diff --git a/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx b/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx
index 0ebf3d8..a73dded 100644
--- a/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/AppShell.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useState, type ReactNode } from 'react'
 import { Link, useLocation } from 'react-router'
 import {
   BookMarked,
@@ -21,12 +21,39 @@ import {
 } from 'lucide-react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Separator } from '@/components/ui/separator'
+import { api } from '@/lib/api'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { useAuth } from '@/store/auth'
 
+/** Polls the count of held actions awaiting review, so the nav can flag work is waiting. */
+function usePendingReviewCount(organizationId: string | null): number {
+  const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!organizationId) return
+    let cancelled = false
+    const tick = async () => {
+      try {
+        const items = await api.get<unknown[]>(`/api/governance/reviews?organizationId=${organizationId}&status=Pending`)
+        if (!cancelled) setCount(items.length)
+      } catch {
+        // leave the last known count on a transient failure
+      }
+    }
+    void tick()
+    const id = setInterval(tick, 12000)
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+      clearInterval(id)
+    }
+  }, [organizationId])
+  return count
+}
+
 export function AppShell({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const email = useAuth((s) => s.email)
   const logout = useAuth((s) => s.logout)
+  const organizationId = useAuth((s) => s.organizationId)
+  const reviewCount = usePendingReviewCount(organizationId)
 
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-screen text-foreground">
@@ -59,7 +86,7 @@ export function AppShell({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
           <NavItem icon={LayoutDashboard} label="Board" to="/" color="#38bdf8" />
           <NavItem icon={Sparkles} label="Team" to="/team" color="#38bdf8" />
           <NavItem icon={Inbox} label="Cartable" to="/cartable" color="#38bdf8" />
-          <NavItem icon={ShieldCheck} label="Review inbox" to="/reviews" color="#38bdf8" />
+          <NavItem icon={ShieldCheck} label="Review inbox" to="/reviews" color="#38bdf8" badge={reviewCount} />
 
           <NavSection label="Organization" />
           <NavItem icon={Boxes} label="Structure" to="/structure" color="#34d399" />
@@ -115,12 +142,14 @@ function NavItem({
   to,
   muted,
   color,
+  badge,
 }: {
   icon: LucideIcon
   label: string
   to?: string
   muted?: boolean
   color?: string
+  badge?: number
 }) {
   const location = useLocation()
   const active = to ? location.pathname === to : false
@@ -142,6 +171,11 @@ function NavItem({
         <Icon className="size-3.5" />
       </span>
       {label}
+      {!!badge && badge > 0 && (
+        <span className="ml-auto grid h-5 min-w-5 place-items-center rounded-full bg-amber-400 px-1.5 text-[11px] font-semibold text-amber-950">
+          {badge}
+        </span>
+      )}
       {muted && <span className="ml-auto text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide opacity-70">soon</span>}
     </>
   )