diff --git a/agent/skill_commands.py b/agent/skill_commands.py
index 42e7c857434..018d84865cd 100644
--- a/agent/skill_commands.py
+++ b/agent/skill_commands.py
@@ -58,13 +58,35 @@ def _load_skill_payload(skill_identifier: str, task_id: str | None = None) -> tu
 
     try:
         from tools.skills_tool import SKILLS_DIR, skill_view
+        from agent.skill_utils import get_external_skills_dirs
 
         identifier_path = Path(raw_identifier).expanduser()
         if identifier_path.is_absolute():
+            normalized = None
+            trusted_roots = [SKILLS_DIR]
             try:
-                normalized = str(identifier_path.resolve().relative_to(SKILLS_DIR.resolve()))
+                trusted_roots.extend(get_external_skills_dirs())
             except Exception:
-                normalized = raw_identifier
+                pass
+
+            # Prefer the lexical path under a trusted skill root before
+            # resolving symlinks.  Slash-command discovery can legitimately
+            # find a skill via ~/.hermes/skills/<name> where <name> is a
+            # symlink to a checked-out skill elsewhere.  Resolving first turns
+            # that trusted visible path into an arbitrary absolute path that
+            # skill_view() refuses to load.
+            for root in trusted_roots:
+                try:
+                    normalized = str(identifier_path.relative_to(root))
+                    break
+                except ValueError:
+                    continue
+
+            if normalized is None:
+                try:
+                    normalized = str(identifier_path.resolve().relative_to(SKILLS_DIR.resolve()))
+                except Exception:
+                    normalized = raw_identifier
         else:
             normalized = raw_identifier.lstrip("/")
 
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_skill_commands.py b/tests/agent/test_skill_commands.py
index c11976ef978..a206348c0da 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_skill_commands.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_skill_commands.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
+import pytest
+
 import tools.skills_tool as skills_tool_module
 from agent.skill_commands import (
     build_preloaded_skills_prompt,
@@ -125,6 +127,30 @@ class TestScanSkillCommands:
         assert "/knowledge-brain" in result
         assert result["/knowledge-brain"]["name"] == "knowledge-brain"
 
+    def test_loads_skill_invocation_from_symlinked_skill_dir(self, tmp_path):
+        """Slash commands should load skills symlinked under the local skills dir."""
+        external_root = tmp_path / "external"
+        skills_root = tmp_path / "skills"
+        skills_root.mkdir()
+        real_skill_dir = _make_skill(
+            external_root,
+            "impeccable",
+            body="Apply impeccable design craft.",
+        )
+        symlink_path = skills_root / "impeccable"
+        try:
+            symlink_path.symlink_to(real_skill_dir, target_is_directory=True)
+        except (OSError, NotImplementedError) as exc:
+            pytest.skip(f"symlinks unavailable in test environment: {exc}")
+
+        with patch("tools.skills_tool.SKILLS_DIR", skills_root):
+            result = scan_skill_commands()
+            message = build_skill_invocation_message("/impeccable")
+
+        assert "/impeccable" in result
+        assert message is not None
+        assert "Apply impeccable design craft." in message
+
     def test_get_skill_commands_rescans_when_platform_scope_changes(self, tmp_path):
         """Platform-specific disabled-skill caches must not leak across platforms.