diff --git a/toolsrv/transport.go b/toolsrv/transport.go
index 3c2d0cd..ba5e605 100644
--- a/toolsrv/transport.go
+++ b/toolsrv/transport.go
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ func localDial(ctx context.Context, cwd string, opts ...Option) (*transport, err
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("bootstrap: ollie-remote not found")
 	}
 
-	// Bootstrap: verify tools directory.
-	toolsDir := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("HOME"), ".config", "ollie", "tools")
+	// Verify tools directory is accessible via ToolsPath().
+	toolsDir := ToolsPath()
 	if _, err := os.Stat(toolsDir); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("bootstrap: tools directory not found at %s", toolsDir)
 	}
@@ -64,9 +64,10 @@ func localDial(ctx context.Context, cwd string, opts ...Option) (*transport, err
 		Pdeathsig: syscall.SIGTERM,
 	}
 
-	// XXX: set OLLIE_TOOLS_PATH explicitly until ToolsPath() default is updated.
+	// Inherit environment — OLLIE_TOOLS_PATH flows through naturally.
+	// ollie-remote reads it via ToolsPath() at runtime, picking up new
+	// tools from disk without restart.
 	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
-	cmd.Env = appendEnvVar(cmd.Env, "OLLIE_TOOLS_PATH", toolsDir)
 
 	// Watch stderr for readiness signal.
 	stderrPipe, err := cmd.StderrPipe()
@@ -283,18 +284,6 @@ func shellEscape(s string) string {
 	return "'" + strings.ReplaceAll(s, "'", "'\\''") + "'"
 }
 
-// appendEnvVar replaces or appends a KEY=VALUE in an env slice.
-func appendEnvVar(env []string, key, value string) []string {
-	prefix := key + "="
-	for i, e := range env {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(e, prefix) {
-			env[i] = prefix + value
-			return env
-		}
-	}
-	return append(env, prefix+value)
-}
-
 // runtimeDir returns XDG_RUNTIME_DIR or a fallback.
 func runtimeDir() string {
 	if d := os.Getenv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR"); d != "" {