diff --git a/nix/templates/agent-base.nix b/nix/templates/agent-base.nix
index ceae4f57..4fc233bf 100644
--- a/nix/templates/agent-base.nix
+++ b/nix/templates/agent-base.nix
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
       # `hyperhive.frontend.extraFiles` layered on top — both come
       # from harness-base.nix.
       HIVE_STATIC_DIR = "${config.hyperhive.frontend.mergedDist}";
+      # Static runtime assets (branding + claude prompts). Set on the
+      # unit directly — `environment.variables` in harness-base.nix only
+      # populates /etc/profile, which systemd services don't inherit.
+      HIVE_ASSETS_DIR = "${pkgs.hyperhive-assets}/share/hyperhive";
     };
     serviceConfig = {
       ExecStart = "${pkgs.hyperhive}/bin/hive-ag3nt serve";
diff --git a/nix/templates/manager.nix b/nix/templates/manager.nix
index 51cc38f7..55d94805 100644
--- a/nix/templates/manager.nix
+++ b/nix/templates/manager.nix
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@
       # the per-agent web UI; point it at the merged agent static dist
       # (same shape as for sub-agents).
       HIVE_STATIC_DIR = "${config.hyperhive.frontend.mergedDist}";
+      # Static runtime assets (branding + claude prompts). Set on the
+      # unit directly — `environment.variables` in harness-base.nix only
+      # populates /etc/profile, which systemd services don't inherit.
+      HIVE_ASSETS_DIR = "${pkgs.hyperhive-assets}/share/hyperhive";
     };
     # See note in agent-base.nix — `/run/current-system/sw` makes the
     # harness service PATH track `environment.systemPackages` so anything