diff --git a/nanobot/agent/tools/shell.py b/nanobot/agent/tools/shell.py
index d37bb949..565b38eb 100644
--- a/nanobot/agent/tools/shell.py
+++ b/nanobot/agent/tools/shell.py
@@ -879,11 +879,10 @@ class ExecTool(Tool):
             if paren_depth == 0:
                 if command.startswith(("&&", "||"), i):
                     operator_len = 2
-                elif ch == "&":
-                    prev_ch = command[i - 1] if i > 0 else ""
-                    next_ch = command[i + 1] if i + 1 < len(command) else ""
-                    if prev_ch not in {"<", ">"} and next_ch != ">":
-                        operator_len = 1
+                elif ch == "&" and not (
+                    (i > 0 and command[i - 1] in "<>") or command.startswith("&>", i)
+                ):
+                    operator_len = 1
                 elif ch in {";", "|"}:
                     operator_len = 1