diff --git a/agent/learn_prompt.py b/agent/learn_prompt.py
index b6659df6ad..7268b6b51c 100644
--- a/agent/learn_prompt.py
+++ b/agent/learn_prompt.py
@@ -201,10 +201,15 @@ def build_learn_prompt(user_request: str) -> str:
         "1b. Apply every requirement, focus, and constraint in the request to "
         "the skill you author — these govern what the SKILL.md covers and "
         "emphasizes, not just which sources you read.\n"
-        "2. Author the skill and save it with the `skill_manage` tool "
-        "(action=\"create\"). Pick a sensible category. If the procedure needs "
-        "a non-trivial script, add it under the skill's `scripts/` with "
-        "`skill_manage` write_file and reference it by relative path.\n"
+        "2. Save the skill with `skill_manage`. First check the available "
+        "skills for one covering this source or topic. If one exists, load it "
+        "with `skill_view`, then extend its SKILL.md with `skill_manage` patch "
+        "(or edit for a necessary full rewrite) and add or update supporting "
+        "files with `skill_manage` write_file. Only when no matching skill "
+        "exists, create one with `skill_manage` action=\"create\" and pick a "
+        "sensible category. If the procedure needs a non-trivial script, add "
+        "it under the skill's `scripts/` with `skill_manage` write_file and "
+        "reference it by relative path.\n"
         "2b. Pick the shape by the source, not by habit: a workflow or small "
         "source gets ONE tight SKILL.md; a book, paper stack, spec, or large "
         "docs corpus gets the knowledge-base layout below — a lean SKILL.md "
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_learn_prompt.py b/tests/agent/test_learn_prompt.py
index f42bff8994..45ed02f83b 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_learn_prompt.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_learn_prompt.py
@@ -94,6 +94,13 @@ class TestBuildLearnPrompt:
         assert "zero-width" in hyg
         assert "bidi" in hyg or "bidirectional" in hyg
 
+    def test_existing_skill_is_extended_instead_of_created_again(self):
+        prompt = build_learn_prompt("add these notes to my distributed-systems skill")
+        assert "First check the available skills" in prompt
+        assert "If one exists, load it with `skill_view`" in prompt
+        assert "Only when no matching skill exists" in prompt
+        assert 'action="create"' in prompt
+
 
 class TestLearnRegistryWiring:
     def test_learn_is_registered_and_resolves(self):