diff --git a/src/specify_cli/_console.py b/src/specify_cli/_console.py
index 0e448780ad..5a915c7da4 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/_console.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/_console.py
@@ -162,6 +162,12 @@ def select_with_arrows(
 
     Returns:
         Selected option key
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: If stdin is not a TTY and no ``default_key`` is given —
+            the interactive loop would otherwise block forever waiting for
+            keypresses that will never arrive (agent harness, CI, piped
+            input). See issue #4152.
     """
     if not options:
         raise ValueError("select_with_arrows() requires at least one option.")
@@ -172,6 +178,17 @@ def select_with_arrows(
     else:
         selected_index = 0
 
+    # Fail fast in non-interactive environments instead of hanging on
+    # readkey() forever. With a default, resolve to it immediately.
+    if not sys.stdin.isatty():
+        if default_key and default_key in option_keys:
+            return default_key
+        raise ValueError(
+            "select_with_arrows() requires an interactive TTY, but stdin is "
+            "not a terminal. Pass an explicit option flag to pre-answer this "
+            "selection, or run in an interactive session."
+        )
+
     selected_key = None
 
     def create_selection_panel():
diff --git a/tests/test_console_non_interactive.py b/tests/test_console_non_interactive.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e32773afb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_console_non_interactive.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""
+Tests for non-interactive (no-TTY) behavior of select_with_arrows.
+
+When stdin is not a TTY (agent harness, CI, piped input), the interactive
+arrow-key selector must fail fast with a clear error instead of blocking
+forever on readkey(). See issue #4152.
+"""
+
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+from specify_cli._console import select_with_arrows
+
+
+class FakeStdin:
+    """Stdin-like object that reports not a TTY."""
+
+    def isatty(self) -> bool:
+        return False
+
+
+def test_select_with_arrows_fails_fast_without_tty_and_no_default(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("sys.stdin", FakeStdin())
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="not a terminal"):
+        select_with_arrows({"a": "option a", "b": "option b"})
+
+
+def test_select_with_arrows_uses_default_without_tty(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("sys.stdin", FakeStdin())
+    # With a default, no-TTY should resolve to the default (no hang).
+    result = select_with_arrows(
+        {"a": "option a", "b": "option b"},
+        default_key="b",
+    )
+    assert result == "b"
+
+
+def test_select_with_arrows_still_interactive_with_tty(monkeypatch):
+    """With a real TTY, the interactive loop is untouched."""
+    real_stdin = sys.stdin
+
+    class RealStdin:
+        def isatty(self) -> bool:
+            return True
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("sys.stdin", RealStdin())
+    # Simulate a single 'enter' keypress on the first get_key() call.
+    import specify_cli._console as console
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(console, "get_key", lambda: "enter")
+    result = select_with_arrows({"a": "option a"})
+    assert result == "a"
+    monkeypatch.setattr("sys.stdin", real_stdin)