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 04503cb..4b290a4 100644
--- a/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/gcp/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
+++ b/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/gcp/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ the expected follow-up without needing to ask twice:
 4. Next Cory-style follow-up: the one proof-changing or admin action that would
    change the answer.
 
+Always include the final line label `Next Cory-style follow-up:` for a
+no-context direct-claim answer. Do not omit it just because the answer seems
+complete.
+
 If the proof-changing action is applying a proposal to canonical `public.*`,
 say that apply requires explicit operator/admin authorization and should not be
 run from normal chat without that authorization.
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 06c85aa..e673e27 100644
--- a/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
+++ b/hermes-agent/leoclean-skills/vps/teleo-kb-bridge/SKILL.md
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ the expected follow-up without needing to ask twice:
 4. Next Cory-style follow-up: the one proof-changing or admin action that would
    change the answer.
 
+Always include the final line label `Next Cory-style follow-up:` for a
+no-context direct-claim answer. Do not omit it just because the answer seems
+complete.
+
 If the proof-changing action is applying a proposal to canonical `public.*`,
 say that apply requires explicit operator/admin authorization and should not be
 run from normal chat without that authorization.
diff --git a/scripts/working_leo_open_ended_benchmark.py b/scripts/working_leo_open_ended_benchmark.py
index 628e285..d781582 100644
--- a/scripts/working_leo_open_ended_benchmark.py
+++ b/scripts/working_leo_open_ended_benchmark.py
@@ -402,7 +402,8 @@ SIGNAL_PATTERNS: dict[str, list[re.Pattern[str]]] = {
             r"\bnot canonical\b|\bnot applied\b|\bdoes not exist in (?:canonical )?(?:Leo's )?KB\b|"
             r"\bonly in the proposal ledger\b|locked behind the apply tool|"
             r"\bcannot demo\b|\bnot possible\b|\bnot a decision[- ]matrix vote\b|"
-            r"\bno auto[- ]apply path\b|\bschema gap\b|\bmissing apply tooling\b",
+            r"\bnot decision[- ]matrix approval\b|\bno auto[- ]apply path\b|\bschema gap\b|\bmissing apply tooling\b|"
+            r"\bapply tool (?:has not|hasn't) been run\b|\bruntime rendering\b",
             re.I,
         ),
         re.compile(
@@ -415,7 +416,8 @@ SIGNAL_PATTERNS: dict[str, list[re.Pattern[str]]] = {
             r"\bnot in canonical\b|\bcanonical .* has(?:n't| not) (?:moved|changed)\b|"
             r"\bapplied_at empty\b|\bnot applied\b|\bnot possible\b|"
             r"\bnot a decision[- ]matrix vote\b|\blocked behind the apply tool\b|"
-            r"\bno auto[- ]apply path\b|\bschema gap\b|\bmissing apply tooling\b",
+            r"\bnot decision[- ]matrix approval\b|\bno auto[- ]apply path\b|\bschema gap\b|\bmissing apply tooling\b|"
+            r"\bapply tool (?:has not|hasn't) been run\b|\bruntime rendering\b|\bnot canonical\b",
             re.I,
         ),
     ],
@@ -487,7 +489,7 @@ SIGNAL_PATTERNS: dict[str, list[re.Pattern[str]]] = {
         re.compile(
             r"\bI (?:would|should|will) (?:ask|query|check|run|show|stage|offer)|"
             r"\bshould I\b|\bdo you want\b|\bwant me to\b|\bthe next action is\b|\bnext admin action\b|"
-            r"\bproof-changing action\b",
+            r"\bproof-changing action\b|\bNext Cory-style follow-up:\b",
             re.I,
         ),
     ],
diff --git a/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py b/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py
index 25e1d7b..f4b329b 100644
--- a/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py
+++ b/tests/test_hermes_leoclean_skill_surfaces.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def test_gcp_kb_skill_uses_cloudsql_bridge_not_vps_docker() -> None:
     assert "list-proposals --status all" in text
     assert "Do not answer" in text or "do not infer matrix approval" in text
     assert "Next Cory-style follow-up" in text
+    assert "Always include the final line label" in text
     assert "I cannot claim canonical DB changed" in text
     assert "explicit operator/admin authorization" in text
     assert "docker exec" not in text
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ def test_vps_kb_skill_keeps_vps_scope_explicit() -> None:
     assert "do not infer matrix approval" in text
     assert "approved/staged or packet-ready but not canonical" in text
     assert "Next Cory-style follow-up" in text
+    assert "Always include the final line label" in text
     assert "I cannot claim canonical DB changed" in text
     assert "explicit operator/admin authorization" in text
     assert "Do not call an approved proposal \"implemented\"" in text