diff --git a/tools.go b/tools.go
index e4f3f48..9ccdbe7 100644
--- a/tools.go
+++ b/tools.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func baseSystemPrompt(caps Caps) string {
 	b.WriteString("\nManaging your memory is part of the job, not optional:\n")
 	for _, l := range []string{
 		"When the user tells you to remember something, or shares a preference, fact, decision, or how-to worth keeping, save it with mem_add (or mem_edit to update an existing page) — do it on your own, without being asked.",
-		"Before answering anything you might already know (preferences, projects, people, past decisions, how you did something before), call mem_search first, then mem_read the best page.",
+		"Before doing ANY task or answering, call mem_search first to check whether you already have the relevant info or a how-to (a preference, project, person, past decision, or the way to do a recurring task like fetching the weather), then mem_read the best page. Do this even when the request has new specifics like a city or a name — the procedure is in memory, only the parameter changes.",
 	} {
 		b.WriteString("- " + l + "\n")
 	}