diff --git a/hive-ag3nt/prompts/docs-pointer.md b/hive-ag3nt/prompts/docs-pointer.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21cd380e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hive-ag3nt/prompts/docs-pointer.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# hyperhive reference docs
+
+The hyperhive reference docs are mounted read-only in this directory
+(the harness exposes the path as `$HIVE_DOCS_DIR`). They are the
+canonical reference for how this swarm actually works - the turn loop,
+the tool surface, persistence, conventions, runbooks, and the
+approval/CI/forge/matrix workflows.
+
+- On a fresh deploy, or any time you are unsure how a hyperhive
+  mechanism behaves, read `setup.md` first, then the topic file for the
+  area you are touching (e.g. `turn-loop.md`, `persistence.md`,
+  `tools/`, `conventions.md`, `gotchas.md`).
+- Prefer these docs over guessing: they describe the live system, not a
+  generic one.
+
+This pointer is additive. It does not replace your own memory or project
+instructions - your `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` and any harness/project memory
+still apply in full. Nothing here overrides what you already know about
+yourself; it only tells you where the shared reference material lives.
diff --git a/hive-ag3nt/src/turn.rs b/hive-ag3nt/src/turn.rs
index 509bd435..523ed568 100644
--- a/hive-ag3nt/src/turn.rs
+++ b/hive-ag3nt/src/turn.rs
@@ -708,10 +708,12 @@ async fn run_claude(prompt: &str, files: &TurnFiles, bus: &Bus) -> Result<(bool,
         .arg("--allowedTools")
         .arg(mcp::allowed_tools_arg());
     // hyperhive.docs.enable wires HIVE_DOCS_DIR to the in-container
-    // reference-docs tree. Expose it to claude as an additional
-    // directory so the docs are readable; the agent is NOT pointed at
-    // them (no CLAUDE.md autoload) — surfacing a pointer is the open
-    // follow-up. Unset (docs disabled) → the flag is not passed.
+    // reference-docs tree (with a generic CLAUDE.md pointer at its root).
+    // Expose it to claude as an additional directory so the docs are
+    // readable; harness-base.nix also sets
+    // CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD=1 so claude loads that
+    // pointer additively (never replacing the agent's own CLAUDE.md).
+    // Unset (docs disabled) → the flag is not passed.
     if let Some(docs_dir) = std::env::var_os("HIVE_DOCS_DIR")
         && !docs_dir.is_empty()
     {
diff --git a/nix/templates/harness-base.nix b/nix/templates/harness-base.nix
index f75c3343..7b98750e 100644
--- a/nix/templates/harness-base.nix
+++ b/nix/templates/harness-base.nix
@@ -100,6 +100,22 @@ let
   iconPng = pkgs.runCommand "hive-agent-icon.png" { nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.librsvg ]; } ''
     rsvg-convert -f png -w 512 -h 512 ${config.hyperhive.icon} -o $out
   '';
+  # hyperhive.docs.enable: the reference-docs tree (`pkgs.hyperhive-docs`,
+  # the repo `docs/` verbatim) with a generic `CLAUDE.md` pointer dropped
+  # at the root. The harness passes this dir to claude via `--add-dir`;
+  # paired with `CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD=1` claude
+  # loads `<dir>/CLAUDE.md` ADDITIVELY (alongside, never replacing, the
+  # agent's own `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md`). The pointer prose lives in
+  # `hive-ag3nt/prompts/docs-pointer.md` (prompts belong in prompts/, not
+  # nix/) and is shipped via `hyperhive-assets`. `hyperhive-docs` itself
+  # stays pure (no CLAUDE.md) so the website can reuse the same tree.
+  # Lazy: only forced when `hyperhive.docs.enable` references it below.
+  agentDocs = pkgs.runCommand "hyperhive-agent-docs" { } ''
+    mkdir -p $out
+    cp -r ${pkgs.hyperhive-docs}/. $out/
+    chmod -R u+w $out
+    cp ${pkgs.hyperhive-assets}/share/hyperhive/prompts/docs-pointer.md $out/CLAUDE.md
+  '';
 in
 {
   # Shared scaffolding for every hyperhive harness container.
@@ -245,10 +261,12 @@ in
     read-only as the standalone `hyperhive-docs` derivation) available
     in-container. When enabled the harness exposes the docs dir to claude
     via `claude --add-dir`, so the markdown is readable at
-    `$HIVE_DOCS_DIR/`. The agent is NOT yet pointed at the docs (no
-    auto-loaded `CLAUDE.md` pointer) — surfacing a pointer is a tracked
-    follow-up. Default-on for the root/manager agent (see `manager.nix`),
-    off elsewhere; any agent can flip it from its `agent.nix`.
+    `$HIVE_DOCS_DIR/`. A generic `CLAUDE.md` pointer is dropped at the dir
+    root and loaded additively (via
+    `CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD=1`), so the agent knows
+    the docs exist without its own `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` being replaced.
+    Default-on for the root/manager agent (see `manager.nix`), off
+    elsewhere; any agent can flip it from its `agent.nix`.
   '';
 
   options.hyperhive.allowedBashPatterns = lib.mkOption {
@@ -1384,12 +1402,15 @@ in
       HIVE_COMPACT_WATERMARK_TOKENS = "0";
     }
     // lib.optionalAttrs config.hyperhive.docs.enable {
-      # hyperhive.docs.enable: the in-container reference-docs tree
-      # (`pkgs.hyperhive-docs`, the repo docs/ verbatim). The harness
-      # reads this and passes it to claude as `--add-dir` so the docs are
-      # readable; the agent is not auto-pointed at them. See
-      # hive-ag3nt::turn.
-      HIVE_DOCS_DIR = "${pkgs.hyperhive-docs}";
+      # hyperhive.docs.enable: the in-container reference-docs tree plus a
+      # generic `CLAUDE.md` pointer at its root (see `agentDocs` above).
+      # The harness reads HIVE_DOCS_DIR and passes it to claude as
+      # `--add-dir` so the docs are readable; with
+      # `CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD=1` claude also loads
+      # the pointer additively, telling the agent the docs exist without
+      # clobbering its own memory. See hive-ag3nt::turn.
+      HIVE_DOCS_DIR = "${agentDocs}";
+      CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD = "1";
     }
     // lib.optionalAttrs (config.hyperhive._bashEnvFragments != "") {
       # Non-interactive bash invocations (claude's `Bash` tool runs