diff --git a/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.test.ts b/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.test.ts
index 7beadebb472..861b5234892 100644
--- a/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.test.ts
+++ b/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.test.ts
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ describe("getRuntimeSummary", () => {
     expect(summary.sandboxName).toBe("openclaw");
     expect(summary.sandboxPhase).toBeNull();
     expect(summary.networkLines).toContain(
-      "outbound network is deny-by-default; assume no arbitrary internet access",
+      "outbound network is deny-by-default, but allowed endpoints work, so verify by attempting a request rather than assuming a host is unreachable",
     );
     expect(summary.filesystemLines).toContain(
-      "filesystem/process access is sandboxed; do not assume host-level access",
+      "filesystem and process access are scoped to the sandbox, not the host; do not assume access to host paths outside it",
     );
   });
 
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ describe("registerRuntimeContext", () => {
     expect(result.prependSystemContext).toContain("Network policy:");
     expect(result.prependSystemContext).toContain("Filesystem policy:");
     expect(result.prependSystemContext).toContain("</nemoclaw-runtime>");
+    // Grounding directive: the agent must attempt before asserting a host is
+    // blocked rather than refusing preemptively, and report the real failure
+    // mode instead of assuming a specific status code.
+    expect(result.prependSystemContext).toContain(
+      "unless you have actually attempted it this turn",
+    );
+    expect(result.prependSystemContext).toContain("raises an operator approval request");
   });
 
   it("uses the persisted sandbox name in the injected context", async () => {
diff --git a/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.ts b/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.ts
index 4dd3571054e..1cbc1290ff8 100644
--- a/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.ts
+++ b/nemoclaw/src/runtime-context.ts
@@ -12,12 +12,13 @@ interface RuntimeSummary {
 }
 
 const STATIC_NETWORK_LINES = [
-  "outbound network is deny-by-default; assume no arbitrary internet access",
-  "blocked requests can return proxy 403 and may need operator approval or policy changes",
+  "outbound network is deny-by-default, but allowed endpoints work, so verify by attempting a request rather than assuming a host is unreachable",
+  "attempting a restricted endpoint is productive: a proxy or policy denial raises an operator approval request in OpenShell, so make the request rather than refusing preemptively; if it fails, report the actual error and distinguish a policy denial (which the operator can approve) from other network errors such as DNS, timeout, or TLS failures",
 ];
 
 const STATIC_FILESYSTEM_LINES = [
-  "filesystem/process access is sandboxed; do not assume host-level access",
+  "filesystem and process access are scoped to the sandbox, not the host; do not assume access to host paths outside it",
+  "within the sandbox you can create, edit, and run files (for example in /tmp or /sandbox) using your file and shell tools; try the operation and report if it fails rather than assuming it is unavailable",
 ];
 
 /**
@@ -63,8 +64,9 @@ function buildRuntimeContextText(summary: RuntimeSummary): string {
     "Filesystem policy:",
     ...summary.filesystemLines.map((line) => `- ${line}`),
     "Behavior:",
-    "- Do not claim unrestricted host or internet access.",
-    "- if access is blocked, say it is blocked and ask the operator to adjust policy or approve it in OpenShell",
+    "- Do not assert that a URL or host is blocked or unreachable unless you have actually attempted it this turn; report the actual result rather than speculating.",
+    "- Distinguish a proxy/policy denial, which raises an operator approval request in OpenShell, from other failures such as DNS, timeout, or TLS errors; only a policy denial is something the operator can approve.",
+    "- Do not claim unrestricted host or internet access either. When unsure, attempt the action and rely on the real result instead of speculating about the environment.",
     "</nemoclaw-runtime>",
   ].filter((line): line is string => Boolean(line));
   return lines.join("\n");