diff --git a/agent/system_prompt.py b/agent/system_prompt.py
index 4038716df487..1355f44affe8 100644
--- a/agent/system_prompt.py
+++ b/agent/system_prompt.py
@@ -108,17 +108,20 @@ def build_system_prompt_parts(agent: Any, system_message: Optional[str] = None)
     # path is blocked) are not model-family specific.  Gated only by
     # config.yaml ``agent.task_completion_guidance`` (default True) so
     # users who want a leaner prompt can turn it off.
-    if getattr(agent, "_task_completion_guidance", True) and agent.valid_tool_names:
+    is_subagent = getattr(agent, "_delegate_depth", 0) > 0
+    if not is_subagent and getattr(agent, "_task_completion_guidance", True) and agent.valid_tool_names:
         stable_parts.append(TASK_COMPLETION_GUIDANCE)
 
     # Tool-aware behavioral guidance: only inject when the tools are loaded
+    # Subagents get a focused task — skip per-tool guidance that adds bloat.
     tool_guidance = []
-    if "memory" in agent.valid_tool_names:
-        tool_guidance.append(MEMORY_GUIDANCE)
-    if "session_search" in agent.valid_tool_names:
-        tool_guidance.append(SESSION_SEARCH_GUIDANCE)
-    if "skill_manage" in agent.valid_tool_names:
-        tool_guidance.append(SKILLS_GUIDANCE)
+    if not is_subagent:
+        if "memory" in agent.valid_tool_names:
+            tool_guidance.append(MEMORY_GUIDANCE)
+        if "session_search" in agent.valid_tool_names:
+            tool_guidance.append(SESSION_SEARCH_GUIDANCE)
+        if "skill_manage" in agent.valid_tool_names:
+            tool_guidance.append(SKILLS_GUIDANCE)
     # Kanban worker/orchestrator lifecycle — only present when the
     # dispatcher spawned this process (kanban_show check_fn gates on
     # HERMES_KANBAN_TASK env var). Normal chat sessions never see
diff --git a/tools/delegate_tool.py b/tools/delegate_tool.py
index 6e195dfe59fe..b4614b07aa9c 100644
--- a/tools/delegate_tool.py
+++ b/tools/delegate_tool.py
@@ -710,6 +710,7 @@ def _strip_blocked_tools(toolsets: List[str]) -> List[str]:
         "clarify",
         "memory",
         "code_execution",
+        "skills",
     }
     return [t for t in toolsets if t not in blocked_toolset_names]