diff --git a/gateway/platforms/slack.py b/gateway/platforms/slack.py
index 3421d7cf7..ba444c53e 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/slack.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/slack.py
@@ -366,6 +366,20 @@ class SlackAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
             # in an assistant-enabled context. Falls back to reactions.
             logger.debug("[Slack] assistant.threads.setStatus failed: %s", e)
 
+    def _dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions(self) -> bool:
+        """Whether top-level Slack DMs get per-message session threads.
+
+        Defaults to ``True`` so each visible DM reply thread is isolated as its
+        own Hermes session — matching the per-thread behavior channels already
+        have.  Set ``platforms.slack.extra.dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions``
+        to ``false`` in config.yaml to revert to the legacy behavior where all
+        top-level DMs share one continuous session.
+        """
+        raw = self.config.extra.get("dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions")
+        if raw is None:
+            return True  # default: each DM thread is its own session
+        return str(raw).strip().lower() in ("1", "true", "yes", "on")
+
     def _resolve_thread_ts(
         self,
         reply_to: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -996,10 +1010,14 @@ class SlackAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         # Build thread_ts for session keying.
         # In channels: fall back to ts so each top-level @mention starts a
         #   new thread/session (the bot always replies in a thread).
-        # In DMs: only use the real thread_ts — top-level DMs should share
-        #   one continuous session, threaded DMs get their own session.
+        # In DMs: fall back to ts so each top-level DM reply thread gets
+        #   its own session key (matching channel behavior). Set
+        #   dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions: false in config to revert to
+        #   legacy single-session-per-DM-channel behavior.
         if is_dm:
-            thread_ts = event.get("thread_ts") or assistant_meta.get("thread_ts")  # None for top-level DMs
+            thread_ts = event.get("thread_ts") or assistant_meta.get("thread_ts")
+            if not thread_ts and self._dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions():
+                thread_ts = ts
         else:
             thread_ts = event.get("thread_ts") or ts  # ts fallback for channels
 
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_slack.py b/tests/gateway/test_slack.py
index bf99bba9f..2a3060f67 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_slack.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_slack.py
@@ -1678,11 +1678,11 @@ class TestProgressMessageThread:
         msg_event = captured_events[0]
         source = msg_event.source
 
-        # For a top-level DM: source.thread_id should remain None
-        # (session keying must not be affected)
-        assert source.thread_id is None, (
-            "source.thread_id must stay None for top-level DMs "
-            "so they share one continuous session"
+        # With default dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions=True, source.thread_id
+        # should equal the message ts so each DM thread gets its own session.
+        assert source.thread_id == "1234567890.000001", (
+            "source.thread_id must equal the message ts for top-level DMs "
+            "so each reply thread gets its own session"
         )
 
         # The message_id should be the event's ts — this is what the gateway
@@ -1707,6 +1707,34 @@ class TestProgressMessageThread:
             "ensuring progress messages land in the thread"
         )
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_dm_toplevel_shares_session_when_disabled(self, adapter):
+        """Opting out restores legacy single-session-per-DM-channel behavior."""
+        adapter.config.extra["dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions"] = False
+
+        event = {
+            "channel": "D_DM",
+            "channel_type": "im",
+            "user": "U_USER",
+            "text": "Hello bot",
+            "ts": "1234567890.000001",
+        }
+
+        captured_events = []
+        adapter.handle_message = AsyncMock(side_effect=lambda e: captured_events.append(e))
+
+        with patch.object(adapter, "_resolve_user_name", new=AsyncMock(return_value="testuser")):
+            await adapter._handle_slack_message(event)
+
+        assert len(captured_events) == 1
+        msg_event = captured_events[0]
+        source = msg_event.source
+
+        assert source.thread_id is None, (
+            "source.thread_id must stay None when "
+            "dm_top_level_threads_as_sessions is disabled"
+        )
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_channel_mention_progress_uses_thread_ts(self, adapter):
         """Progress messages for a channel @mention should go into the reply thread."""