diff --git a/config/scripts/orca-cli-skill-guidance.test.mjs b/config/scripts/orca-cli-skill-guidance.test.mjs
index b81d0027f76..6270fefaa2b 100644
--- a/config/scripts/orca-cli-skill-guidance.test.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/orca-cli-skill-guidance.test.mjs
@@ -119,13 +119,22 @@ describe('orca CLI install stub', () => {
   })
 
   it('gives older binaries a bounded fallback instead of a dead end', () => {
-    const stub = readSkill(stubPath)
+    const stub = readSkill(stubPath).replace(/\s+/gu, ' ')
 
-    expect(stub).toContain('If `skills get` is unavailable')
+    expect(stub).toContain('explicitly reports that `skills get` is an unknown command')
     expect(stub).toContain('do not invent commands')
     expect(stub).toContain('ask the user rather than guessing')
   })
 
+  it('does not mistake resolution or execution failures for an older binary', () => {
+    const stub = readSkill(stubPath).replace(/\s+/gu, ' ')
+
+    // Falling through can silently pair a version-matched guide with the wrong Orca build.
+    expect(stub).toContain('report its exact error and stop')
+    expect(stub).toContain('Do not fall through to another executable')
+    expect(stub).toContain('Another failure is not proof of an older binary')
+  })
+
   it('drops the changing command reference from the installable file', () => {
     const stub = readSkill(stubPath)
 
diff --git a/resources/skills/current-manifest.json b/resources/skills/current-manifest.json
index fe70d7df90b..d6da01dc475 100644
--- a/resources/skills/current-manifest.json
+++ b/resources/skills/current-manifest.json
@@ -41,17 +41,17 @@
       "name": "orca-cli",
       "sourcePath": "skills/orca-cli",
       "releaseRevision": 33,
-      "packageDigest": "729da1e492d7d8461c12995d74e23dd034176cd51c731bccdc0f449e35cf72bf",
-      "gitTreeSha": "387fd327e8eaefae2979f377843f50a47c85150d",
+      "packageDigest": "72f63dcaad3dea8bea54838835fe46c689c37b63cd96a9ef2f2537f0c2f6b8c8",
+      "gitTreeSha": "97f6596bb43a56c6e81246f077c35144c9025343",
       "files": [
         {
           "path": "SKILL.md",
-          "size": 3485,
+          "size": 3835,
           "executable": false,
           "classification": "text",
-          "exactSha256": "3082f7c7425ebe37d6ed33ad05f404268af2b51b675ea53d0731a912f16d76f6",
-          "textNormalizedSha256": "3082f7c7425ebe37d6ed33ad05f404268af2b51b675ea53d0731a912f16d76f6",
-          "identitySha256": "3082f7c7425ebe37d6ed33ad05f404268af2b51b675ea53d0731a912f16d76f6"
+          "exactSha256": "90228630bc4daab4ccf67b691153976d1f28ec064d7069a4c170621ed2ea99b5",
+          "textNormalizedSha256": "90228630bc4daab4ccf67b691153976d1f28ec064d7069a4c170621ed2ea99b5",
+          "identitySha256": "90228630bc4daab4ccf67b691153976d1f28ec064d7069a4c170621ed2ea99b5"
         }
       ]
     },
diff --git a/resources/skills/snapshot-registry.json b/resources/skills/snapshot-registry.json
index 80131fd3953..a29b5696a55 100644
--- a/resources/skills/snapshot-registry.json
+++ b/resources/skills/snapshot-registry.json
@@ -516,17 +516,17 @@
       },
       {
         "releaseRevision": 33,
-        "packageDigest": "729da1e492d7d8461c12995d74e23dd034176cd51c731bccdc0f449e35cf72bf",
-        "gitTreeSha": "387fd327e8eaefae2979f377843f50a47c85150d",
+        "packageDigest": "72f63dcaad3dea8bea54838835fe46c689c37b63cd96a9ef2f2537f0c2f6b8c8",
+        "gitTreeSha": "97f6596bb43a56c6e81246f077c35144c9025343",
         "files": [
           {
             "path": "SKILL.md",
-            "size": 3485,
+            "size": 3835,
             "executable": false,
             "classification": "text",
-            "exactSha256": "3082f7c7425ebe37d6ed33ad05f404268af2b51b675ea53d0731a912f16d76f6",
-            "textNormalizedSha256": "3082f7c7425ebe37d6ed33ad05f404268af2b51b675ea53d0731a912f16d76f6",
-            "identitySha256": "3082f7c7425ebe37d6ed33ad05f404268af2b51b675ea53d0731a912f16d76f6"
+            "exactSha256": "90228630bc4daab4ccf67b691153976d1f28ec064d7069a4c170621ed2ea99b5",
+            "textNormalizedSha256": "90228630bc4daab4ccf67b691153976d1f28ec064d7069a4c170621ed2ea99b5",
+            "identitySha256": "90228630bc4daab4ccf67b691153976d1f28ec064d7069a4c170621ed2ea99b5"
           }
         ]
       }
diff --git a/skill-stubs/orca-cli.md b/skill-stubs/orca-cli.md
index 2bba1bb125a..3a5b0aa522e 100644
--- a/skill-stubs/orca-cli.md
+++ b/skill-stubs/orca-cli.md
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ Below, `ORCA` is a placeholder for the executable you resolved. Substitute it be
 running anything; do not create a shell variable or run `ORCA` literally. This works the
 same way in POSIX shells, PowerShell, and cmd.exe.
 
+If the selected executable cannot run, report its exact error and stop. Do not fall through
+to another executable, which could silently target a different Orca build.
+
 ## Load the full guide before running Orca commands
 
 ```text
@@ -42,10 +45,12 @@ change between Orca releases, and this file deliberately no longer lists them. C
 app is up with `ORCA status --json` (start it with `ORCA open --json` if needed), and
 prefer `--json` for agent-driven calls.
 
-## If `skills get` is unavailable (older Orca)
+## If an older Orca does not recognize `skills get`
 
-A pre-guide Orca binary does not know `skills get` and exits nonzero. Do not dead-end and
-do not invent commands. Use only this bounded, read-only bootstrap to orient:
+Use this fallback only when the selected binary explicitly reports that `skills get` is an
+unknown command. Another failure is not proof of an older binary; report it rather than
+guessing or changing executables. For a confirmed pre-guide binary, use only this bounded,
+read-only bootstrap to orient. Do not dead-end and do not invent commands:
 
 ```text
 ORCA status --json
diff --git a/skills/orca-cli/SKILL.md b/skills/orca-cli/SKILL.md
index bbb06969700..ed78dc784c9 100644
--- a/skills/orca-cli/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/orca-cli/SKILL.md
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ Below, `ORCA` is a placeholder for the executable you resolved. Substitute it be
 running anything; do not create a shell variable or run `ORCA` literally. This works the
 same way in POSIX shells, PowerShell, and cmd.exe.
 
+If the selected executable cannot run, report its exact error and stop. Do not fall through
+to another executable, which could silently target a different Orca build.
+
 ## Load the full guide before running Orca commands
 
 ```text
@@ -57,10 +60,12 @@ change between Orca releases, and this file deliberately no longer lists them. C
 app is up with `ORCA status --json` (start it with `ORCA open --json` if needed), and
 prefer `--json` for agent-driven calls.
 
-## If `skills get` is unavailable (older Orca)
+## If an older Orca does not recognize `skills get`
 
-A pre-guide Orca binary does not know `skills get` and exits nonzero. Do not dead-end and
-do not invent commands. Use only this bounded, read-only bootstrap to orient:
+Use this fallback only when the selected binary explicitly reports that `skills get` is an
+unknown command. Another failure is not proof of an older binary; report it rather than
+guessing or changing executables. For a confirmed pre-guide binary, use only this bounded,
+read-only bootstrap to orient. Do not dead-end and do not invent commands:
 
 ```text
 ORCA status --json