diff --git a/go-server/internal/api/instructions.go b/go-server/internal/api/instructions.go
index 2d31052..f8c519e 100644
--- a/go-server/internal/api/instructions.go
+++ b/go-server/internal/api/instructions.go
@@ -106,14 +106,21 @@ func handleDeleteInstruction(stores Stores, broker *events.Broker) http.HandlerF
 
 func handleClearConsumed(stores Stores, broker *events.Broker) http.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		items, err := stores.Instructions.List("consumed")
+		if err != nil {
+			writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
+			return
+		}
+
 		if err := stores.Instructions.DeleteConsumed(); err != nil {
 			writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
 			return
 		}
 		counts, _ := stores.Instructions.Counts()
-		broker.Broadcast("history.cleared", nil)
+		cleared := len(items)
+		broker.Broadcast("history.cleared", map[string]any{"count": cleared})
 		broker.Broadcast("status.changed", map[string]any{"queue": counts})
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"cleared": cleared})
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/go-server/internal/store/instruction.go b/go-server/internal/store/instruction.go
index 32877f3..46bcd19 100644
--- a/go-server/internal/store/instruction.go
+++ b/go-server/internal/store/instruction.go
@@ -135,9 +135,10 @@ func (s *InstructionStore) Create(content string) (*models.Instruction, error) {
 	id := uuid.New().String()
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 
-	// Assign next position
+	// Assign next position from the full instruction history so positions remain
+	// globally stable even after the pending queue empties.
 	var maxPos sql.NullInt64
-	_ = s.db.QueryRow(`SELECT MAX(position) FROM instructions WHERE status = 'pending'`).Scan(&maxPos)
+	_ = s.db.QueryRow(`SELECT MAX(position) FROM instructions`).Scan(&maxPos)
 	position := int(maxPos.Int64) + 1
 
 	_, err := s.db.Exec(`
diff --git a/static/js/instructions.js b/static/js/instructions.js
index 420c191..abba565 100644
--- a/static/js/instructions.js
+++ b/static/js/instructions.js
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ function fmtAbsTime(isoStr) {
   return d.toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', second: '2-digit' });
 }
 
+function comparePending(a, b) {
+  return (a.position - b.position) || String(a.created_at).localeCompare(String(b.created_at));
+}
+
+function compareConsumed(a, b) {
+  const consumedDelta = new Date(b.consumed_at || 0).getTime() - new Date(a.consumed_at || 0).getTime();
+  if (consumedDelta !== 0) return consumedDelta;
+  return b.position - a.position;
+}
+
 /** Refresh all relative-time spans in the lists (called by app.js on a timer). */
 export function refreshTimestamps() {
   document.querySelectorAll('[data-ts]').forEach(el => {
@@ -62,7 +72,7 @@ function renderPendingCard(item, index) {
 
   card.innerHTML = `
     <div class="instruction-card__meta">
-      <span class="instruction-card__pos">#${item.position}</span>
+      <span class="instruction-card__pos">#${index + 1}</span>
       <span class="instruction-card__time" data-ts="${item.created_at}">${fmtRelativeTime(item.created_at)}</span>
     </div>
     <div class="instruction-card__content">${escapeHtml(item.content)}</div>
@@ -141,14 +151,14 @@ function renderPendingCard(item, index) {
   return card;
 }
 
-function renderConsumedCard(item) {
+function renderConsumedCard(item, index) {
   const card = document.createElement('div');
   card.className = 'instruction-card instruction-card--consumed';
   card.dataset.id = item.id;
 
   card.innerHTML = `
     <div class="instruction-card__meta">
-      <span class="instruction-card__pos">#${item.position}</span>
+      <span class="instruction-card__pos">#${index + 1}</span>
       <span class="instruction-card__time">${fmtAbsTime(item.consumed_at)}</span>
       ${item.consumed_by_agent_id
         ? `<span class="instruction-card__consumed-by">→ ${escapeHtml(item.consumed_by_agent_id)}</span>`
@@ -171,8 +181,8 @@ export function initInstructions() {
 
   function render(instructions) {
     if (!instructions) return;
-    const pending  = instructions.filter(i => i.status === 'pending');
-    const consumed = instructions.filter(i => i.status === 'consumed').reverse();
+    const pending  = instructions.filter(i => i.status === 'pending').sort(comparePending);
+    const consumed = instructions.filter(i => i.status === 'consumed').sort(compareConsumed);
 
     // Pending
     pendingList.innerHTML = '';
@@ -194,7 +204,7 @@ export function initInstructions() {
       consumedList.innerHTML = `<div class="empty-state"><div class="empty-state__icon">◈</div>No consumed instructions yet</div>`;
       clearHistoryBtn.style.display = 'none';
     } else {
-      consumed.forEach(item => consumedList.appendChild(renderConsumedCard(item)));
+      consumed.forEach((item, i) => consumedList.appendChild(renderConsumedCard(item, i)));
       clearHistoryBtn.style.display = '';
     }
     consumedBadge.textContent = consumed.length;
@@ -209,7 +219,8 @@ export function initInstructions() {
     clearHistoryBtn.disabled = true;
     try {
       const res = await api.clearConsumed();
-      toast(`Cleared ${res.cleared} consumed instruction${res.cleared !== 1 ? 's' : ''}`, 'info');
+      const cleared = res?.cleared ?? 0;
+      toast(`Cleared ${cleared} consumed instruction${cleared !== 1 ? 's' : ''}`, 'info');
     } catch (e) {
       toast(e.message, 'error');
     } finally {