diff --git a/agent/background_review.py b/agent/background_review.py
index ba65b2b1bc8..35d3d5191a0 100644
--- a/agent/background_review.py
+++ b/agent/background_review.py
@@ -115,7 +115,10 @@ _SKILL_REVIEW_PROMPT = (
     "Protected skills (DO NOT edit these):\n"
     "  • Bundled skills (shipped with Hermes, e.g. 'hermes-agent').\n"
     "  • Hub-installed skills (installed via 'hermes skills install').\n"
-    "  • Pinned skills (marked via 'hermes curator pin').\n"
+    "Pinned skills (marked via 'hermes curator pin') CAN be improved — "
+    "pin only blocks deletion/archive/consolidation by the curator, not "
+    "content updates. Patch them when a pitfall or missing step turns up, "
+    "same as any other agent-created skill.\n"
     "If the only skills that need updating are protected, say\n"
     "'Nothing to save.' and stop.\n\n"
     "Do NOT capture (these become persistent self-imposed constraints "
@@ -198,7 +201,10 @@ _COMBINED_REVIEW_PROMPT = (
     "Protected skills (DO NOT edit these):\n"
     "  • Bundled skills (shipped with Hermes, e.g. 'hermes-agent').\n"
     "  • Hub-installed skills (installed via 'hermes skills install').\n"
-    "  • Pinned skills (marked via 'hermes curator pin').\n"
+    "Pinned skills (marked via 'hermes curator pin') CAN be improved — "
+    "pin only blocks deletion/archive/consolidation by the curator, not "
+    "content updates. Patch them when a pitfall or missing step turns up, "
+    "same as any other agent-created skill.\n"
     "If the only skills that need updating are protected, say\n"
     "'Nothing to save.' and stop.\n\n"
     "Do NOT capture as skills (these become persistent self-imposed "