diff --git a/gptme/tools/shell.py b/gptme/tools/shell.py
index 96d260d7..b8fa3ae6 100644
--- a/gptme/tools/shell.py
+++ b/gptme/tools/shell.py
@@ -246,11 +246,20 @@ def execute_shell(
     assert not args
 
     cmd = code.strip()
+    whitelisted = False
     if cmd.startswith("$ "):
         cmd = cmd[len("$ ") :]
 
+    single_cmd = code.count("\n")
+    is_safe_cmd = False
+    if single_cmd < 1:
+        is_safe_cmd = any(code.startswith(safe_cmd) for safe_cmd in ['ls', 'stat', 'cd', 'cat'])
+    
+    if single_cmd < 1 and is_safe_cmd:
+        whitelisted = True
+
     confirm = True
-    if ask:
+    if not whitelisted and ask:
         print_preview(f"$ {cmd}", "bash")
         confirm = ask_execute()
         print()