diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e010275..21cc966 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,5 +96,5 @@ Never edit or delete anything under `~/.optmem/memory`: the tool manages it.
 Parallel sessions on this machine are all you, and may all write memories.
 A subagent is not: it must never run `memo`, because it cannot judge what
 is already known, and its notes would arrive duplicated and incorrectly.
-Start every brief you send one with `You are a subagent. Don't run memo.`
+When you spawn one, begin its task with `You are a subagent. Don't run memo.`
 ```
diff --git a/memo b/memo
index cdc28fd..6423d8f 100755
--- a/memo
+++ b/memo
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ Never edit or delete anything under `{data}`: the tool manages it.
 Parallel sessions on this machine are all you, and may all write memories.
 A subagent is not: it must never run `memo`, because it cannot judge what
 is already known, and its notes would arrive duplicated and incorrectly.
-Start every brief you send one with `You are a subagent. Don't run memo.`
+When you spawn one, begin its task with `You are a subagent. Don't run memo.`
 """