diff --git a/cli/internal/mem/skill_example_test.go b/cli/internal/mem/skill_example_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f5e30bb51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/internal/mem/skill_example_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package mem
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// quoted matches one single-quoted shell argument.
+var quoted = regexp.MustCompile(`'([^']*)'`)
+
+// exampleBody returns the handoff body a skill pipes into `dotf mem
+// handoff-write`: the single-quoted printf arguments, one per line, ahead of the
+// pipe into handoff-write. printf rather than a heredoc, because a heredoc's
+// terminator breaks when the example sits indented inside a list item.
+func exampleBody(t *testing.T, skill string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join("../../..", "harness", "skills", skill, "SKILL.md"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	lines := strings.Split(string(raw), "\n")
+	for i, l := range lines {
+		if !strings.Contains(l, "printf '%s\\n'") || !strings.HasSuffix(strings.TrimSpace(l), "\\") {
+			continue
+		}
+		var body []string
+		for _, next := range lines[i+1:] {
+			for _, m := range quoted.FindAllStringSubmatch(next, -1) {
+				body = append(body, m[1])
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(next, "dotf mem handoff-write") {
+				return strings.Join(body, "\n") + "\n"
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	t.Fatalf("%s SKILL.md has no `printf '%%s\\n' ... | dotf mem handoff-write` example", skill)
+	return ""
+}
+
+// A skill that tells an agent to pipe a body into handoff-write must show a body
+// the writer accepts without warning: an example without `**Next action:**` is
+// copied literally and writes a thread with no first step (#3110).
+func TestAutopilotHandoffExampleCarriesNextAction(t *testing.T) {
+	body := exampleBody(t, "autopilot")
+	if w := ThreadWarnings(body); len(w) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("the autopilot example body draws handoff-write warnings: %q", w)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cli/internal/mem/thread.go b/cli/internal/mem/thread.go
index 0d5769045..12d844768 100644
--- a/cli/internal/mem/thread.go
+++ b/cli/internal/mem/thread.go
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ func ThreadWarnings(body string) []string {
 	th := ParseThread(body)
 	var out []string
 	if th.All("Next action") == "" {
-		out = append(out, "no Next action, so the next session has no first step")
+		out = append(out, "no `**Next action:**` line, so the next session has no first step")
 	}
 	for _, f := range th.Unknown() {
 		out = append(out, fmt.Sprintf("label %q is not one of: %s", f.Label, strings.Join(ThreadLabels, ", ")))
diff --git a/cli/internal/mem/thread_test.go b/cli/internal/mem/thread_test.go
index 89a21e915..a90a8b338 100644
--- a/cli/internal/mem/thread_test.go
+++ b/cli/internal/mem/thread_test.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func TestThreadWarningsNameOnlyWhatIsMissingOrUnknown(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("a canonical thread drew warnings: %q", w)
 	}
 	w := ThreadWarnings("**Last task:** x.\n**Next action:**\n**Trap:** y.\n")
-	if len(w) != 2 || !strings.Contains(w[0], "Next action") || !strings.Contains(w[1], `"Trap"`) {
+	if len(w) != 2 || !strings.Contains(w[0], "**Next action:**") || !strings.Contains(w[1], `"Trap"`) {
 		t.Errorf("warnings = %q, want the empty Next action and the unknown Trap", w)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/harness/skills/autopilot/SKILL.md b/harness/skills/autopilot/SKILL.md
index abcc2d0e4..47193d866 100644
--- a/harness/skills/autopilot/SKILL.md
+++ b/harness/skills/autopilot/SKILL.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 generated: true
 generated_from: 00_meta/skills/autopilot/SKILL.md
-generated_sha: da95f19a047826e5
+generated_sha: 9c64789731c9bbb6
 id: autopilot-skill
 type: skill
 status: active
@@ -326,8 +326,15 @@ When the operator returns, the time window expires, the backlog empties, or a st
    ```bash
    MEMORY_MD="$(dotf env path VAULT_PATH)/10_projects/<repo>/memory/MEMORY.md"
    dotf mem thread                        # which thread am I: wt-<slug>, or main@<host>
-   printf '%s' "$BODY" | dotf mem handoff-write --memory "$MEMORY_MD" --agent <agent>
+   printf '%s\n' \
+     '> Updated: <YYYY-MM-DD><br>' \
+     '**Last task:** <what this run did, with PR numbers><br>' \
+     '**Next action:** <the one concrete first step for the next session><br>' \
+     '**Awaiting Manu:** <decisions only the operator can take; drop the line if none>' |
+     dotf mem handoff-write --memory "$MEMORY_MD" --agent <agent>
    ```
+   The `**Next action:**` line is not optional: without it `handoff-write` warns
+   "no `**Next action:**` line" and still writes the thread, so the next session starts with no first step.
    The full checklist (journal, board reconciliation, artifact summary, one next action) is
    `00_meta/skills/handoff/SKILL.md`. `--memory "$REPO_ROOT/MEMORY.md"` — which an earlier draft used —
    would write the handoff nowhere near where the next session reads it.