diff --git a/docs/pkg/cli/streaming.md b/docs/pkg/cli/streaming.md
index d619d16..67dd41b 100644
--- a/docs/pkg/cli/streaming.md
+++ b/docs/pkg/cli/streaming.md
@@ -41,10 +41,11 @@ var buf strings.Builder
 stream := cli.NewStream(cli.WithStreamOutput(&buf))
 // ... write tokens ...
 stream.Done()
-result := stream.Captured() // or buf.String()
+result, ok := stream.CapturedOK() // or buf.String()
 ```
 
 `Captured()` returns the output as a string when using a `*strings.Builder` or any `fmt.Stringer`.
+`CapturedOK()` reports whether capture is supported by the configured writer.
 
 ## Reading from `io.Reader`
 
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@ stream.Done()
 | `Done()` | Signal completion (adds trailing newline if needed) |
 | `Wait()` | Block until `Done` is called |
 | `Column()` | Current column position |
-| `Captured()` | Get output as string (requires `*strings.Builder` or `fmt.Stringer` writer) |
+| `Captured()` | Get output as string (returns `""` if capture is unsupported) |
+| `CapturedOK()` | Get output and support status |
 
 ## Options
 
diff --git a/pkg/cli/stream.go b/pkg/cli/stream.go
index 211fd6d..66de4fd 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/stream.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/stream.go
@@ -132,16 +132,24 @@ func (s *Stream) Column() int {
 	return s.col
 }
 
-// Captured returns the stream output as a string when using a stringable writer.
-// Panics if the output writer is not a *strings.Builder or fmt.Stringer.
+// Captured returns the stream output as a string when the output writer is
+// capture-capable. If the writer cannot be captured, it returns an empty string.
+// Use CapturedOK when you need to distinguish that case.
 func (s *Stream) Captured() string {
+	out, _ := s.CapturedOK()
+	return out
+}
+
+// CapturedOK returns the stream output and whether the configured writer
+// supports capture.
+func (s *Stream) CapturedOK() (string, bool) {
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	defer s.mu.Unlock()
 	if sb, ok := s.out.(*strings.Builder); ok {
-		return sb.String()
+		return sb.String(), true
 	}
 	if st, ok := s.out.(fmt.Stringer); ok {
-		return st.String()
+		return st.String(), true
 	}
-	panic("stream output writer does not support Capture")
+	return "", false
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cli/stream_test.go b/pkg/cli/stream_test.go
index e4d745c..589162f 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/stream_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/stream_test.go
@@ -189,11 +189,12 @@ func TestStream_Bad(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, "", buf.String())
 	})
 
-	t.Run("Captured panics when output is not stringable", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("CapturedOK reports unsupported writers", func(t *testing.T) {
 		s := NewStream(WithStreamOutput(writerOnly{}))
-		assert.Panics(t, func() {
-			_ = s.Captured()
-		})
+		got, ok := s.CapturedOK()
+		assert.False(t, ok)
+		assert.Equal(t, "", got)
+		assert.Equal(t, "", s.Captured())
 	})
 }