diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 64e6bb760a2..409c2519407 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Useful Commands
 
-- **Before handoff**: `pnpm check:changed --maxWorkers=2` (format, lint, typecheck, affected tests, ratchets; cached when nothing changed)
+- **After making code changes, before handoff**: run `pnpm check:changed --maxWorkers=2` (format, lint, typecheck, affected tests, ratchets; cached when nothing changed). Read-only reviews and security scans do not require tests unless needed to validate a specific finding.
 - **Typecheck**: `pnpm tc` (or `tc:node` / `tc:cli` / `tc:web`)
 - **Test**: `pnpm test [path/to/file.test.ts]`; affected only: `pnpm test:changed [path] --maxWorkers=2` ([details](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md#targeting-local-tests))
 - **Lint**: `oxlint`; format: `pnpm format`