diff --git a/config/hermes/gateway_entrypoint.py b/config/hermes/gateway_entrypoint.py
index 6b8ee25..0fcac52 100644
--- a/config/hermes/gateway_entrypoint.py
+++ b/config/hermes/gateway_entrypoint.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ async def enrich_message_with_codex(
     return (
         f"{user_text}\n\n"
         "[System: attached images were staged for isolated Codex vision. "
-        "Call media_image_inspect once for each path below, poll that job, "
+        "Call media_image_inspect once for each path below with the prompt "
+        "argument set to the full user request above verbatim, poll that job, "
         "and answer from its result. Do not call vision_analyze and do not "
         "use the terminal command `file` for these images.]\n"
         f"{paths}"
diff --git a/skills/hermes/barbarossa-codex/SKILL.md b/skills/hermes/barbarossa-codex/SKILL.md
index 32b1272..fdde90e 100644
--- a/skills/hermes/barbarossa-codex/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/hermes/barbarossa-codex/SKILL.md
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Stage every attachment beneath `/opt/data/barbarossa-transfer` before calling a
 Forge tool. Pass only staged absolute paths to the router.
 
 - For inbound image attachments already staged by the gateway, call
-  `media_image_inspect` immediately. Do not call `vision_analyze`, auxiliary
-  vision providers, or the terminal command `file`.
+  `media_image_inspect` immediately with the complete accompanying user
+  request as its `prompt`. Do not call `vision_analyze`, auxiliary vision
+  providers, or the terminal command `file`.
 - Use `code_delegate` for repository analysis, implementation, review, and
   tests.
 - Use `media_image_inspect` to understand an existing image.
diff --git a/tests/test-hermes-gateway.py b/tests/test-hermes-gateway.py
index 7ff8722..6680a02 100644
--- a/tests/test-hermes-gateway.py
+++ b/tests/test-hermes-gateway.py
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ def test_stage_inbound_images_is_private_and_builds_codex_instruction(
     assert os.stat(staged).st_mode & 0o777 == 0o600
     assert str(staged) in message
     assert "media_image_inspect" in message
+    assert "prompt argument" in message
+    assert "full user request above verbatim" in message
     assert "vision_analyze" in message
     assert "command `file`" in message