diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts
index 9ca71068..b597a8d6 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts
@@ -1059,7 +1059,7 @@ export async function* streamAgent({
         }
         if (searchEnabled) {
             loopLogger.log('search enabled, injecting search prompt');
-            instructionsWithDateTime += `\n\n# Search\nThe user has requested a search. Use the web-search tool to answer their query. Start with exactly one search call and wait for results before deciding if more are needed.`;
+            instructionsWithDateTime += `\n\n# Search\nThe user has requested a search. Use the web-search tool to answer their query.`;
         }
         let streamError: string | null = null;
         for await (const event of streamLlm(
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts
index abea26c7..a29b225f 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ ${runtimeContextPrompt}
 - \`addMcpServer\`, \`listMcpServers\`, \`listMcpTools\`, \`executeMcpTool\` - MCP server management and execution
 - \`loadSkill\` - Skill loading
 - \`slack-checkConnection\`, \`slack-listAvailableTools\`, \`slack-executeAction\` - Slack integration (requires Slack to be connected via Composio). Use \`slack-listAvailableTools\` first to discover available tool slugs, then \`slack-executeAction\` to execute them.
-- \`web-search\` - Search the web. Returns rich results with full text, highlights, and metadata. The \`category\` parameter defaults to \`general\` (full web search) — only use a specific category like \`news\`, \`company\`, \`research paper\` etc. when the query is clearly about that type. For everyday queries (weather, restaurants, prices, how-to), use \`general\`. **Always start with exactly ONE search call.** One good search is almost always enough.
+- \`web-search\` - Search the web. Returns rich results with full text, highlights, and metadata. The \`category\` parameter defaults to \`general\` (full web search) — only use a specific category like \`news\`, \`company\`, \`research paper\` etc. when the query is clearly about that type. For everyday queries (weather, restaurants, prices, how-to), use \`general\`.
 - \`app-navigation\` - Control the app UI: open notes, switch views, filter/search the knowledge base, manage saved views. **Load the \`app-navigation\` skill before using this tool.**
 - \`save-to-memory\` - Save observations about the user to the agent memory system. Use this proactively during conversations.