diff --git a/packages/core/src/codemode/instructions.ts b/packages/core/src/codemode/instructions.ts
index 859c941f2759..093847878076 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/codemode/instructions.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/codemode/instructions.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ import { CodeModeCatalog } from "./catalog.js"
 // prettier-ignore
 const prompt = (hasMoreTools: boolean) => `# Code Mode
 
-Use the \`execute\` tool to call the tools listed below. They cannot be called directly${hasMoreTools ? ", and neither can \`search\`. Both" : ". They"} only work inside code you pass to \`execute\`.
+Code Mode adds the extra tools listed below, which you call from JavaScript inside the \`execute\` tool. Your regular tools (such as \`read\`, \`edit\`, \`shell\` and \`grep\`) are separate: keep calling them directly as usual. They do not exist inside \`execute\`.
 
-${hasMoreTools ? `The catalog is partial. Inside \`execute\`, use \`search(...)\` to find a tool, then call it by the \`path\` in the result. \`search\` is synchronous. Call it without \`await\`; it does not return a Promise. Do not guess tool names.
+The tools listed below cannot be called directly${hasMoreTools ? ", and neither can \`search\`. Both" : ". They"} only work inside code you pass to \`execute\`.
+
+${hasMoreTools ? `The catalog is partial. Before calling a tool that is not listed below, find it with the global \`search(...)\` function (not \`tools.search\`). Do not guess tool names. \`search\` is synchronous. Call it without \`await\`; it does not return a Promise. Each result's \`path\` is the complete call expression: write it out as code, for example \`await tools.ns.tool_name({ ... })\`. Do not use it as a key such as \`tools[path]\`.
 
 - ${searchSignature}` : "The catalog is complete. Do not guess tool names."}
 
-## Available tools`
+## Code Mode tools (call only inside \`execute\`)`
 
 export function render(catalog: CodeModeCatalog.Summary) {
   if (catalog.total === 0)
diff --git a/packages/core/test/codemode/catalog.test.ts b/packages/core/test/codemode/catalog.test.ts
index 520ae8e89609..32f84b343326 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/codemode/catalog.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/codemode/catalog.test.ts
@@ -117,21 +117,24 @@ describe("CodeModeCatalog.summarize", () => {
 describe("CodeModeInstructions.render", () => {
   test("inlines complete catalogs without search guidance", () => {
     const instructions = render([lookup])
-    expect(instructions).toContain("## Available tools")
+    expect(instructions).toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
     expect(instructions).toContain("- orders (1 tool)")
     expect(instructions).toContain(`  - ${lookup.signature} // Look up an order by ID`)
     expect(instructions).not.toContain("search")
-    expect(instructions).toContain("They cannot be called directly. They only work inside code you pass to `execute`.")
+    expect(instructions).toContain("Your regular tools (such as `read`, `edit`, `shell` and `grep`) are separate")
+    expect(instructions).toContain(
+      "The tools listed below cannot be called directly. They only work inside code you pass to `execute`.",
+    )
     expect(instructions).toContain("The catalog is complete. Do not guess tool names.")
   })
 
   test("adds search guidance when the catalog exceeds the budget", () => {
     const partial = render([lookup], 0)
-    expect(partial).toContain("## Available tools")
+    expect(partial).toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
     expect(partial).toContain("- orders (1 tool, none shown)")
-    expect(partial).toContain("They cannot be called directly, and neither can `search`.")
+    expect(partial).toContain("The tools listed below cannot be called directly, and neither can `search`.")
     expect(partial).toContain(
-      "The catalog is partial. Inside `execute`, use `search(...)` to find a tool, then call it by the `path` in the result. `search` is synchronous. Call it without `await`; it does not return a Promise.",
+      "The catalog is partial. Before calling a tool that is not listed below, find it with the global `search(...)` function (not `tools.search`). Do not guess tool names. `search` is synchronous. Call it without `await`; it does not return a Promise.",
     )
     expect(partial).toContain("- search({")
     expect(partial).toContain("  /** @integer @exclusiveMinimum 0 */\n  limit?: number,")
@@ -194,7 +197,7 @@ describe("CodeModeInstructions.update", () => {
       `Changed tool listings supersede the previously listed ones:\n  - ${changed.signature} // Echo text`,
     )
     expect(text).toContain("The following tools are no longer available and must not be called: tools.orders.lookup.")
-    expect(text).not.toContain("## Available tools")
+    expect(text).not.toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
   })
 
   test("names removed tools with exact callable expressions including bracket notation", () => {
@@ -225,14 +228,14 @@ describe("CodeModeInstructions.update", () => {
       "The Code Mode tool catalog has changed. This catalog supersedes the previous Code Mode tool catalog.",
     )
     expect(text).toContain("The catalog is partial.")
-    expect(text).toContain("## Available tools")
+    expect(text).toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
   })
 
   test("falls back to full replacement when the delta is larger than the catalog", () => {
     const previous = Array.from({ length: 200 }, (_, index) => entry(`bulk.tool${index}`, `Tool ${index}`))
     const text = update([...previous, echo], [echo])
     expect(text).toContain("This catalog supersedes the previous Code Mode tool catalog.")
-    expect(text).toContain("## Available tools")
+    expect(text).toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
     expect(text).toContain("The catalog is complete.")
     expect(text).not.toContain("The following tools are no longer available")
   })
@@ -243,6 +246,6 @@ describe("CodeModeInstructions.update", () => {
     expect(text).toContain("`alpha` now has 11 tools")
     expect(text).toContain("search them again before relying on previous results")
     expect(text).not.toContain("tools.alpha.tool10(input:")
-    expect(text).not.toContain("## Available tools")
+    expect(text).not.toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/core/test/codemode/instructions.test.ts b/packages/core/test/codemode/instructions.test.ts
index 5c6f760f4037..b7df6051f6cc 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/codemode/instructions.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/codemode/instructions.test.ts
@@ -46,16 +46,18 @@ describe("CodeModeInstructions", () => {
   it.effect("renders the initial catalog, semantic deltas, and removal", () =>
     Effect.gen(function* () {
       const initialized = yield* readInitial(CodeModeInstructions.make({ tools: [echo] }))
-      expect(initialized.text).toContain("Use the `execute` tool to call the tools listed below.")
+      expect(initialized.text).toContain(
+        "Code Mode adds the extra tools listed below, which you call from JavaScript inside the `execute` tool.",
+      )
       expect(initialized.text).toContain("The catalog is complete.")
-      expect(initialized.text).toContain("## Available tools")
+      expect(initialized.text).toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
       expect(initialized.text).toContain(`  - ${echo.signature} // Echo text`)
 
       const added = yield* readUpdate(CodeModeInstructions.make({ tools: [echo, lookup] }), initialized)
       expect(added.text).toContain("The Code Mode tool catalog has changed.")
       expect(added.text).toContain("New tools are available in addition to those previously listed:")
       expect(added.text).toContain(`  - ${lookup.signature} // Look up an order`)
-      expect(added.text).not.toContain("## Available tools")
+      expect(added.text).not.toContain("## Code Mode tools (call only inside `execute`)")
 
       const removed = yield* readUpdate(CodeModeInstructions.make({ tools: [echo] }), { values: added.values })
       expect(removed.text).toBe(