diff --git a/frontends/chatapp_common.py b/frontends/chatapp_common.py
index befaf1c8d..c49cbf173 100644
--- a/frontends/chatapp_common.py
+++ b/frontends/chatapp_common.py
@@ -57,8 +57,26 @@ def clean_reply(text):
     return re.sub(r"\n{3,}", "\n\n", text).strip() or "..."
 
 
+_FILE_PLACEHOLDERS = {
+    "filepath",
+    "<filepath>",
+    "path",
+    "<path>",
+    "file_path",
+    "<file_path>",
+    "...",
+}
+
+
 def extract_files(text):
-    return re.findall(r"\[FILE:([^\]]+)\]", text or "")
+    files, seen = [], set()
+    for fpath in re.findall(r"\[FILE:([^\]]+)\]", text or ""):
+        fpath = fpath.strip()
+        if not fpath or fpath.lower() in _FILE_PLACEHOLDERS or fpath in seen:
+            continue
+        files.append(fpath)
+        seen.add(fpath)
+    return files
 
 
 def strip_files(text):
diff --git a/frontends/fsapp.py b/frontends/fsapp.py
index 8fa97beed..a1451d515 100644
--- a/frontends/fsapp.py
+++ b/frontends/fsapp.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 sys.path.insert(0, PROJECT_ROOT)
 os.chdir(PROJECT_ROOT)
 from agentmain import GeneraticAgent
-from frontends.chatapp_common import format_restore
+from frontends.chatapp_common import extract_files, format_restore
 from frontends.continue_cmd import handle_frontend_command as handle_continue_frontend, reset_conversation
 from llmcore import mykeys
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def _clean(text):
 
 
 def _extract_files(text):
-    return re.findall(r"\[FILE:([^\]]+)\]", text or "")
+    return extract_files(text)
 
 
 def _strip_files(text):
diff --git a/tests/test_chatapp_common.py b/tests/test_chatapp_common.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..009bdbe15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_chatapp_common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import os
+import sys
+import unittest
+
+ROOT = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+sys.path[:0] = [ROOT, os.path.join(ROOT, "frontends")]
+
+from frontends.chatapp_common import extract_files
+
+
+class ExtractFilesTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_ignores_file_hint_placeholders(self):
+        text = (
+            "If you need to show files to user, use [FILE:filepath] in your response.\n"
+            "Other placeholders: [FILE:<filepath>] [FILE:path] [FILE:<path>] "
+            "[FILE:file_path] [FILE:<file_path>] [FILE:...]"
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(extract_files(text), [])
+
+    def test_keeps_real_paths_and_deduplicates(self):
+        text = (
+            "Created [FILE:/tmp/report.txt]\n"
+            "Again [FILE:/tmp/report.txt]\n"
+            "Relative [FILE:outputs/chart.png]"
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(extract_files(text), ["/tmp/report.txt", "outputs/chart.png"])
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
\ No newline at end of file