEditorClosed, handleEditorClose);
+      coreEvents.off(CoreEvent.RequestEditorSelection, openEditorDialog);
     };
-  }, [handleEditorClose]);
+  }, [handleEditorClose, openEditorDialog]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (
@@ -544,6 +554,9 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
     }
   }, [bannerVisible, bannerText, settings, config, refreshStatic]);
 
+  const { isSettingsDialogOpen, openSettingsDialog, closeSettingsDialog } =
+    useSettingsCommand();
+
   const {
     isThemeDialogOpen,
     openThemeDialog,
@@ -739,17 +752,6 @@ Logging in with Google... Restarting Gemini CLI to continue.
     onAuthError,
   ]);
 
-  const [editorError, setEditorError] = useState<string | null>(null);
-  const {
-    isEditorDialogOpen,
-    openEditorDialog,
-    handleEditorSelect,
-    exitEditorDialog,
-  } = useEditorSettings(settings, setEditorError, historyManager.addItem);
-
-  const { isSettingsDialogOpen, openSettingsDialog, closeSettingsDialog } =
-    useSettingsCommand();
-
   const { isModelDialogOpen, openModelDialog, closeModelDialog } =
     useModelCommand();
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/editors/editorSettingsManager.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/editors/editorSettingsManager.ts
index 5a9b2e3147..6869cd7f8e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/editors/editorSettingsManager.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/editors/editorSettingsManager.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import {
   allowEditorTypeInSandbox,
-  checkHasEditorType,
+  hasValidEditorCommand,
   type EditorType,
   EDITOR_DISPLAY_NAMES,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class EditorSettingsManager {
         disabled: false,
       },
       ...editorTypes.map((type) => {
-        const hasEditor = checkHasEditorType(type);
+        const hasEditor = hasValidEditorCommand(type);
         const isAllowedInSandbox = allowEditorTypeInSandbox(type);
 
         let labelSuffix = !isAllowedInSandbox
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.test.tsx
index 2b39fae02c..68c2b93f22 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.test.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import { SettingScope } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { MessageType } from '../types.js';
 import {
   type EditorType,
-  checkHasEditorType,
+  hasValidEditorCommand,
   allowEditorTypeInSandbox,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type { UseHistoryManagerReturn } from './useHistoryManager.js';
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async () => {
   const actual = await vi.importActual('@google/gemini-cli-core');
   return {
     ...actual,
-    checkHasEditorType: vi.fn(() => true),
+    hasValidEditorCommand: vi.fn(() => true),
     allowEditorTypeInSandbox: vi.fn(() => true),
   };
 });
 
-const mockCheckHasEditorType = vi.mocked(checkHasEditorType);
+const mockHasValidEditorCommand = vi.mocked(hasValidEditorCommand);
 const mockAllowEditorTypeInSandbox = vi.mocked(allowEditorTypeInSandbox);
 
 describe('useEditorSettings', () => {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ describe('useEditorSettings', () => {
     mockAddItem = vi.fn();
 
     // Reset mock implementations to default
-    mockCheckHasEditorType.mockReturnValue(true);
+    mockHasValidEditorCommand.mockReturnValue(true);
     mockAllowEditorTypeInSandbox.mockReturnValue(true);
   });
 
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ describe('useEditorSettings', () => {
   it('should not set preference for unavailable editors', () => {
     render(<TestComponent />);
 
-    mockCheckHasEditorType.mockReturnValue(false);
+    mockHasValidEditorCommand.mockReturnValue(false);
 
     const editorType: EditorType = 'vscode';
     const scope = SettingScope.User;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.ts
index fa15202661..0a432e303b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useEditorSettings.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ import { MessageType } from '../types.js';
 import type { EditorType } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import {
   allowEditorTypeInSandbox,
-  checkHasEditorType,
+  hasValidEditorCommand,
   getEditorDisplayName,
+  coreEvents,
+  CoreEvent,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type { UseHistoryManagerReturn } from './useHistoryManager.js';
 
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ export const useEditorSettings = (
     (editorType: EditorType | undefined, scope: LoadableSettingScope) => {
       if (
         editorType &&
-        (!checkHasEditorType(editorType) ||
+        (!hasValidEditorCommand(editorType) ||
           !allowEditorTypeInSandbox(editorType))
       ) {
         return;
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ export const useEditorSettings = (
         );
         setEditorError(null);
         setIsEditorDialogOpen(false);
+        coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: editorType });
       } catch (error) {
         setEditorError(`Failed to set editor preference: ${error}`);
       }
@@ -75,6 +78,7 @@ export const useEditorSettings = (
 
   const exitEditorDialog = useCallback(() => {
     setIsEditorDialogOpen(false);
+    coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: undefined });
   }, []);
 
   return {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/scheduler/confirmation.ts b/packages/core/src/scheduler/confirmation.ts
index e5e94d5501..4fba731cfb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/scheduler/confirmation.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/scheduler/confirmation.ts
@@ -21,9 +21,14 @@ import type { ValidatingToolCall, WaitingToolCall } from './types.js';
 import type { Config } from '../config/config.js';
 import type { SchedulerStateManager } from './state-manager.js';
 import type { ToolModificationHandler } from './tool-modifier.js';
-import type { EditorType } from '../utils/editor.js';
+import {
+  resolveEditorAsync,
+  type EditorType,
+  NO_EDITOR_AVAILABLE_ERROR,
+} from '../utils/editor.js';
 import type { DiffUpdateResult } from '../ide/ide-client.js';
 import { debugLogger } from '../utils/debugLogger.js';
+import { coreEvents } from '../utils/events.js';
 
 export interface ConfirmationResult {
   outcome: ToolConfirmationOutcome;
@@ -155,7 +160,16 @@ export async function resolveConfirmation(
     }
 
     if (outcome === ToolConfirmationOutcome.ModifyWithEditor) {
-      await handleExternalModification(deps, toolCall, signal);
+      const modResult = await handleExternalModification(
+        deps,
+        toolCall,
+        signal,
+      );
+      // Editor is not available - emit error feedback and stay in the loop
+      // to return to previous confirmation screen.
+      if (modResult.error) {
+        coreEvents.emitFeedback('error', modResult.error);
+      }
     } else if (response.payload && 'newContent' in response.payload) {
       await handleInlineModification(deps, toolCall, response.payload, signal);
       outcome = ToolConfirmationOutcome.ProceedOnce;
@@ -182,8 +196,18 @@ async function notifyHooks(
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Result of attempting external modification.
+ * If error is defined, the modification failed.
+ */
+interface ExternalModificationResult {
+  /** Error message if the modification failed */
+  error?: string;
+}
+
 /**
  * Handles modification via an external editor (e.g. Vim).
+ * Returns a result indicating success or failure with an error message.
  */
 async function handleExternalModification(
   deps: {
@@ -193,10 +217,16 @@ async function handleExternalModification(
   },
   toolCall: ValidatingToolCall,
   signal: AbortSignal,
-): Promise<void> {
+): Promise<ExternalModificationResult> {
   const { state, modifier, getPreferredEditor } = deps;
-  const editor = getPreferredEditor();
-  if (!editor) return;
+
+  const preferredEditor = getPreferredEditor();
+  const editor = await resolveEditorAsync(preferredEditor, signal);
+
+  if (!editor) {
+    // No editor available - return failure with error message
+    return { error: NO_EDITOR_AVAILABLE_ERROR };
+  }
 
   const result = await modifier.handleModifyWithEditor(
     state.firstActiveCall as WaitingToolCall,
@@ -211,6 +241,7 @@ async function handleExternalModification(
       newInvocation,
     );
   }
+  return {};
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/utils/editor.test.ts b/packages/core/src/utils/editor.test.ts
index 6e24dacb8d..d46c58d677 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/utils/editor.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/utils/editor.test.ts
@@ -14,17 +14,22 @@ import {
   type Mock,
 } from 'vitest';
 import {
-  checkHasEditorType,
+  hasValidEditorCommand,
+  hasValidEditorCommandAsync,
   getDiffCommand,
   openDiff,
   allowEditorTypeInSandbox,
   isEditorAvailable,
+  isEditorAvailableAsync,
+  resolveEditorAsync,
   type EditorType,
 } from './editor.js';
-import { execSync, spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { coreEvents, CoreEvent } from './events.js';
+import { exec, execSync, spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import { debugLogger } from './debugLogger.js';
 
 vi.mock('child_process', () => ({
+  exec: vi.fn(),
   execSync: vi.fn(),
   spawn: vi.fn(),
   spawnSync: vi.fn(() => ({ error: null, status: 0 })),
@@ -51,7 +56,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('checkHasEditorType', () => {
+  describe('hasValidEditorCommand', () => {
     const testCases: Array<{
       editor: EditorType;
       commands: string[];
@@ -89,7 +94,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
           (execSync as Mock).mockReturnValue(
             Buffer.from(`/usr/bin/${commands[0]}`),
           );
-          expect(checkHasEditorType(editor)).toBe(true);
+          expect(hasValidEditorCommand(editor)).toBe(true);
           expect(execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`command -v ${commands[0]}`, {
             stdio: 'ignore',
           });
@@ -103,7 +108,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
                 throw new Error(); // first command not found
               })
               .mockReturnValueOnce(Buffer.from(`/usr/bin/${commands[1]}`)); // second command found
-            expect(checkHasEditorType(editor)).toBe(true);
+            expect(hasValidEditorCommand(editor)).toBe(true);
             expect(execSync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
           });
         }
@@ -113,7 +118,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
           (execSync as Mock).mockImplementation(() => {
             throw new Error(); // all commands not found
           });
-          expect(checkHasEditorType(editor)).toBe(false);
+          expect(hasValidEditorCommand(editor)).toBe(false);
           expect(execSync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(commands.length);
         });
 
@@ -123,7 +128,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
           (execSync as Mock).mockReturnValue(
             Buffer.from(`C:\\Program Files\\...\\${win32Commands[0]}`),
           );
-          expect(checkHasEditorType(editor)).toBe(true);
+          expect(hasValidEditorCommand(editor)).toBe(true);
           expect(execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
             `where.exe ${win32Commands[0]}`,
             {
@@ -142,7 +147,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
               .mockReturnValueOnce(
                 Buffer.from(`C:\\Program Files\\...\\${win32Commands[1]}`),
               ); // second command found
-            expect(checkHasEditorType(editor)).toBe(true);
+            expect(hasValidEditorCommand(editor)).toBe(true);
             expect(execSync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
           });
         }
@@ -152,7 +157,7 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
           (execSync as Mock).mockImplementation(() => {
             throw new Error(); // all commands not found
           });
-          expect(checkHasEditorType(editor)).toBe(false);
+          expect(hasValidEditorCommand(editor)).toBe(false);
           expect(execSync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(win32Commands.length);
         });
       });
@@ -542,4 +547,167 @@ describe('editor utils', () => {
       expect(isEditorAvailable('neovim')).toBe(true);
     });
   });
+
+  // Helper to create a mock exec that simulates async behavior
+  const mockExecAsync = (implementation: (cmd: string) => boolean): void => {
+    (exec as unknown as Mock).mockImplementation(
+      (
+        cmd: string,
+        callback: (error: Error | null, stdout: string, stderr: string) => void,
+      ) => {
+        if (implementation(cmd)) {
+          callback(null, '/usr/bin/cmd', '');
+        } else {
+          callback(new Error('Command not found'), '', '');
+        }
+      },
+    );
+  };
+
+  describe('hasValidEditorCommandAsync', () => {
+    it('should return true if vim command exists', async () => {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { value: 'linux' });
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('vim'));
+      expect(await hasValidEditorCommandAsync('vim')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false if vim command does not exist', async () => {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { value: 'linux' });
+      mockExecAsync(() => false);
+      expect(await hasValidEditorCommandAsync('vim')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should check zed and zeditor commands in order', async () => {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { value: 'linux' });
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('zeditor'));
+      expect(await hasValidEditorCommandAsync('zed')).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('isEditorAvailableAsync', () => {
+    it('should return false for undefined editor', async () => {
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync(undefined)).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false for empty string editor', async () => {
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync('')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false for invalid editor type', async () => {
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync('invalid-editor')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return true for vscode when installed and not in sandbox mode', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('code'));
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', '');
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync('vscode')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false for vscode when not installed', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync(() => false);
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync('vscode')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false for vscode in sandbox mode', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('code'));
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', 'sandbox');
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync('vscode')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return true for vim in sandbox mode', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('vim'));
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', 'sandbox');
+      expect(await isEditorAvailableAsync('vim')).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('resolveEditorAsync', () => {
+    it('should return the preferred editor when available', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('vim'));
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', '');
+      const result = await resolveEditorAsync('vim');
+      expect(result).toBe('vim');
+    });
+
+    it('should request editor selection when preferred editor is not installed', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync(() => false);
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', '');
+      const resolvePromise = resolveEditorAsync('vim');
+      setTimeout(
+        () => coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: 'neovim' }),
+        0,
+      );
+      const result = await resolvePromise;
+      expect(result).toBe('neovim');
+    });
+
+    it('should request editor selection when preferred GUI editor cannot be used in sandbox mode', async () => {
+      mockExecAsync((cmd) => cmd.includes('code'));
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', 'sandbox');
+      const resolvePromise = resolveEditorAsync('vscode');
+      setTimeout(
+        () => coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: 'vim' }),
+        0,
+      );
+      const result = await resolvePromise;
+      expect(result).toBe('vim');
+    });
+
+    it('should request editor selection when no preference is set', async () => {
+      const emitSpy = vi.spyOn(coreEvents, 'emit');
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', '');
+
+      const resolvePromise = resolveEditorAsync(undefined);
+
+      // Simulate UI selection
+      setTimeout(
+        () => coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: 'vim' }),
+        0,
+      );
+
+      const result = await resolvePromise;
+      expect(result).toBe('vim');
+      expect(emitSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(CoreEvent.RequestEditorSelection);
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined when editor selection is cancelled', async () => {
+      const resolvePromise = resolveEditorAsync(undefined);
+
+      // Simulate UI cancellation (exit dialog)
+      setTimeout(
+        () => coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: undefined }),
+        0,
+      );
+
+      const result = await resolvePromise;
+      expect(result).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined when abort signal is triggered', async () => {
+      const controller = new AbortController();
+      const resolvePromise = resolveEditorAsync(undefined, controller.signal);
+
+      setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 0);
+
+      const result = await resolvePromise;
+      expect(result).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should request editor selection in sandbox mode when no preference is set', async () => {
+      const emitSpy = vi.spyOn(coreEvents, 'emit');
+      vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', 'sandbox');
+
+      const resolvePromise = resolveEditorAsync(undefined);
+
+      // Simulate UI selection
+      setTimeout(
+        () => coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { editor: 'vim' }),
+        0,
+      );
+
+      const result = await resolvePromise;
+      expect(result).toBe('vim');
+      expect(emitSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(CoreEvent.RequestEditorSelection);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/src/utils/editor.ts b/packages/core/src/utils/editor.ts
index 7eab0839fe..08cb359a49 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/utils/editor.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/utils/editor.ts
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-import { execSync, spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { exec, execSync, spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { promisify } from 'node:util';
+import { once } from 'node:events';
 import { debugLogger } from './debugLogger.js';
-import { coreEvents, CoreEvent } from './events.js';
+import { coreEvents, CoreEvent, type EditorSelectedPayload } from './events.js';
 
 const GUI_EDITORS = [
   'vscode',
@@ -23,6 +25,9 @@ const GUI_EDITORS_SET = new Set<string>(GUI_EDITORS);
 const TERMINAL_EDITORS_SET = new Set<string>(TERMINAL_EDITORS);
 const EDITORS_SET = new Set<string>(EDITORS);
 
+export const NO_EDITOR_AVAILABLE_ERROR =
+  'No external editor is available. Please run /editor to configure one.';
+
 export const DEFAULT_GUI_EDITOR: GuiEditorType = 'vscode';
 
 export type GuiEditorType = (typeof GUI_EDITORS)[number];
@@ -73,12 +78,26 @@ interface DiffCommand {
   args: string[];
 }
 
+const execAsync = promisify(exec);
+
+function getCommandExistsCmd(cmd: string): string {
+  return process.platform === 'win32'
+    ? `where.exe ${cmd}`
+    : `command -v ${cmd}`;
+}
+
 function commandExists(cmd: string): boolean {
   try {
-    execSync(
-      process.platform === 'win32' ? `where.exe ${cmd}` : `command -v ${cmd}`,
-      { stdio: 'ignore' },
-    );
+    execSync(getCommandExistsCmd(cmd), { stdio: 'ignore' });
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+async function commandExistsAsync(cmd: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    await execAsync(getCommandExistsCmd(cmd));
     return true;
   } catch {
     return false;
@@ -108,17 +127,29 @@ const editorCommands: Record<
   hx: { win32: ['hx'], default: ['hx'] },
 };
 
-export function checkHasEditorType(editor: EditorType): boolean {
+function getEditorCommands(editor: EditorType): string[] {
   const commandConfig = editorCommands[editor];
-  const commands =
-    process.platform === 'win32' ? commandConfig.win32 : commandConfig.default;
-  return commands.some((cmd) => commandExists(cmd));
+  return process.platform === 'win32'
+    ? commandConfig.win32
+    : commandConfig.default;
+}
+
+export function hasValidEditorCommand(editor: EditorType): boolean {
+  return getEditorCommands(editor).some((cmd) => commandExists(cmd));
+}
+
+export async function hasValidEditorCommandAsync(
+  editor: EditorType,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  return Promise.any(
+    getEditorCommands(editor).map((cmd) =>
+      commandExistsAsync(cmd).then((exists) => exists || Promise.reject()),
+    ),
+  ).catch(() => false);
 }
 
 export function getEditorCommand(editor: EditorType): string {
-  const commandConfig = editorCommands[editor];
-  const commands =
-    process.platform === 'win32' ? commandConfig.win32 : commandConfig.default;
+  const commands = getEditorCommands(editor);
   return (
     commands.slice(0, -1).find((cmd) => commandExists(cmd)) ||
     commands[commands.length - 1]
@@ -134,15 +165,52 @@ export function allowEditorTypeInSandbox(editor: EditorType): boolean {
   return true;
 }
 
+function isEditorTypeAvailable(
+  editor: string | undefined,
+): editor is EditorType {
+  return (
+    !!editor && isValidEditorType(editor) && allowEditorTypeInSandbox(editor)
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if the editor is valid and can be used.
  * Returns false if preferred editor is not set / invalid / not available / not allowed in sandbox.
  */
 export function isEditorAvailable(editor: string | undefined): boolean {
-  if (editor && isValidEditorType(editor)) {
-    return checkHasEditorType(editor) && allowEditorTypeInSandbox(editor);
+  return isEditorTypeAvailable(editor) && hasValidEditorCommand(editor);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if the editor is valid and can be used.
+ * Returns false if preferred editor is not set / invalid / not available / not allowed in sandbox.
+ */
+export async function isEditorAvailableAsync(
+  editor: string | undefined,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  return (
+    isEditorTypeAvailable(editor) && (await hasValidEditorCommandAsync(editor))
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolves an editor to use for external editing without blocking the event loop.
+ * 1. If a preferred editor is set and available, uses it.
+ * 2. If no preferred editor is set (or preferred is unavailable), requests selection from user and waits for it.
+ */
+export async function resolveEditorAsync(
+  preferredEditor: EditorType | undefined,
+  signal?: AbortSignal,
+): Promise<EditorType | undefined> {
+  if (preferredEditor && (await isEditorAvailableAsync(preferredEditor))) {
+    return preferredEditor;
   }
-  return false;
+
+  coreEvents.emit(CoreEvent.RequestEditorSelection);
+
+  return once(coreEvents, CoreEvent.EditorSelected, { signal })
+    .then(([payload]) => (payload as EditorSelectedPayload).editor)
+    .catch(() => undefined);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/utils/events.ts b/packages/core/src/utils/events.ts
index cea80952f9..33d137980a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/utils/events.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/utils/events.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events';
 import type { AgentDefinition } from '../agents/types.js';
 import type { McpClient } from '../tools/mcp-client.js';
 import type { ExtensionEvents } from './extensionLoader.js';
+import type { EditorType } from './editor.js';
 
 /**
  * Defines the severity level for user-facing feedback.
@@ -143,6 +144,15 @@ export enum CoreEvent {
   RetryAttempt = 'retry-attempt',
   ConsentRequest = 'consent-request',
   AgentsDiscovered = 'agents-discovered',
+  RequestEditorSelection = 'request-editor-selection',
+  EditorSelected = 'editor-selected',
+}
+
+/**
+ * Payload for the 'editor-selected' event.
+ */
+export interface EditorSelectedPayload {
+  editor?: EditorType;
 }
 
 export interface CoreEvents extends ExtensionEvents {
@@ -162,6 +172,8 @@ export interface CoreEvents extends ExtensionEvents {
   [CoreEvent.RetryAttempt]: [RetryAttemptPayload];
   [CoreEvent.ConsentRequest]: [ConsentRequestPayload];
   [CoreEvent.AgentsDiscovered]: [AgentsDiscoveredPayload];
+  [CoreEvent.RequestEditorSelection]: never[];
+  [CoreEvent.EditorSelected]: [EditorSelectedPayload];
 }
 
 type EventBacklogItem = {