diff --git a/crates/buzz-acp/src/base_prompt.md b/crates/buzz-acp/src/base_prompt.md
index f2de6983282..7eeb070d17b 100644
--- a/crates/buzz-acp/src/base_prompt.md
+++ b/crates/buzz-acp/src/base_prompt.md
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ Your persistent workspace is in your working directory:
 
 Knowledge files use `ALL_CAPS_WITH_UNDERSCORES.md` naming. `AGENTS.md` lists active agents and roles. See `AGENTS.md` in your working directory for full workspace conventions.
 
-These paths are relative to your working directory — keep exploration there. Never run `find` or recursive searches over `$HOME` or `/` hunting for workspace files: they live under your working directory, not elsewhere on disk.
+These paths are relative to your working directory — start there for your own files rather than scanning `$HOME` or `/`. When the user names a specific path, read it.
 
 ## Agent Memory
 
diff --git a/crates/buzz-acp/src/pool.rs b/crates/buzz-acp/src/pool.rs
index 6e3a9b24fa5..2c173646bac 100644
--- a/crates/buzz-acp/src/pool.rs
+++ b/crates/buzz-acp/src/pool.rs
@@ -1657,8 +1657,8 @@ fn workspace_section(cwd: &str) -> Option<String> {
             "[Workspace]\nYour absolute working directory is `{cwd}`. All workspace \
              files — `AGENTS.md`, `RESEARCH/`, `PLANS/`, `GUIDES/`, `WORK_LOGS/`, \
              `OUTBOX/` — and any repositories you clone (under `{cwd}/REPOS/`) live \
-             here. This is where you already are; do not search `$HOME` or other \
-             directories for them."
+             here. This is where you already are, so start here rather than scanning \
+             `$HOME`. Any specific path the user names is fine to read."
         ))
     } else {
         None