diff --git a/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md b/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md
index a74a34e1..51c99703 100644
--- a/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md
+++ b/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md
@@ -92,7 +92,12 @@ disable automemory and dynamic workflows (the `/workflows` feature):
 that burn usage on the harness's autonomous turns. Claude's own native
 autocompact is **on**, at the widest window claude-code allows — see
 [Compaction](#compaction) below for why (it's a safety net, not the
-primary mechanism; hyperhive still owns that).
+primary mechanism; hyperhive still owns that). `outputStyle` is fleet-wide
+**Concise** — output tokens are real spend on an always-on agent, and the
+preamble/recap Concise drops carries no information a turn-loop consumer
+needs. Doesn't reach subagents (`hive-subagent-mcp`'s nested sessions run
+their own system prompt and don't inherit the parent's output style,
+per claude-code's own docs) — expected, not a gap to chase.
 
 **Session reset** is available via `POST /api/new-session` (or
 `/new-session` slash command). It does _not_ touch the session inline —
diff --git a/hive-agent/prompts/claude-settings.json b/hive-agent/prompts/claude-settings.json
index 8536c97d..73ec50d6 100644
--- a/hive-agent/prompts/claude-settings.json
+++ b/hive-agent/prompts/claude-settings.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   "autoCompactWindow": 1000000,
   "autoMemoryEnabled": false,
   "disableWorkflows": true,
+  "outputStyle": "Concise",
   "permissions": {
     "deny": ["Task", "TodoWrite"]
   }