diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/session-chat/turn-view.ts b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/session-chat/turn-view.ts
index 707f3be7..e12e47c3 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/session-chat/turn-view.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/session-chat/turn-view.ts
@@ -336,8 +336,8 @@ export function buildTurnConversation(state: TurnState): ConversationItem[] {
     // limit; if a hard limit failure still lands here, explain it and point
     // at the setting instead of showing the raw runtime error.
     const message = state.terminal.code === MODEL_CALL_LIMIT_ERROR_CODE
-      ? `This turn stopped after reaching its model-call limit of ${state.definition.config.maxModelCalls}. ` +
-        'Work completed so far is saved above. You can raise the limit in Settings → Advanced.'
+      ? `This turn hit its model-call limit of ${state.definition.config.maxModelCalls} before it could finish. ` +
+        'You can raise the limit in Settings → Advanced.'
       : state.terminal.error
     items.push({
       id: `${turnId}:error`,
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/shared/src/turns.ts b/apps/x/packages/shared/src/turns.ts
index 1626b367..7c9cf914 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/shared/src/turns.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/shared/src/turns.ts
@@ -248,8 +248,9 @@ export function wrapUpNotice(
         role: "user",
         content:
             `[system notice] You are on the final model call this turn's budget allows (model-call limit: ${maxModelCalls}); tools are no longer available. ` +
-            "Give your best final answer using only the work above: present what you completed, state clearly what remains unfinished, " +
-            "and let the user know the turn was cut short by the model-call limit, which they can raise in Settings → Advanced.",
+            "Now answer the user's request as fully and substantively as you can from the tool results and information already gathered above — " +
+            "give them the actual content, not a status report. Then briefly note which parts you didn't get to, " +
+            "and mention the turn was cut short by the model-call limit, which they can raise in Settings → Advanced.",
     };
 }