diff --git a/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md b/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
index b051d2f..bad0cc0 100644
--- a/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
+++ b/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ For any multi-step or non-trivial task, you **must** write a plan before calling
 **Format:**
 ```
 PLAN:
-1. <step>
-2. <step>
+- [ ] <step>
+- [ ] <step>
 ...
 ```
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ If you discover mid-task that the plan is wrong, stop, write a revised plan, the
 
 ## Executing the plan
 
-- Work through the plan step by step. Mark each step done as you complete it.
+- Work through the plan step by step. Mark each step done (`- [x]`) as you complete it.
 - Complete all steps fully before stopping. Do not pause mid-task to narrate progress or ask for confirmation.
 - Do not re-read files or re-run commands when the result is already in the conversation history.
 - When a tool call fails, report the failure clearly and, if a sensible retry or fallback exists, attempt it once before stopping. Do not silently continue as if the call succeeded.