diff --git a/src/lib/nemoclaw-runtime-bridge.ts b/src/lib/nemoclaw-runtime-bridge.ts
index ff51cd553c3..3f72b20ff53 100644
--- a/src/lib/nemoclaw-runtime-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/lib/nemoclaw-runtime-bridge.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ export interface NemoClawRuntimeBridge {
   sandboxConnect: (sandboxName: string, options?: SandboxConnectOptions) => Promise<void>;
   sandboxDestroy: (sandboxName: string, args?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
   sandboxRebuild: (sandboxName: string, args?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
-  sandboxSkillInstall: (sandboxName: string, args?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
   sandboxStatus: (sandboxName: string) => Promise<void>;
   upgradeSandboxes: (args?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/sandbox-runtime-actions.ts b/src/lib/sandbox-runtime-actions.ts
index 1d4a7f8ccdc..d8eb927e9f6 100644
--- a/src/lib/sandbox-runtime-actions.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sandbox-runtime-actions.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ export async function installSandboxSkill(
   sandboxName: string,
   args: string[] = [],
 ): Promise<void> {
-  await getNemoClawRuntimeBridge().sandboxSkillInstall(sandboxName, args);
+  const { installSandboxSkill: installExtractedSandboxSkill } = require("./sandbox-skill-install-action") as {
+    installSandboxSkill: (sandboxName: string, args?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
+  };
+  await installExtractedSandboxSkill(sandboxName, args);
 }
 
 export async function runSandboxSnapshot(sandboxName: string, args: string[]): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/src/lib/sandbox-skill-install-action.ts b/src/lib/sandbox-skill-install-action.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0704881fa40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/sandbox-skill-install-action.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+/* v8 ignore start -- exercised through CLI subprocess skill install tests. */
+
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+
+import { CLI_NAME } from "./branding";
+import { captureOpenshell } from "./openshell-runtime";
+import { ensureLiveSandboxOrExit } from "./sandbox-gateway-state-action";
+import * as skillInstall from "./skill-install";
+import { D, G, R, YW } from "./terminal-style";
+
+const agentRuntime = require("../../bin/lib/agent-runtime");
+
+export function printSkillInstallUsage(): void {
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(`  Usage: ${CLI_NAME} <sandbox> skill install <path>`);
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("  Deploy a skill directory to a running sandbox.");
+  console.log(
+    "  <path> must be a skill directory containing a SKILL.md (with 'name:' frontmatter),",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "  or a direct path to a SKILL.md file. All non-dot files in the directory are uploaded.",
+  );
+  console.log("");
+}
+
+export function looksLikeOpenClawPlugin(candidatePath: string): boolean {
+  const dir =
+    fs.existsSync(candidatePath) && fs.statSync(candidatePath).isDirectory()
+      ? candidatePath
+      : path.dirname(candidatePath);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) return false;
+  if (fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, "openclaw.plugin.json"))) return true;
+
+  const packageJsonPath = path.join(dir, "package.json");
+  if (!fs.existsSync(packageJsonPath)) return false;
+  try {
+    const packageJson = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(packageJsonPath, "utf-8"));
+    const openclawBlock = packageJson?.openclaw;
+    return Boolean(
+      packageJson?.["openclaw.plugin"] === true ||
+        openclawBlock === true ||
+        (typeof openclawBlock === "object" &&
+          openclawBlock !== null &&
+          (openclawBlock.plugin === true ||
+            typeof openclawBlock.entry === "string" ||
+            typeof openclawBlock.main === "string" ||
+            (Array.isArray(openclawBlock.extensions) && openclawBlock.extensions.length > 0))),
+    );
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+export function printPluginInstallHint(): void {
+  console.error("  This looks like an OpenClaw plugin, not a SKILL.md agent skill.");
+  console.error("  `skill install` only accepts skill directories or direct SKILL.md paths.");
+  console.error(
+    "  To use an OpenClaw plugin today, bake it into a custom sandbox image with `nemoclaw onboard --from <Dockerfile>`.",
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Install or update a local skill directory into a live sandbox and perform
+ * any agent-specific post-install refresh needed for the new content to load.
+ */
+export async function installSandboxSkill(
+  sandboxName: string,
+  args: string[] = [],
+): Promise<void> {
+  const sub = args[0];
+  if (!sub || sub === "help" || sub === "--help" || sub === "-h") {
+    printSkillInstallUsage();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (sub !== "install") {
+    console.error(`  Unknown skill subcommand: ${sub}`);
+    console.error("  Valid subcommands: install");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const skillPath = args[1];
+  const extraArgs = args.slice(2);
+  if (skillPath === "--help" || skillPath === "-h" || skillPath === "help") {
+    printSkillInstallUsage();
+    return;
+  }
+  if (extraArgs.length > 0) {
+    console.error(`  Unknown argument(s) for skill install: ${extraArgs.join(", ")}`);
+    console.error(`  Usage: ${CLI_NAME} <sandbox> skill install <path>`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  if (!skillPath) {
+    console.error(`  Usage: ${CLI_NAME} <sandbox> skill install <path>`);
+    console.error("  <path> must be a directory containing a SKILL.md file.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const resolvedPath = path.resolve(skillPath);
+
+  // Accept a directory containing SKILL.md, or a direct path to SKILL.md.
+  let skillDir: string;
+  let skillMdPath: string;
+  if (fs.existsSync(resolvedPath) && fs.statSync(resolvedPath).isDirectory()) {
+    skillDir = resolvedPath;
+    skillMdPath = path.join(resolvedPath, "SKILL.md");
+  } else if (fs.existsSync(resolvedPath) && resolvedPath.endsWith("SKILL.md")) {
+    skillDir = path.dirname(resolvedPath);
+    skillMdPath = resolvedPath;
+  } else {
+    console.error(`  No SKILL.md found at '${resolvedPath}'.`);
+    console.error("  <path> must be a skill directory or a direct path to SKILL.md.");
+    if (looksLikeOpenClawPlugin(resolvedPath)) {
+      printPluginInstallHint();
+    }
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  if (!fs.existsSync(skillMdPath)) {
+    console.error(`  No SKILL.md found in '${skillDir}'.`);
+    console.error("  The skill directory must contain a SKILL.md file.");
+    if (looksLikeOpenClawPlugin(skillDir)) {
+      printPluginInstallHint();
+    }
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  // 1. Validate frontmatter
+  let frontmatter;
+  try {
+    const content = fs.readFileSync(skillMdPath, "utf-8");
+    frontmatter = skillInstall.parseFrontmatter(content);
+  } catch (err) {
+    const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    console.error(`  ${errorMessage}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const collected = skillInstall.collectFiles(skillDir);
+  if (collected.unsafePaths.length > 0) {
+    console.error("  Skill directory contains files with unsafe characters:");
+    for (const p of collected.unsafePaths) console.error(`    ${p}`);
+    console.error("  File names must match [A-Za-z0-9._-/]. Rename or remove them.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  if (collected.skippedDotfiles.length > 0) {
+    console.log(
+      `  ${D}Skipping ${collected.skippedDotfiles.length} hidden path(s): ${collected.skippedDotfiles.join(", ")}${R}`,
+    );
+  }
+  const fileLabel = collected.files.length === 1 ? "1 file" : `${collected.files.length} files`;
+  console.log(`  ${G}✓${R} Validated SKILL.md (name: ${frontmatter.name}, ${fileLabel})`);
+
+  // 2. Ensure sandbox is live
+  await ensureLiveSandboxOrExit(sandboxName);
+
+  // 3. Resolve agent and paths
+  const agent = agentRuntime.getSessionAgent(sandboxName);
+  const paths = skillInstall.resolveSkillPaths(agent, frontmatter.name);
+
+  // 4. Get SSH config
+  const sshConfigResult = captureOpenshell(["sandbox", "ssh-config", sandboxName], {
+    ignoreError: true,
+  });
+  if (sshConfigResult.status !== 0) {
+    console.error("  Failed to obtain SSH configuration for the sandbox.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const tmpSshConfig = path.join(
+    os.tmpdir(),
+    `nemoclaw-ssh-skill-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}.conf`,
+  );
+  fs.writeFileSync(tmpSshConfig, sshConfigResult.output, { mode: 0o600 });
+
+  try {
+    const ctx = { configFile: tmpSshConfig, sandboxName };
+
+    // 5. Check if skill already exists (update vs fresh install)
+    const isUpdate = skillInstall.checkExisting(ctx, paths);
+
+    // 6. Upload skill directory
+    const { uploaded, failed } = skillInstall.uploadDirectory(ctx, skillDir, paths.uploadDir);
+    if (failed.length > 0) {
+      console.error(`  Failed to upload ${failed.length} file(s): ${failed.join(", ")}`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+    console.log(`  ${G}✓${R} Uploaded ${uploaded} file(s) to sandbox`);
+
+    // 7. Post-install (OpenClaw mirror + refresh, or restart hint).
+    //    OpenClaw caches skill content per session, so always refresh the
+    //    session index after an install/update to avoid stale SKILL.md data.
+    const post = skillInstall.postInstall(ctx, paths, skillDir);
+    for (const msg of post.messages) {
+      if (msg.startsWith("Warning:")) {
+        console.error(`  ${YW}${msg}${R}`);
+      } else {
+        console.log(`  ${D}${msg}${R}`);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // 8. Verify
+    const verified = skillInstall.verifyInstall(ctx, paths);
+    if (verified) {
+      const verb = isUpdate ? "updated" : "installed";
+      console.log(`  ${G}✓${R} Skill '${frontmatter.name}' ${verb}`);
+    } else {
+      console.error(`  Skill uploaded but verification failed at ${paths.uploadDir}/SKILL.md`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  } finally {
+    try {
+      fs.unlinkSync(tmpSshConfig);
+    } catch {
+      /* ignore */
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/nemoclaw.ts b/src/nemoclaw.ts
index 38e0d29bf64..a2990a722ee 100644
--- a/src/nemoclaw.ts
+++ b/src/nemoclaw.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ const agentRuntime = require("../bin/lib/agent-runtime");
 const sandboxVersion = require("./lib/sandbox-version");
 const sandboxState = require("./lib/sandbox-state");
 const { parseRestoreArgs } = sandboxState;
-const skillInstall = require("./lib/skill-install");
 const { sleepSeconds } = require("./lib/wait");
 const { parseSandboxPhase } = require("./lib/gateway-state");
 const {
@@ -528,7 +527,6 @@ exports.runtimeBridge = {
   sandboxConnect,
   sandboxDestroy,
   sandboxRebuild,
-  sandboxSkillInstall,
   sandboxStatus,
   upgradeSandboxes,
 };
@@ -1659,211 +1657,6 @@ async function sandboxStatus(sandboxName: string) {
   console.log("");
 }
 
-function printSkillInstallUsage(): void {
-  console.log("");
-  console.log(`  Usage: ${CLI_NAME} <sandbox> skill install <path>`);
-  console.log("");
-  console.log("  Deploy a skill directory to a running sandbox.");
-  console.log(
-    "  <path> must be a skill directory containing a SKILL.md (with 'name:' frontmatter),",
-  );
-  console.log(
-    "  or a direct path to a SKILL.md file. All non-dot files in the directory are uploaded.",
-  );
-  console.log("");
-}
-
-function looksLikeOpenClawPlugin(candidatePath: string): boolean {
-  const dir =
-    fs.existsSync(candidatePath) && fs.statSync(candidatePath).isDirectory()
-      ? candidatePath
-      : path.dirname(candidatePath);
-  if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) return false;
-  if (fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, "openclaw.plugin.json"))) return true;
-
-  const packageJsonPath = path.join(dir, "package.json");
-  if (!fs.existsSync(packageJsonPath)) return false;
-  try {
-    const packageJson = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(packageJsonPath, "utf-8"));
-    const openclawBlock = packageJson?.openclaw;
-    return Boolean(
-      packageJson?.["openclaw.plugin"] === true ||
-      openclawBlock === true ||
-      (typeof openclawBlock === "object" &&
-        openclawBlock !== null &&
-        (openclawBlock.plugin === true ||
-          typeof openclawBlock.entry === "string" ||
-          typeof openclawBlock.main === "string" ||
-          (Array.isArray(openclawBlock.extensions) && openclawBlock.extensions.length > 0))),
-    );
-  } catch {
-    return false;
-  }
-}
-
-function printPluginInstallHint(): void {
-  console.error("  This looks like an OpenClaw plugin, not a SKILL.md agent skill.");
-  console.error("  `skill install` only accepts skill directories or direct SKILL.md paths.");
-  console.error(
-    "  To use an OpenClaw plugin today, bake it into a custom sandbox image with `nemoclaw onboard --from <Dockerfile>`.",
-  );
-}
-
-/**
- * Install or update a local skill directory into a live sandbox and perform
- * any agent-specific post-install refresh needed for the new content to load.
- */
-async function sandboxSkillInstall(sandboxName: string, args: string[] = []): Promise<void> {
-  const sub = args[0];
-  if (!sub || sub === "help" || sub === "--help" || sub === "-h") {
-    printSkillInstallUsage();
-    return;
-  }
-
-  if (sub !== "install") {
-    console.error(`  Unknown skill subcommand: ${sub}`);
-    console.error("  Valid subcommands: install");
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
-  const skillPath = args[1];
-  const extraArgs = args.slice(2);
-  if (skillPath === "--help" || skillPath === "-h" || skillPath === "help") {
-    printSkillInstallUsage();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (extraArgs.length > 0) {
-    console.error(`  Unknown argument(s) for skill install: ${extraArgs.join(", ")}`);
-    console.error(`  Usage: ${CLI_NAME} <sandbox> skill install <path>`);
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-  if (!skillPath) {
-    console.error(`  Usage: ${CLI_NAME} <sandbox> skill install <path>`);
-    console.error("  <path> must be a directory containing a SKILL.md file.");
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
-  const resolvedPath = path.resolve(skillPath);
-
-  // Accept a directory containing SKILL.md, or a direct path to SKILL.md.
-  let skillDir: string;
-  let skillMdPath: string;
-  if (fs.existsSync(resolvedPath) && fs.statSync(resolvedPath).isDirectory()) {
-    skillDir = resolvedPath;
-    skillMdPath = path.join(resolvedPath, "SKILL.md");
-  } else if (fs.existsSync(resolvedPath) && resolvedPath.endsWith("SKILL.md")) {
-    skillDir = path.dirname(resolvedPath);
-    skillMdPath = resolvedPath;
-  } else {
-    console.error(`  No SKILL.md found at '${resolvedPath}'.`);
-    console.error("  <path> must be a skill directory or a direct path to SKILL.md.");
-    if (looksLikeOpenClawPlugin(resolvedPath)) {
-      printPluginInstallHint();
-    }
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
-  if (!fs.existsSync(skillMdPath)) {
-    console.error(`  No SKILL.md found in '${skillDir}'.`);
-    console.error("  The skill directory must contain a SKILL.md file.");
-    if (looksLikeOpenClawPlugin(skillDir)) {
-      printPluginInstallHint();
-    }
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
-  // 1. Validate frontmatter
-  let frontmatter;
-  try {
-    const content = fs.readFileSync(skillMdPath, "utf-8");
-    frontmatter = skillInstall.parseFrontmatter(content);
-  } catch (err) {
-    const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
-    console.error(`  ${errorMessage}`);
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
-  const collected = skillInstall.collectFiles(skillDir);
-  if (collected.unsafePaths.length > 0) {
-    console.error(`  Skill directory contains files with unsafe characters:`);
-    for (const p of collected.unsafePaths) console.error(`    ${p}`);
-    console.error("  File names must match [A-Za-z0-9._-/]. Rename or remove them.");
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-  if (collected.skippedDotfiles.length > 0) {
-    console.log(
-      `  ${D}Skipping ${collected.skippedDotfiles.length} hidden path(s): ${collected.skippedDotfiles.join(", ")}${R}`,
-    );
-  }
-  const fileLabel = collected.files.length === 1 ? "1 file" : `${collected.files.length} files`;
-  console.log(`  ${G}✓${R} Validated SKILL.md (name: ${frontmatter.name}, ${fileLabel})`);
-
-  // 2. Ensure sandbox is live
-  await ensureLiveSandboxOrExit(sandboxName);
-
-  // 3. Resolve agent and paths
-  const agent = agentRuntime.getSessionAgent(sandboxName);
-  const paths = skillInstall.resolveSkillPaths(agent, frontmatter.name);
-
-  // 4. Get SSH config
-  const sshConfigResult = captureOpenshell(["sandbox", "ssh-config", sandboxName], {
-    ignoreError: true,
-  });
-  if (sshConfigResult.status !== 0) {
-    console.error("  Failed to obtain SSH configuration for the sandbox.");
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
-  const tmpSshConfig = path.join(
-    os.tmpdir(),
-    `nemoclaw-ssh-skill-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}.conf`,
-  );
-  fs.writeFileSync(tmpSshConfig, sshConfigResult.output, { mode: 0o600 });
-
-  try {
-    const ctx = { configFile: tmpSshConfig, sandboxName };
-
-    // 5. Check if skill already exists (update vs fresh install)
-    const isUpdate = skillInstall.checkExisting(ctx, paths);
-
-    // 6. Upload skill directory
-    const { uploaded, failed } = skillInstall.uploadDirectory(ctx, skillDir, paths.uploadDir);
-    if (failed.length > 0) {
-      console.error(`  Failed to upload ${failed.length} file(s): ${failed.join(", ")}`);
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
-    console.log(`  ${G}✓${R} Uploaded ${uploaded} file(s) to sandbox`);
-
-    // 7. Post-install (OpenClaw mirror + refresh, or restart hint).
-    //    OpenClaw caches skill content per session, so always refresh the
-    //    session index after an install/update to avoid stale SKILL.md data.
-    const post = skillInstall.postInstall(ctx, paths, skillDir);
-    for (const msg of post.messages) {
-      if (msg.startsWith("Warning:")) {
-        console.error(`  ${YW}${msg}${R}`);
-      } else {
-        console.log(`  ${D}${msg}${R}`);
-      }
-    }
-
-    // 8. Verify
-    const verified = skillInstall.verifyInstall(ctx, paths);
-    if (verified) {
-      const verb = isUpdate ? "updated" : "installed";
-      console.log(`  ${G}✓${R} Skill '${frontmatter.name}' ${verb}`);
-    } else {
-      console.error(`  Skill uploaded but verification failed at ${paths.uploadDir}/SKILL.md`);
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
-  } finally {
-    try {
-      fs.unlinkSync(tmpSshConfig);
-    } catch {
-      /* ignore */
-    }
-  }
-}
-
 function cleanupSandboxServices(
   sandboxName: string,
   { stopHostServices = false }: { stopHostServices?: boolean } = {},
@@ -2738,9 +2531,13 @@ async function runDispatchResult(
           await addSandboxPolicy(sandboxName, actionArgs);
           return;
         }
-        case "skill":
-          await sandboxSkillInstall(sandboxName, actionArgs);
+        case "skill": {
+          const { installSandboxSkill } = require("./lib/sandbox-skill-install-action") as {
+            installSandboxSkill: (sandboxName: string, args?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
+          };
+          await installSandboxSkill(sandboxName, actionArgs);
           return;
+        }
         case "snapshot": {
           const { runSandboxSnapshot } = require("./lib/snapshot-action") as {
             runSandboxSnapshot: (sandboxName: string, args: string[]) => Promise<void>;