diff --git a/src/__tests__/commands/workspace.test.ts b/src/__tests__/commands/workspace.test.ts
index 589a2a8..a3f9243 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/commands/workspace.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/commands/workspace.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import { cleanup, createTestDir, createTestGitRepo, GIT_ENV, spawnProc } from ".
 const WORKSPACE_AGENT_BOOTSTRAP_SHIM = `# Generated by grove - do not edit manually
 
 Grove workspace. Instruction context is served on demand: call the \`context_touch\` MCP tool (or \`grove ws context touch <paths>\`) for the paths you work on.
+
+Workspace instructions live at \`.grove/instructions.md\` - read that file directly if you cannot run grove (it is the same content grove context serves at workspace scope).
 `;
 
 describe("workspace commands", () => {
diff --git a/src/__tests__/lib/agent-files.test.ts b/src/__tests__/lib/agent-files.test.ts
index 729be11..2353d86 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/lib/agent-files.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/lib/agent-files.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import {
 const WORKSPACE_AGENT_BOOTSTRAP_SHIM = `# Generated by grove - do not edit manually
 
 Grove workspace. Instruction context is served on demand: call the \`context_touch\` MCP tool (or \`grove ws context touch <paths>\`) for the paths you work on.
+
+Workspace instructions live at \`.grove/instructions.md\` - read that file directly if you cannot run grove (it is the same content grove context serves at workspace scope).
 `;
 
 describe("generateAgentFiles", () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/agent-files.ts b/src/lib/agent-files.ts
index 70782fe..c079d9c 100644
--- a/src/lib/agent-files.ts
+++ b/src/lib/agent-files.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export interface GenerateAgentFilesResult {
 const WORKSPACE_AGENT_BOOTSTRAP_SHIM = `# Generated by grove - do not edit manually
 
 Grove workspace. Instruction context is served on demand: call the \`context_touch\` MCP tool (or \`grove ws context touch <paths>\`) for the paths you work on.
+
+Workspace instructions live at \`.grove/instructions.md\` - read that file directly if you cannot run grove (it is the same content grove context serves at workspace scope).
 `;
 
 const WORKSPACE_MCP_JSON = `${JSON.stringify(