diff --git a/internal/agents/ready.go b/internal/agents/ready.go
index 15c97d2..16dbfcb 100644
--- a/internal/agents/ready.go
+++ b/internal/agents/ready.go
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 const readyPromptAsk = "If it isn't ready (work remains that you mean to do, or you're waiting on the human), call neither: say what's left in one line and end your turn. " +
-	"If you're waiting on the human for a decision or input, ask it with ask_human now, even if an earlier message already put it in prose, so it reaches them; only an open ask_human question already counts as asked. Don't change any files this turn."
+	"If you're waiting on the human for a decision or input, ask it with ask_human now, even if an earlier message already put it in prose, so it reaches them. " +
+	"If you already called ready_for_merge, suggest_discard or ask_human before this message, and it still applies, call it again now: only a call made after this message counts. Don't change any files this turn."
 
 const readyPrompt = "Your turn has ended and the review of your latest work has finished. If the task is ready to merge, call ready_for_merge with an overview of the whole task, then end your turn with one line. " +
 	"If the work shouldn't land at all (the approach failed, the task turned out unnecessary or already done), call suggest_discard with your reasoning instead, then end your turn with one line. " +