diff --git a/packages/cli/src/gemini.tsx b/packages/cli/src/gemini.tsx
index eec6dc6290..4bf0e96e85 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/gemini.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/gemini.tsx
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ export async function main() {
   if (argv.channels && argv.channels.length > 0) {
     coreEvents.emitFeedback(
       'info',
-      `Channels enabled: ${argv.channels.join(', ')}`,
+      `Channels listening for messages: ${argv.channels.join(', ')}`,
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/services/BuiltinCommandLoader.ts b/packages/cli/src/services/BuiltinCommandLoader.ts
index 66806f5ef1..c55ca10b1c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/services/BuiltinCommandLoader.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/services/BuiltinCommandLoader.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { aboutCommand } from '../ui/commands/aboutCommand.js';
 import { agentsCommand } from '../ui/commands/agentsCommand.js';
 import { authCommand } from '../ui/commands/authCommand.js';
 import { bugCommand } from '../ui/commands/bugCommand.js';
+import { channelsCommand } from '../ui/commands/channelsCommand.js';
 import { chatCommand, debugCommand } from '../ui/commands/chatCommand.js';
 import { clearCommand } from '../ui/commands/clearCommand.js';
 import { commandsCommand } from '../ui/commands/commandsCommand.js';
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ export class BuiltinCommandLoader implements ICommandLoader {
       ...(this.config?.isAgentsEnabled() ? [agentsCommand] : []),
       authCommand,
       bugCommand,
+      channelsCommand,
       {
         ...chatCommand,
         subCommands: chatResumeSubCommands,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
index 2f836d931e..4d44facb36 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ import {
   flattenMemory,
   type MemoryChangedPayload,
   type ChannelMessagePayload,
+  activeChannels,
   writeToStdout,
   disableMouseEvents,
   enterAlternateScreen,
@@ -1241,6 +1242,22 @@ Logging in with Google... Restarting Gemini CLI to continue.
     };
   }, [channelsEnabled, addMessage]);
 
+  // Warn about requested channels whose MCP servers did not declare capability.
+  const channelWarningFired = useRef(false);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isMcpReady || !channelsEnabled || channelWarningFired.current) return;
+    channelWarningFired.current = true;
+    const requested = config.getChannels();
+    for (const name of requested) {
+      if (!activeChannels.has(name)) {
+        coreEvents.emitFeedback(
+          'warning',
+          `Channel "${name}" was requested but the MCP server did not declare channel capability.`,
+        );
+      }
+    }
+  }, [isMcpReady, channelsEnabled, config]);
+
   cancelHandlerRef.current = useCallback(
     (shouldRestorePrompt: boolean = true) => {
       const pendingHistoryItems = [
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/commands/channelsCommand.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/commands/channelsCommand.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9cd4eb5ccd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/commands/channelsCommand.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import type { SlashCommand, CommandContext } from './types.js';
+import { CommandKind } from './types.js';
+import {
+  MessageType,
+  type ChannelInfo,
+  type HistoryItemChannelsList,
+} from '../types.js';
+import { activeChannels } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+
+export const channelsCommand: SlashCommand = {
+  name: 'channels',
+  description: 'List active message channels from MCP servers',
+  kind: CommandKind.BUILT_IN,
+  autoExecute: true,
+  action: async (context: CommandContext) => {
+    const channels: ChannelInfo[] = Array.from(activeChannels.entries()).map(
+      ([name, capability]) => ({
+        name,
+        displayName: capability.displayName,
+        supportsReply: capability.supportsReply,
+      }),
+    );
+
+    const channelsListItem: HistoryItemChannelsList = {
+      type: MessageType.CHANNELS_LIST,
+      channels,
+    };
+
+    context.ui.addItem(channelsListItem);
+
+    return;
+  },
+};