diff --git a/deploy/auto-deploy.sh b/deploy/auto-deploy.sh
index f191303..e9002e7 100755
--- a/deploy/auto-deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy/auto-deploy.sh
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ if [ "$OLD_SHA" = "none" ] || git diff --name-only "$OLD_SHA" "$NEW_SHA" -- syst
   fi
 fi
 
-# Restart services only if Python files changed
+# Restart services only when changed files affect a running process.
 RESTART=""
 add_restart() {
   case " $RESTART " in
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ if [ "$OLD_SHA" != "none" ]; then
   if git diff --name-only "$OLD_SHA" "$NEW_SHA" -- diagnostics/ 2>/dev/null | grep -q '\.py$'; then
     add_restart teleo-diagnostics
   fi
-  if git diff --name-only "$OLD_SHA" "$NEW_SHA" -- hermes-agent/leoclean-bin/ hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/ 2>/dev/null | grep -q .; then
+  if git diff --name-only "$OLD_SHA" "$NEW_SHA" -- hermes-agent/leoclean-bin/ hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/ 2>/dev/null \
+    | bash deploy/leoclean-gateway-restart-required.sh; then
     add_restart_if_unit_active leoclean-gateway
   fi
 else
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ if [ -n "$RESTART" ]; then
     exit 1
   fi
 else
-  log "No Python changes — services not restarted"
+  log "No runtime changes - services not restarted"
 fi
 
 echo "$NEW_SHA" > "$STAMP_FILE"
diff --git a/deploy/leoclean-gateway-restart-required.sh b/deploy/leoclean-gateway-restart-required.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdcae0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/leoclean-gateway-restart-required.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Read changed repo paths from stdin. Markdown skills are loaded from the synced
+# profile per turn; runtime code changes still require a gateway restart.
+restart_required=1
+while IFS= read -r path || [ -n "$path" ]; do
+  case "$path" in
+    hermes-agent/leoclean-bin/*)
+      restart_required=0
+      ;;
+    hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/*.md|hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/*/*.md)
+      ;;
+    hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/*)
+      restart_required=0
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+exit "$restart_required"
diff --git a/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/gcp/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md b/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/gcp/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
index e61c469..43f63d9 100644
--- a/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/gcp/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
+++ b/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/gcp/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
@@ -152,6 +152,22 @@ and copy either (a) a full UUID plus observed `status` and `applied_at`, or (b)
 exact observed counts for the relevant `claims`, `sources`, `claim_edges`,
 `claim_evidence`, and `kb_proposals` tables. Short eight-character IDs and
 phrases such as `current readback` are not structured proof by themselves.
+Copy exactly one of these formats, replacing every all-caps token with a value
+from the current tool call:
+
+```text
+DB readback: proposal: `PROPOSAL_UUID_36_CHARS`; status: `OBSERVED_STATUS`; applied_at: `OBSERVED_TIMESTAMP_OR_NONE`.
+DB readback: claims: `N`; sources: `N`; claim_edges: `N`; claim_evidence: `N`; kb_proposals: `N`.
+```
+
+Never shorten a UUID: it must contain all 36 characters and four hyphens. Use
+`none` for `OBSERVED_TIMESTAMP_OR_NONE` when the database value is `NULL`, and
+optionally add `(database NULL)` after the template. Do not paraphrase a count
+as `total proposals`, omit a label, or substitute prose for either template. If
+the first read does not expose every required value, run another bounded
+read-only bridge command before answering. Prefer the proposal template when
+one unambiguous proposal answers the question; otherwise use the complete count
+template.
 Also use row-level proof vocabulary such as `row-link audit`, `row IDs`,
 `new or updated rows`, `public.*`, and `postflight proof` where relevant. End
 with exactly one final line beginning
diff --git a/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md b/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
index cb00e11..54be6b1 100644
--- a/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
+++ b/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
@@ -145,6 +145,22 @@ and copy either (a) a full UUID plus observed `status` and `applied_at`, or (b)
 exact observed counts for the relevant `claims`, `sources`, `claim_edges`,
 `claim_evidence`, and `kb_proposals` tables. Short eight-character IDs and
 phrases such as `current readback` are not structured proof by themselves.
+Copy exactly one of these formats, replacing every all-caps token with a value
+from the current tool call:
+
+```text
+DB readback: proposal: `PROPOSAL_UUID_36_CHARS`; status: `OBSERVED_STATUS`; applied_at: `OBSERVED_TIMESTAMP_OR_NONE`.
+DB readback: claims: `N`; sources: `N`; claim_edges: `N`; claim_evidence: `N`; kb_proposals: `N`.
+```
+
+Never shorten a UUID: it must contain all 36 characters and four hyphens. Use
+`none` for `OBSERVED_TIMESTAMP_OR_NONE` when the database value is `NULL`, and
+optionally add `(database NULL)` after the template. Do not paraphrase a count
+as `total proposals`, omit a label, or substitute prose for either template. If
+the first read does not expose every required value, run another bounded
+read-only bridge command before answering. Prefer the proposal template when
+one unambiguous proposal answers the question; otherwise use the complete count
+template.
 Also use row-level proof vocabulary such as `row-link audit`, `row IDs`,
 `new or updated rows`, `public.*`, and `postflight proof` where relevant. End
 with exactly one final line beginning
diff --git a/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py b/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py
index 4c25f0c..5797da1 100644
--- a/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py
+++ b/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ def test_gcp_kb_skill_uses_cloudsql_bridge_not_vps_docker() -> None:
     assert "DB readback:" in text
     assert "full UUID plus observed `status` and `applied_at`" in squashed
     assert "Short eight-character IDs" in text
+    assert "PROPOSAL_UUID_36_CHARS" in text
+    assert "OBSERVED_STATUS" in text
+    assert "OBSERVED_TIMESTAMP_OR_NONE" in text
+    assert "claims: `N`; sources: `N`; claim_edges: `N`; claim_evidence: `N`; kb_proposals: `N`" in text
+    assert "Never shorten a UUID" in text
+    assert "Do not paraphrase a count" in text
     assert "canonical identity requires DB rows plus" in squashed
     assert "not canonical Postgres" in text
     assert "not the source of truth" in text
@@ -77,6 +83,12 @@ def test_vps_kb_skill_keeps_vps_scope_explicit() -> None:
     assert "DB readback:" in text
     assert "full UUID plus observed `status` and `applied_at`" in squashed
     assert "Short eight-character IDs" in text
+    assert "PROPOSAL_UUID_36_CHARS" in text
+    assert "OBSERVED_STATUS" in text
+    assert "OBSERVED_TIMESTAMP_OR_NONE" in text
+    assert "claims: `N`; sources: `N`; claim_edges: `N`; claim_evidence: `N`; kb_proposals: `N`" in text
+    assert "Never shorten a UUID" in text
+    assert "Do not paraphrase a count" in text
     assert "canonical identity requires DB rows plus" in squashed
     assert "not canonical Postgres" in text
     assert "not the source of truth" in text
diff --git a/tests/test_teleo_agent_systemd.py b/tests/test_teleo_agent_systemd.py
index f578231..cd65b62 100644
--- a/tests/test_teleo_agent_systemd.py
+++ b/tests/test_teleo_agent_systemd.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import subprocess
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
@@ -80,7 +81,19 @@ def test_deploy_scripts_install_systemd_units_and_enable_agent_healthcheck():
     assert "teleo-agent-healthcheck.timer" in manual_deploy
 
 
-def test_deploy_scripts_sync_leoclean_skills_and_restart_gateway_when_active():
+def _leoclean_gateway_restart_required(*changed_paths: str) -> bool:
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        ["bash", str(REPO_ROOT / "deploy" / "leoclean-gateway-restart-required.sh")],
+        input="\n".join(changed_paths),
+        capture_output=True,
+        check=False,
+        text=True,
+    )
+    assert result.returncode in {0, 1}, result.stderr
+    return result.returncode == 0
+
+
+def test_deploy_scripts_sync_leoclean_skills_and_restart_gateway_for_runtime_changes():
     auto_deploy = (REPO_ROOT / "deploy" / "auto-deploy.sh").read_text()
     manual_deploy = (REPO_ROOT / "deploy" / "deploy.sh").read_text()
     sudoers = (REPO_ROOT / "deploy" / "sudoers" / "teleo-auto-deploy").read_text()
@@ -89,7 +102,7 @@ def test_deploy_scripts_sync_leoclean_skills_and_restart_gateway_when_active():
     assert 'LEOCLEAN_SKILLS_DIR="/home/teleo/.hermes/profiles/leoclean/skills"' in auto_deploy
     assert 'hermes-agent/leoclean-bin/' in auto_deploy
     assert 'hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/' in auto_deploy
-    assert 'git diff --name-only "$OLD_SHA" "$NEW_SHA" -- hermes-agent/leoclean-bin/ hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/' in auto_deploy
+    assert 'deploy/leoclean-gateway-restart-required.sh' in auto_deploy
     assert 'add_restart_if_unit_active leoclean-gateway' in auto_deploy
     assert 'sudo systemctl restart "$svc"' in auto_deploy
     assert "sudo systemctl restart $RESTART" not in auto_deploy
@@ -102,6 +115,22 @@ def test_deploy_scripts_sync_leoclean_skills_and_restart_gateway_when_active():
     assert 'systemctl is-active --quiet leoclean-gateway.service' in manual_deploy
 
 
+def test_auto_deploy_hot_syncs_leoclean_markdown_without_gateway_restart():
+    assert not _leoclean_gateway_restart_required(
+        "hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md"
+    )
+    assert not _leoclean_gateway_restart_required(
+        "hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/live-leo-telegram/SKILL.md"
+    )
+
+
+def test_auto_deploy_restarts_gateway_for_leoclean_runtime_changes():
+    assert _leoclean_gateway_restart_required("hermes-agent/leoclean-bin/kb_tool.py")
+    assert _leoclean_gateway_restart_required(
+        "hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/runtime_helper.py"
+    )
+
+
 def test_auto_deploy_sudoers_installer_is_root_only_and_visudo_checked():
     installer = (REPO_ROOT / "deploy" / "install-auto-deploy-sudoers.sh").read_text()