diff --git a/agent/background_review.py b/agent/background_review.py
index 83292029c6c..5488da08de3 100644
--- a/agent/background_review.py
+++ b/agent/background_review.py
@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ _SKILL_REVIEW_PROMPT = (
     "skill that governs that task needs to carry the lesson.\n\n"
     "If you notice two existing skills that overlap, note it in your "
     "reply — the background curator handles consolidation at scale.\n\n"
+    "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"
+    "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 "
     "that bite you later when the environment changes):\n"
     "  • Environment-dependent failures: missing binaries, fresh-install "
@@ -189,6 +195,12 @@ _COMBINED_REVIEW_PROMPT = (
     "should carry user-preference lessons when relevant.\n\n"
     "If you notice overlapping existing skills, mention it — the "
     "background curator handles consolidation.\n\n"
+    "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"
+    "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 "
     "constraints that bite you later when the environment changes):\n"
     "  • Environment-dependent failures: missing binaries, fresh-install "