diff --git a/src/cli/index.ts b/src/cli/index.ts
index 0cd5885f..9ae2c239 100644
--- a/src/cli/index.ts
+++ b/src/cli/index.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { createRequire } from 'module';
 import ora from 'ora';
 import path from 'path';
 import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
-import { InitCommand } from '../core/init.js';
 import { AI_TOOLS } from '../core/config.js';
 import { UpdateCommand } from '../core/update.js';
 import { ListCommand } from '../core/list.js';
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ program.option('--no-color', 'Disable color output');
 // Apply global flags before any command runs
 program.hook('preAction', (thisCommand) => {
   const opts = thisCommand.opts();
-  if (opts.noColor) {
+  if (opts.color === false) {
     process.env.NO_COLOR = '1';
   }
 });
@@ -63,6 +62,7 @@ program
         }
       }
       
+      const { InitCommand } = await import('../core/init.js');
       const initCommand = new InitCommand({
         tools: options?.tools,
       });
diff --git a/src/commands/change.ts b/src/commands/change.ts
index 3d10e831..051b4697 100644
--- a/src/commands/change.ts
+++ b/src/commands/change.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
-import { select } from '@inquirer/prompts';
 import { JsonConverter } from '../core/converters/json-converter.js';
 import { Validator } from '../core/validation/validator.js';
 import { ChangeParser } from '../core/parsers/change-parser.js';
@@ -30,9 +29,10 @@ export class ChangeCommand {
     const changesPath = path.join(process.cwd(), 'openspec', 'changes');
 
     if (!changeName) {
-      const canPrompt = isInteractive(options?.noInteractive);
+      const canPrompt = isInteractive(options);
       const changes = await this.getActiveChanges(changesPath);
       if (canPrompt && changes.length > 0) {
+        const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
         const selected = await select({
           message: 'Select a change to show',
           choices: changes.map(id => ({ name: id, value: id })),
@@ -186,9 +186,10 @@ export class ChangeCommand {
     const changesPath = path.join(process.cwd(), 'openspec', 'changes');
     
     if (!changeName) {
-      const canPrompt = isInteractive(options?.noInteractive);
+      const canPrompt = isInteractive(options);
       const changes = await getActiveChangeIds();
       if (canPrompt && changes.length > 0) {
+        const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
         const selected = await select({
           message: 'Select a change to validate',
           choices: changes.map(id => ({ name: id, value: id })),
diff --git a/src/commands/completion.ts b/src/commands/completion.ts
index 2baedc0c..56c075ed 100644
--- a/src/commands/completion.ts
+++ b/src/commands/completion.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import ora from 'ora';
-import { confirm } from '@inquirer/prompts';
 import { CompletionFactory } from '../core/completions/factory.js';
 import { COMMAND_REGISTRY } from '../core/completions/command-registry.js';
 import { detectShell, SupportedShell } from '../utils/shell-detection.js';
@@ -179,6 +178,7 @@ export class CompletionCommand {
 
     // Prompt for confirmation unless --yes flag is provided
     if (!skipConfirmation) {
+      const { confirm } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
       const confirmed = await confirm({
         message: 'Remove OpenSpec configuration from ~/.zshrc?',
         default: false,
diff --git a/src/commands/show.ts b/src/commands/show.ts
index 4aac38d7..6413b595 100644
--- a/src/commands/show.ts
+++ b/src/commands/show.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { select } from '@inquirer/prompts';
 import path from 'path';
 import { isInteractive } from '../utils/interactive.js';
 import { getActiveChangeIds, getSpecIds } from '../utils/item-discovery.js';
@@ -13,11 +12,12 @@ const SPEC_FLAG_KEYS = new Set(['requirements', 'scenarios', 'requirement']);
 
 export class ShowCommand {
   async execute(itemName?: string, options: { json?: boolean; type?: string; noInteractive?: boolean; [k: string]: any } = {}): Promise<void> {
-    const interactive = isInteractive(options.noInteractive);
+    const interactive = isInteractive(options);
     const typeOverride = this.normalizeType(options.type);
 
     if (!itemName) {
       if (interactive) {
+        const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
         const type = await select<ItemType>({
           message: 'What would you like to show?',
           choices: [
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export class ShowCommand {
   }
 
   private async runInteractiveByType(type: ItemType, options: { json?: boolean; noInteractive?: boolean; [k: string]: any }): Promise<void> {
+    const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
     if (type === 'change') {
       const changes = await getActiveChangeIds();
       if (changes.length === 0) {
@@ -135,5 +136,3 @@ export class ShowCommand {
     return false;
   }
 }
-
-
diff --git a/src/commands/spec.ts b/src/commands/spec.ts
index 8f4c9a4c..d28052f1 100644
--- a/src/commands/spec.ts
+++ b/src/commands/spec.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { join } from 'path';
 import { MarkdownParser } from '../core/parsers/markdown-parser.js';
 import { Validator } from '../core/validation/validator.js';
 import type { Spec } from '../core/schemas/index.js';
-import { select } from '@inquirer/prompts';
 import { isInteractive } from '../utils/interactive.js';
 import { getSpecIds } from '../utils/item-discovery.js';
 
@@ -70,9 +69,10 @@ export class SpecCommand {
 
   async show(specId?: string, options: ShowOptions = {}): Promise<void> {
     if (!specId) {
-      const canPrompt = isInteractive(options?.noInteractive);
+      const canPrompt = isInteractive(options);
       const specIds = await getSpecIds();
       if (canPrompt && specIds.length > 0) {
+        const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
         specId = await select({
           message: 'Select a spec to show',
           choices: specIds.map(id => ({ name: id, value: id })),
@@ -204,9 +204,10 @@ export function registerSpecCommand(rootProgram: typeof program) {
     .action(async (specId: string | undefined, options: { strict?: boolean; json?: boolean; noInteractive?: boolean }) => {
       try {
         if (!specId) {
-          const canPrompt = isInteractive(options?.noInteractive);
+          const canPrompt = isInteractive(options);
           const specIds = await getSpecIds();
           if (canPrompt && specIds.length > 0) {
+            const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
             specId = await select({
               message: 'Select a spec to validate',
               choices: specIds.map(id => ({ name: id, value: id })),
@@ -247,4 +248,4 @@ export function registerSpecCommand(rootProgram: typeof program) {
     });
 
   return specCommand;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/commands/validate.ts b/src/commands/validate.ts
index 26545509..a5323a64 100644
--- a/src/commands/validate.ts
+++ b/src/commands/validate.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { select } from '@inquirer/prompts';
 import ora from 'ora';
 import path from 'path';
 import { Validator } from '../core/validation/validator.js';
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ interface BulkItemResult {
 
 export class ValidateCommand {
   async execute(itemName: string | undefined, options: ExecuteOptions = {}): Promise<void> {
-    const interactive = isInteractive(options.noInteractive);
+    const interactive = isInteractive(options);
 
     // Handle bulk flags first
     if (options.all || options.changes || options.specs) {
@@ -64,6 +63,7 @@ export class ValidateCommand {
   }
 
   private async runInteractiveSelector(opts: { strict: boolean; json: boolean; concurrency?: string }): Promise<void> {
+    const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
     const choice = await select({
       message: 'What would you like to validate?',
       choices: [
@@ -212,6 +212,28 @@ export class ValidateCommand {
       });
     }
 
+    if (queue.length === 0) {
+      spinner?.stop();
+
+      const summary = {
+        totals: { items: 0, passed: 0, failed: 0 },
+        byType: {
+          ...(scope.changes ? { change: { items: 0, passed: 0, failed: 0 } } : {}),
+          ...(scope.specs ? { spec: { items: 0, passed: 0, failed: 0 } } : {}),
+        },
+      } as const;
+
+      if (opts.json) {
+        const out = { items: [] as BulkItemResult[], summary, version: '1.0' };
+        console.log(JSON.stringify(out, null, 2));
+      } else {
+        console.log('No items found to validate.');
+      }
+
+      process.exitCode = 0;
+      return;
+    }
+
     const results: BulkItemResult[] = [];
     let index = 0;
     let running = 0;
@@ -301,5 +323,3 @@ function getPlannedType(index: number, changeIds: string[], specIds: string[]):
   if (specIndex >= 0 && specIndex < specIds.length) return 'spec';
   return undefined;
 }
-
-
diff --git a/src/core/archive.ts b/src/core/archive.ts
index bf94ee59..c9756024 100644
--- a/src/core/archive.ts
+++ b/src/core/archive.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
-import { select, confirm } from '@inquirer/prompts';
 import { FileSystemUtils } from '../utils/file-system.js';
 import { getTaskProgressForChange, formatTaskStatus } from '../utils/task-progress.js';
 import { Validator } from './validation/validator.js';
@@ -125,6 +124,7 @@ export class ArchiveCommand {
       const timestamp = new Date().toISOString();
       
       if (!options.yes) {
+        const { confirm } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
         const proceed = await confirm({
           message: chalk.yellow('⚠️  WARNING: Skipping validation may archive invalid specs. Continue? (y/N)'),
           default: false
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ export class ArchiveCommand {
     const incompleteTasks = Math.max(progress.total - progress.completed, 0);
     if (incompleteTasks > 0) {
       if (!options.yes) {
+        const { confirm } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
         const proceed = await confirm({
           message: `Warning: ${incompleteTasks} incomplete task(s) found. Continue?`,
           default: false
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ export class ArchiveCommand {
 
         let shouldUpdateSpecs = true;
         if (!options.yes) {
+          const { confirm } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
           shouldUpdateSpecs = await confirm({
             message: 'Proceed with spec updates?',
             default: true
@@ -256,6 +258,7 @@ export class ArchiveCommand {
   }
 
   private async selectChange(changesDir: string): Promise<string | null> {
+    const { select } = await import('@inquirer/prompts');
     // Get all directories in changes (excluding archive)
     const entries = await fs.readdir(changesDir, { withFileTypes: true });
     const changeDirs = entries
diff --git a/src/utils/interactive.ts b/src/utils/interactive.ts
index d383382b..3b73fa3b 100644
--- a/src/utils/interactive.ts
+++ b/src/utils/interactive.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,22 @@
-export function isInteractive(noInteractiveFlag?: boolean): boolean {
-  if (noInteractiveFlag) return false;
+type InteractiveOptions = {
+  /**
+   * Explicit "disable prompts" flag passed by internal callers.
+   */
+  noInteractive?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Commander-style negated option: `--no-interactive` sets this to false.
+   */
+  interactive?: boolean;
+};
+
+function resolveNoInteractive(value?: boolean | InteractiveOptions): boolean {
+  if (typeof value === 'boolean') return value;
+  return value?.noInteractive === true || value?.interactive === false;
+}
+
+export function isInteractive(value?: boolean | InteractiveOptions): boolean {
+  if (resolveNoInteractive(value)) return false;
   if (process.env.OPEN_SPEC_INTERACTIVE === '0') return false;
   return !!process.stdin.isTTY;
 }
 
-