diff --git a/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl b/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
index 72628bade..fb618b75b 100644
--- a/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ Follow the preamble's session rules; `CONDUCTOR_SESSION: true` changes transport
    wins. When `QUESTION_TUNING: true`, include `<gstack-qid:plan-ceo-review-mode>`.
    These modes differ in kind, not coverage; do NOT score completeness.
 
-4. **Mode handoff:** After selection, before other tools or further questions, run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-ceo-mode-handoff "<selected mode>" --decisions "<rows or none>"` (add `--auto` for `plan-ceo-review-mode: AUTO_DECIDE`). It prints the matching line below. Then send brief chat beginning with that line, before any other tool call, plan write or section load, and never skip the helper: the mode's application and rationale; every governing approved row's ID, answer reference and accepted scope. Keep rows separate.
+4. **Mode handoff:** After selection, before other tools or further questions, run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-ceo-mode-handoff "<selected mode>" --decisions "<rows or none>"` (add `--auto` for `plan-ceo-review-mode: AUTO_DECIDE`). It prints the matching line below. Then send brief chat beginning with that line, copied verbatim (the terminal collapses tool output, so the user sees it only in your chat; never a paraphrase such as "I've set review mode…"), before any other tool call, plan write or section load, and never skip the helper: the mode's application and rationale; every governing approved row's ID, answer reference and accepted scope. Keep rows separate.
 - `plan-ceo-review-mode: AUTO_DECIDE`: `Auto-decided review mode → <selected mode> (your preference). Change with /plan-tune. Approved decisions: <rows or none>. <Application and rationale>.`
 - Other selections: `Mode: <selected mode>; approved decisions: <rows or none>. <Application and rationale>.`
 
diff --git a/test/skill-ceo-section-ordering.test.ts b/test/skill-ceo-section-ordering.test.ts
index 31e512378..ad52e0396 100644
--- a/test/skill-ceo-section-ordering.test.ts
+++ b/test/skill-ceo-section-ordering.test.ts
@@ -137,7 +137,17 @@ test('CEO handoff carries all answered rows instead of one synthetic approach',
 test('CEO mode handoff chat follows the helper before any other tool call', () => {
   const selection = between(skeletonSource(), '### 0E. Mode Selection', '### 0F.');
   const instruction = selection.slice(selection.indexOf('4. **Mode handoff:**')).split('\n')[0]!;
-  expect(instruction).toContain('Then send brief chat beginning with that line, before any other tool call, plan write or section load, and never skip the helper');
+  expect(instruction).toContain('before any other tool call, plan write or section load, and never skip the helper');
+});
+
+// A2/auto-decide: Claude Code 2.1.284 collapses the helper's Bash output ("Ran 1 shell command"), so the
+// printed line reaches the user only through chat. Census reds 37176837432, 37179171083 and 37182865432
+// paraphrased it ("HOLD SCOPE was auto-selected…", "Mode decision done…", "I'm defaulting to HOLD SCOPE…");
+// every passing capture's chat starts with "Auto-decided review mode →".
+test('CEO mode handoff chat repeats the printed line verbatim because tool output is collapsed', () => {
+  const selection = between(skeletonSource(), '### 0E. Mode Selection', '### 0F.');
+  const instruction = selection.slice(selection.indexOf('4. **Mode handoff:**')).split('\n')[0]!;
+  expect(instruction).toContain('Then send brief chat beginning with that line, copied verbatim (the terminal collapses tool output, so the user sees it only in your chat; never a paraphrase');
 });
 
 // Guards the public handoff instruction, not model compliance or posture detection.