diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 02fa53b7..d3b5d0df 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -110,10 +110,10 @@ sudo hivectl matrix create-user mara                      # provisions a matrix
 sudo hivectl matrix create-user mara --password-stdin     # … reading one line from stdin
 ```
 
-For agent names (i.e., a `Coordinator::agent_state_root(name)` exists),
-`hivectl` persists the resulting token to the agent's state dir like the
-boot sweep does. For non-agent names (e.g. the operator's own forge/matrix
-account), it prints the token to stdout and writes nothing.
+For a name that's a managed agent, `hivectl` persists the resulting token
+to that agent's state dir, the same as the boot sweep does. For a
+non-agent name (e.g. the operator's own forge/matrix account), it prints
+the token to stdout and writes nothing.
 
 ## Build / deploy