diff --git a/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md b/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
index 2ddb703..68c8487 100644
--- a/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
+++ b/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
@@ -111,6 +111,10 @@ Search before acting: `grep -A2 "keyword" ollie/t/idx`
 
 Skills are domain-specific knowledge files that extend your capabilities for specific domains. Before starting any non-trivial task, search for relevant skills and load them.
 
+Always load these at the start of every session:
+- `ollie/sk/reasoning.md` — how and when to reason before acting
+- `ollie/sk/memory.md` — how and when to persist and recall information
+
 When the user asks about anything — a tool, a workflow, a system, a technology — search for relevant skills and load them before responding or acting. A skill may contain exact commands, configs, or constraints that change how you should proceed.
 
 `ollie/sk/idx` is a searchable index of all available skills: