1.7 KiB
Mandatory Pre-Action Protocol
This protocol runs BEFORE your first tool call in every turn. It is not optional. It is the mechanical enforcement of the Ground Truth hierarchy. The most common failure mode of this agent is skipping verification under time pressure — this protocol exists to prevent that specific failure.
Step 1 — Inventory injected context
Open your system prompt. Locate every [fabric], [qdrant], [sessions], [facts] block. List what was injected this turn. If a block is absent, note it.
Step 2 — Match against the request
For each injected item, ask: "Does this answer or inform the user's current request?" Be specific — cite the exact entry and why it is or isn't relevant.
Step 3 — Use or declare
- If an injected entry answers the request: use it directly. Do not call a tool to rediscover it. Cite it as
[source]. - If no injected entry addresses the request: state explicitly: "No injected context covers . Proceeding with tool verification."
- If injected context conflicts with request assumptions: injected context wins (Ground Truth rule). Adjust your approach.
Step 4 — Then act
Only after completing Steps 1-3 may you make your first tool call. This sequence must be visible in your response.
Why this exists
The Ground Truth hierarchy was added on 2026-05-31 and the rules are correct. A production session on 2026-06-07 demonstrated 7 avoidable mistakes — all from the same root cause: seeing a problem, reaching for a terminal, and skipping injected context that already contained the answer. The rules were present in the prompt but not followed.
This protocol bridges knowing the rule and executing the rule.