how to make convrsational node wait for user to st...
# ❓・ai-evy-supportm
Mikey
04/04/2026, 3:14 PM@AI Evy how to make convrsational node wait for user to start the request
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AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:14 PMThanks for tagging me @Mikey. I'll look through relevant sources and get back to you shortly.
AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:14 PM### Answer
To make a conversation node wait for the user to respond before transitioning, ensure that Skip Response is disabled in the node settings. [(1) ]()
By default, conversation nodes wait for user input. The transition happens "when user is done speaking".
If you have Skip Response enabled, the agent will finish speaking and immediately transition to the next node via a single edge without waiting for user input. This setting is useful for scenarios like disclaimers where you don't need a response to move forward.
To configure this:
1. Select your conversation node
2. In the node settings panel, locate Skip Response
3. Ensure it is disabled (turned off)
With Skip Response off, the agent will wait for the user to speak before evaluating transition conditions and moving to the next node.
AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:14 PM
To learn more, see the sources I considered:
[[1] Conversation Node Overview](https://docs.retellai.com/build/conversation-flow/conversation-node)
AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:14 PMFeel free to tag @AI Evy with additional questions. I also appreciate feedback, it helps me improve.
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Mikey
04/04/2026, 3:15 PM@AI Evy i mean at the start the first thing of the conversation should be started by the user
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AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:15 PMThanks for the follow-up, @Mikey. I'll get back to you soon.
AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:15 PM### Answer
Based on the available sources, I don't have specific documentation about configuring the conversation flow to have the user speak first at the start of the conversation.
The sources explain that conversation nodes can wait for user input when Skip Response is disabled [(1) ]() , but they don't explicitly cover how to configure the initial greeting behavior or make the agent remain silent until the user initiates the conversation.
I'd recommend checking out these potentially useful sources:
- [Conversation Flow Overview]()
- [Conversation Node Overview]()
If you'd like, I can try to provide a general answer based on my knowledge of conversational AI patterns, but it wouldn't be directly supported by the Retell AI documentation I have access to. Would that be helpful?
AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:15 PM
To learn more, see the sources I considered:
[[1] Conversation Node Overview](https://docs.retellai.com/build/conversation-flow/conversation-node)
AI Evy
04/04/2026, 3:15 PMFeel free to tag @AI Evy with additional questions. I also appreciate feedback, it helps me improve.