diff --git a/.changeset/vivid-lemurs-munch.md b/.changeset/vivid-lemurs-munch.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d80c1d70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/vivid-lemurs-munch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+type: Fixed
+pr: 847
+---
+Corrected the installer `--help` profile skill counts: `core` now shows 8 (was 7) and `standard` shows 14 (was 13), both derived from `PROFILES` so they can't drift again; the `full` line drops the stale hardcoded `66` for `all skills`. (#834)
diff --git a/bin/install.js b/bin/install.js
index 0ae9bdcf6..1794edc52 100755
--- a/bin/install.js
+++ b/bin/install.js
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ function _getGsdEffortCatalog() {
 
 const {
   MINIMAL_SKILL_ALLOWLIST,
+  PROFILES,
   isMinimalMode,
   stageSkillsForMode,
   readActiveProfile,
@@ -579,7 +580,7 @@ if (hasUninstall) {
 
 // Show help if requested
 if (hasHelp) {
-  console.log(`  ${yellow}Usage:${reset} npx ${pkg.name} [options]\n\n  ${yellow}Options:${reset}\n    ${cyan}-g, --global${reset}              Install globally (to config directory)\n    ${cyan}-l, --local${reset}               Install locally (to current directory)\n    ${cyan}--claude${reset}                  Install for Claude Code only\n    ${cyan}--opencode${reset}                Install for OpenCode only\n    ${cyan}--gemini${reset}                  Install for Gemini only\n    ${cyan}--kilo${reset}                    Install for Kilo only\n    ${cyan}--codex${reset}                   Install for Codex only\n    ${cyan}--copilot${reset}                 Install for Copilot only\n    ${cyan}--antigravity${reset}             Install for Antigravity only\n    ${cyan}--cursor${reset}                  Install for Cursor only\n    ${cyan}--windsurf${reset}                Install for Windsurf only\n    ${cyan}--augment${reset}                 Install for Augment only\n    ${cyan}--trae${reset}                    Install for Trae only\n    ${cyan}--qwen${reset}                    Install for Qwen Code only\n    ${cyan}--hermes${reset}                  Install for Hermes Agent only\n    ${cyan}--cline${reset}                   Install for Cline only\n    ${cyan}--codebuddy${reset}              Install for CodeBuddy only\n    ${cyan}--all${reset}                     Install for all runtimes\n    ${cyan}-u, --uninstall${reset}           Uninstall GSD (remove all GSD files)\n    ${cyan}-c, --config-dir <path>${reset}   Specify custom config directory\n    ${cyan}-h, --help${reset}                Show this help message\n    ${cyan}--force-statusline${reset}        Replace existing statusline config\n    ${cyan}--portable-hooks${reset}          Emit \$HOME-relative hook paths in settings.json\n                              (for WSL/Docker bind-mount setups; also GSD_PORTABLE_HOOKS=1)\n    ${cyan}--profile=<name>${reset}         Install a named skill profile. Profiles:\n                              core     — 7 main-loop skills incl. phase (~130 desc tokens)\n                              standard — ~13 skills incl. phase, review, config (~700)\n                              full     — all 66 skills (default)\n                              Composable: --profile=core,audit installs union of closures.\n                              Profile is persisted and respected by \`gsd update\`.\n    ${cyan}--minimal${reset}                 Alias for --profile=core (back-compat).\n                              Cuts cold-start overhead from ~12k tokens to ~700.\n                              Alias: --core-only.\n\n  ${yellow}Examples:${reset}\n    ${dim}# Interactive install (prompts for runtime and location)${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name}\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Claude Code globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --claude --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Gemini globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --gemini --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Kilo globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --kilo --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Codex globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --codex --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Copilot globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --copilot --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Copilot locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --copilot --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Antigravity globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --antigravity --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Antigravity locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --antigravity --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cursor globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cursor --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cursor locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cursor --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Windsurf globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --windsurf --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Windsurf locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --windsurf --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Augment globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --augment --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Augment locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --augment --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Trae globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --trae --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Trae locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --trae --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Hermes Agent globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --hermes --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Hermes Agent locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --hermes --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cline globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cline --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cline locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cline --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for CodeBuddy globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --codebuddy --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for CodeBuddy locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --codebuddy --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for all runtimes globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --all --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install to custom config directory${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --kilo --global --config-dir ~/.kilo-work\n\n    ${dim}# Install to current project only${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --claude --local\n\n    ${dim}# Uninstall GSD from Cursor globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cursor --global --uninstall\n\n  ${yellow}Notes:${reset}\n    The --config-dir option is useful when you have multiple configurations.\n    It takes priority over CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR / OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR / GEMINI_CONFIG_DIR / KILO_CONFIG_DIR / CODEX_HOME / COPILOT_CONFIG_DIR / COPILOT_HOME / ANTIGRAVITY_CONFIG_DIR / CURSOR_CONFIG_DIR / WINDSURF_CONFIG_DIR / AUGMENT_CONFIG_DIR / TRAE_CONFIG_DIR / QWEN_CONFIG_DIR / HERMES_HOME / CLINE_CONFIG_DIR / CODEBUDDY_CONFIG_DIR environment variables.\n`);
+  console.log(`  ${yellow}Usage:${reset} npx ${pkg.name} [options]\n\n  ${yellow}Options:${reset}\n    ${cyan}-g, --global${reset}              Install globally (to config directory)\n    ${cyan}-l, --local${reset}               Install locally (to current directory)\n    ${cyan}--claude${reset}                  Install for Claude Code only\n    ${cyan}--opencode${reset}                Install for OpenCode only\n    ${cyan}--gemini${reset}                  Install for Gemini only\n    ${cyan}--kilo${reset}                    Install for Kilo only\n    ${cyan}--codex${reset}                   Install for Codex only\n    ${cyan}--copilot${reset}                 Install for Copilot only\n    ${cyan}--antigravity${reset}             Install for Antigravity only\n    ${cyan}--cursor${reset}                  Install for Cursor only\n    ${cyan}--windsurf${reset}                Install for Windsurf only\n    ${cyan}--augment${reset}                 Install for Augment only\n    ${cyan}--trae${reset}                    Install for Trae only\n    ${cyan}--qwen${reset}                    Install for Qwen Code only\n    ${cyan}--hermes${reset}                  Install for Hermes Agent only\n    ${cyan}--cline${reset}                   Install for Cline only\n    ${cyan}--codebuddy${reset}              Install for CodeBuddy only\n    ${cyan}--all${reset}                     Install for all runtimes\n    ${cyan}-u, --uninstall${reset}           Uninstall GSD (remove all GSD files)\n    ${cyan}-c, --config-dir <path>${reset}   Specify custom config directory\n    ${cyan}-h, --help${reset}                Show this help message\n    ${cyan}--force-statusline${reset}        Replace existing statusline config\n    ${cyan}--portable-hooks${reset}          Emit \$HOME-relative hook paths in settings.json\n                              (for WSL/Docker bind-mount setups; also GSD_PORTABLE_HOOKS=1)\n    ${cyan}--profile=<name>${reset}         Install a named skill profile. Profiles:\n                              core     — ${PROFILES.core.length} main-loop skills incl. phase (~130 desc tokens)\n                              standard — ${PROFILES.standard.length} skills incl. phase, review, config (~700)\n                              full     — all skills (default)\n                              Composable: --profile=core,audit installs union of closures.\n                              Profile is persisted and respected by \`gsd update\`.\n    ${cyan}--minimal${reset}                 Alias for --profile=core (back-compat).\n                              Cuts cold-start overhead from ~12k tokens to ~700.\n                              Alias: --core-only.\n\n  ${yellow}Examples:${reset}\n    ${dim}# Interactive install (prompts for runtime and location)${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name}\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Claude Code globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --claude --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Gemini globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --gemini --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Kilo globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --kilo --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Codex globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --codex --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Copilot globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --copilot --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Copilot locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --copilot --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Antigravity globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --antigravity --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Antigravity locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --antigravity --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cursor globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cursor --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cursor locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cursor --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Windsurf globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --windsurf --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Windsurf locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --windsurf --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Augment globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --augment --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Augment locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --augment --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Trae globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --trae --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Trae locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --trae --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Hermes Agent globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --hermes --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Hermes Agent locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --hermes --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cline globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cline --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for Cline locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cline --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for CodeBuddy globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --codebuddy --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install for CodeBuddy locally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --codebuddy --local\n\n    ${dim}# Install for all runtimes globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --all --global\n\n    ${dim}# Install to custom config directory${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --kilo --global --config-dir ~/.kilo-work\n\n    ${dim}# Install to current project only${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --claude --local\n\n    ${dim}# Uninstall GSD from Cursor globally${reset}\n    npx ${pkg.name} --cursor --global --uninstall\n\n  ${yellow}Notes:${reset}\n    The --config-dir option is useful when you have multiple configurations.\n    It takes priority over CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR / OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR / GEMINI_CONFIG_DIR / KILO_CONFIG_DIR / CODEX_HOME / COPILOT_CONFIG_DIR / COPILOT_HOME / ANTIGRAVITY_CONFIG_DIR / CURSOR_CONFIG_DIR / WINDSURF_CONFIG_DIR / AUGMENT_CONFIG_DIR / TRAE_CONFIG_DIR / QWEN_CONFIG_DIR / HERMES_HOME / CLINE_CONFIG_DIR / CODEBUDDY_CONFIG_DIR environment variables.\n`);
   process.exit(0);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/install-minimal-hooks.test.cjs b/tests/install-minimal-hooks.test.cjs
index 4a6d1fa1c..13ee1fbdd 100644
--- a/tests/install-minimal-hooks.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/install-minimal-hooks.test.cjs
@@ -84,6 +84,50 @@ describe('install-profiles: MINIMAL_SKILL_ALLOWLIST', () => {
   });
 });
 
+// ─── #834: --help profile skill counts must track PROFILES ───────────────────
+
+describe('install: --help profile counts match PROFILES (#834)', () => {
+  function helpText() {
+    return execFileSync(process.execPath, [INSTALL_SCRIPT, '--help'], {
+      encoding: 'utf8',
+      env: installerEnv(),
+    });
+  }
+
+  test('core line advertises PROFILES.core.length main-loop skills', () => {
+    const out = helpText();
+    const m = out.match(/core\s+—\s+~?(\d+)\s+main-loop skills/);
+    assert.ok(m, `--help must advertise a core profile skill count; got:\n${out}`);
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      Number(m[1]),
+      PROFILES.core.length,
+      `--help core count (${m[1]}) must equal PROFILES.core.length (${PROFILES.core.length})`,
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('standard line advertises PROFILES.standard.length skills', () => {
+    const out = helpText();
+    const m = out.match(/standard\s+—\s+~?(\d+)\s+skills/);
+    assert.ok(m, `--help must advertise a standard profile skill count; got:\n${out}`);
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      Number(m[1]),
+      PROFILES.standard.length,
+      `--help standard count (${m[1]}) must equal PROFILES.standard.length (${PROFILES.standard.length})`,
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('full line does not hardcode a drift-prone skill count', () => {
+    const out = helpText();
+    const m = out.match(/full\s+—\s+([^\n]*?)\s+\(default\)/);
+    assert.ok(m, `--help must advertise a full profile line; got:\n${out}`);
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      m[1],
+      /\d/,
+      `--help full line must not hardcode a numeric skill count (drifts); got: "${m[1]}"`,
+    );
+  });
+});
+
 describe('install-profiles: isMinimalMode', () => {
   test('returns true only for "minimal"', () => {
     assert.strictEqual(isMinimalMode('minimal'), true);