diff --git a/cron/scheduler.py b/cron/scheduler.py
index 2cb1547ad3..f8aaf6e3ca 100644
--- a/cron/scheduler.py
+++ b/cron/scheduler.py
@@ -782,6 +782,7 @@ def _build_job_prompt(job: dict, prerun_script: Optional[tuple] = None) -> str:
         return prompt
 
     from tools.skills_tool import skill_view
+    from tools.skill_usage import bump_use
 
     parts = []
     skipped: list[str] = []
@@ -793,6 +794,12 @@ def _build_job_prompt(job: dict, prerun_script: Optional[tuple] = None) -> str:
             skipped.append(skill_name)
             continue
 
+        # Bump usage so the curator sees this skill as actively used.
+        try:
+            bump_use(skill_name)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.debug("Cron job: failed to bump skill usage for '%s'", skill_name, exc_info=True)
+
         content = str(loaded.get("content") or "").strip()
         if parts:
             parts.append("")
diff --git a/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py b/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py
index b12bb578a3..66df251a45 100644
--- a/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/cron/test_scheduler.py
@@ -1857,6 +1857,54 @@ class TestBuildJobPromptMissingSkill:
         assert "go" in result
 
 
+class TestBuildJobPromptBumpUse:
+    """Verify that cron jobs bump skill usage counters so the curator sees them as active."""
+
+    def test_bump_use_called_for_loaded_skill(self):
+        """bump_use is called for each successfully loaded skill."""
+
+        def _skill_view(name: str) -> str:
+            return json.dumps({"success": True, "content": f"Content for {name}."})
+
+        with patch("tools.skills_tool.skill_view", side_effect=_skill_view), \
+             patch("tools.skill_usage.bump_use") as mock_bump:
+            _build_job_prompt({"skills": ["alpha", "beta"], "prompt": "go"})
+
+        assert mock_bump.call_count == 2
+        calls = [c[0][0] for c in mock_bump.call_args_list]
+        assert "alpha" in calls
+        assert "beta" in calls
+
+    def test_bump_use_not_called_for_missing_skill(self):
+        """bump_use is NOT called when a skill fails to load."""
+
+        def _missing_view(name: str) -> str:
+            return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "not found"})
+
+        with patch("tools.skills_tool.skill_view", side_effect=_missing_view), \
+             patch("tools.skill_usage.bump_use") as mock_bump:
+            _build_job_prompt({"skills": ["ghost"], "prompt": "go"})
+
+        assert mock_bump.call_count == 0
+
+    def test_bump_failure_does_not_break_prompt(self, caplog):
+        """If bump_use raises, the prompt still builds — error is logged at DEBUG."""
+
+        def _skill_view(name: str) -> str:
+            return json.dumps({"success": True, "content": "Works."})
+
+        with patch("tools.skills_tool.skill_view", side_effect=_skill_view), \
+             patch("tools.skill_usage.bump_use", side_effect=RuntimeError("boom")), \
+             caplog.at_level(logging.DEBUG, logger="cron.scheduler"):
+            result = _build_job_prompt({"skills": ["good-skill"], "prompt": "go"})
+
+        # Prompt should still contain the skill content and original instruction
+        assert "Works." in result
+        assert "go" in result
+        # The error should be logged at DEBUG level, not crash
+        assert any("failed to bump" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
 class TestSendMediaViaAdapter:
     """Unit tests for _send_media_via_adapter — routes files to typed adapter methods."""