diff --git a/hermes_cli/setup.py b/hermes_cli/setup.py
index 8f6b633c6..f969bd4bd 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/setup.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/setup.py
@@ -1460,7 +1460,9 @@ def setup_agent_settings(config: dict):
     )
     print_info("Maximum tool-calling iterations per conversation.")
     print_info("Higher = more complex tasks, but costs more tokens.")
-    print_info("Default is 90, which works for most tasks. Use 150+ for open exploration.")
+    print_info(
+        f"Press Enter to keep {current_max}. Use 90 for most tasks or 150+ for open exploration."
+    )
 
     max_iter_str = prompt("Max iterations", current_max)
     try:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_agent_settings.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_agent_settings.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..868be7508
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_agent_settings.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+"""Tests for agent-settings copy in the interactive setup wizard."""
+
+from hermes_cli.setup import setup_agent_settings
+
+
+def test_setup_agent_settings_uses_displayed_max_iterations_value(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    """The helper text should match the value shown in the prompt."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+
+    config = {
+        "agent": {"max_turns": 90},
+        "display": {"tool_progress": "all"},
+        "compression": {"threshold": 0.50},
+        "session_reset": {"mode": "both", "idle_minutes": 1440, "at_hour": 4},
+    }
+
+    prompt_answers = iter(["60", "all", "0.5"])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.setup.get_env_value", lambda key: "60" if key == "HERMES_MAX_ITERATIONS" else "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.setup.prompt", lambda *args, **kwargs: next(prompt_answers))
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.setup.prompt_choice", lambda *args, **kwargs: 4)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.setup.save_env_value", lambda *args, **kwargs: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.setup.save_config", lambda *args, **kwargs: None)
+
+    setup_agent_settings(config)
+
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "Press Enter to keep 60." in out
+    assert "Default is 90" not in out