diff --git a/gsd-core/workflows/onboard.md b/gsd-core/workflows/onboard.md
index 2c8bfd135..80fac011c 100644
--- a/gsd-core/workflows/onboard.md
+++ b/gsd-core/workflows/onboard.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Parse `$ARGUMENTS`:
 Run the init projection:
 
 ```bash
-_GSD_SHIM_NAME="gsd-tools.cjs"; _GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT="${RUNTIME_DIR:-$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)}"; GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; if [ -f "$GSD_TOOLS" ]; then gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.codex/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.codex/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif command -v gsd-tools >/dev/null 2>&1; then GSD_TOOLS="$(command -v gsd-tools)"; gsd_run() { "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "$HOME/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="$HOME/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; else echo "ERROR: gsd-tools.cjs not found. Run: npx -y @opengsd/gsd-core@latest --local" >&2; exit 1; fi
+_GSD_SHIM_NAME="gsd-tools.cjs"; _GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT="${RUNTIME_DIR:-$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)}"; GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; if [ -f "$GSD_TOOLS" ]; then gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.codex/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.codex/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif command -v gsd-tools >/dev/null 2>&1; then GSD_TOOLS="$(command -v gsd-tools)"; gsd_run() { "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "$HOME/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="$HOME/.claude/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${HERMES_HOME:-$HOME/.hermes}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${HERMES_HOME:-$HOME/.hermes}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${CURSOR_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.cursor}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${CURSOR_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.cursor}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${GEMINI_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.gemini}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${GEMINI_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.gemini}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${COPILOT_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.copilot}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${COPILOT_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.copilot}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${WINDSURF_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.codeium/windsurf}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${WINDSURF_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.codeium/windsurf}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${AUGMENT_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.augment}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${AUGMENT_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.augment}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${TRAE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.trae}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${TRAE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.trae}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${QWEN_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.qwen}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${QWEN_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.qwen}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${CODEBUDDY_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.codebuddy}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${CODEBUDDY_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.codebuddy}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${CLINE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.cline}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${CLINE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.cline}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${GROK_AGENTS_HOME:-$HOME/.agents}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${GROK_AGENTS_HOME:-$HOME/.agents}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${ANTIGRAVITY_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.gemini/antigravity}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${ANTIGRAVITY_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.gemini/antigravity}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR:-${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/opencode}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR:-${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/opencode}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${KILO_CONFIG_DIR:-${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/kilo}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${KILO_CONFIG_DIR:-${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/kilo}/gsd-core/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; else echo "ERROR: gsd-tools.cjs not found at $GSD_TOOLS and gsd-tools is not on PATH. Run: npx -y @opengsd/gsd-core@latest --claude --local" >&2; exit 1; fi; if [ -n "${CLAUDE_ENV_FILE:-}" ] && [ -n "${GSD_TOOLS:-}" ]; then printf "export PATH='%s':\"\$PATH\"\n" "${GSD_TOOLS%/*}" >> "$CLAUDE_ENV_FILE" 2>/dev/null || true; fi
 INIT=$(gsd_run init onboard)
 if [[ "$INIT" == @file:* ]]; then INIT=$(cat "${INIT#@file:}"); fi
 ```
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Parse JSON fields: `planning_exists`, `project_exists`, `requirements_exists`,
 `roadmap_exists`, `state_exists`, `has_existing_code`, `has_package_file`,
 `is_brownfield`, `has_codebase_map`,
 `codebase_map_files_present`, `missing_codebase_map_files`, `has_docs_candidates`,
-`doc_candidate_count`, `onboarding_summary_exists`, `text_mode`, `agents_installed`,
+`doc_candidate_count`, `onboarding_summary_exists`, `text_mode`, `commit_docs`, `agents_installed`,
 `missing_agents`, `has_git`, `git_worktree_root`, `in_nested_subdir`.
 
 Set `TEXT_MODE=true` if `--text` is present OR `text_mode` from INIT is true.
diff --git a/src/init.cts b/src/init.cts
index 472de1ab7..a82bae89d 100644
--- a/src/init.cts
+++ b/src/init.cts
@@ -140,6 +140,24 @@ function listPlanningDocCandidates(cwd: string): string[] {
   const roots = ['docs', 'adr', 'adrs', 'prd', 'prds', 'spec', 'specs', 'rfc', 'rfcs'];
   const candidates = new Set<string>();
 
+  const isPlanningDocCandidate = (rel: string, name: string): boolean => {
+    const upperName = name.toUpperCase();
+    const relLower = rel.toLowerCase();
+    const pathSegments = relLower.split('/');
+    return (
+      /(^|[-_ ])(ADR|PRD|SPEC|RFC)([-_ ]|\.)/i.test(name) ||
+      /^\d{4}[-_].+\.md$/i.test(name) ||
+      pathSegments.some((segment) => PLANNING_DOC_SEGMENTS.has(segment)) ||
+      upperName === 'REQUIREMENTS.MD'
+    );
+  };
+
+  const addCandidate = (rel: string, name: string): void => {
+    if (name.toLowerCase().endsWith('.md') && isPlanningDocCandidate(rel, name)) {
+      candidates.add(toPosixPath(rel));
+    }
+  };
+
   const visit = (dir: string, relDir: string, depth: number): void => {
     if (depth > 3) return;
     let entries: fs.Dirent[];
@@ -158,21 +176,20 @@ function listPlanningDocCandidates(cwd: string): string[] {
         continue;
       }
 
-      if (!entry.isFile() || !entry.name.toLowerCase().endsWith('.md')) continue;
-      const upperName = entry.name.toUpperCase();
-      const relLower = rel.toLowerCase();
-      const pathSegments = relLower.split('/');
-      if (
-        /(^|[-_ ])(ADR|PRD|SPEC|RFC)([-_ ]|\.)/i.test(entry.name) ||
-        /^\d{4}[-_].+\.md$/i.test(entry.name) ||
-        pathSegments.some((segment) => PLANNING_DOC_SEGMENTS.has(segment)) ||
-        upperName === 'REQUIREMENTS.md'
-      ) {
-        candidates.add(toPosixPath(rel));
-      }
+      if (entry.isFile()) addCandidate(rel, entry.name);
     }
   };
 
+  let rootEntries: fs.Dirent[] = [];
+  try {
+    rootEntries = fs.readdirSync(cwd, { withFileTypes: true });
+  } catch {
+    rootEntries = [];
+  }
+  for (const entry of rootEntries) {
+    if (entry.isFile()) addCandidate(entry.name, entry.name);
+  }
+
   for (const root of roots) {
     const full = path.join(cwd, root);
     if (fs.existsSync(full)) visit(full, root, 0);
diff --git a/tests/onboard-command.test.cjs b/tests/onboard-command.test.cjs
index aac86784d..ccaa85c84 100644
--- a/tests/onboard-command.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/onboard-command.test.cjs
@@ -71,6 +71,32 @@ describe('init onboard public CLI projection', () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  test('detects root-level planning docs without broad repo scan', () => {
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'PRD.md'), '# Product Requirements\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'SPEC.md'), '# Specification\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'RFC.md'), '# Request for Comments\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'ADR.md'), '# Architecture Decision\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'REQUIREMENTS.md'), '# Requirements\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, '0001-decision.md'), '# Decision\n');
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'src'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'src', 'PRD.md'), '# Nested Product Requirements\n');
+
+    const result = runGsdTools('init onboard --raw', tmpDir, { HOME: tmpDir });
+    assert.ok(result.success, `init onboard should succeed: ${result.error}`);
+
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(result.output);
+    assert.strictEqual(parsed.has_docs_candidates, true);
+    assert.strictEqual(parsed.doc_candidate_count, 6);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(parsed.doc_candidates, [
+      '0001-decision.md',
+      'ADR.md',
+      'PRD.md',
+      'REQUIREMENTS.md',
+      'RFC.md',
+      'SPEC.md',
+    ]);
+  });
+
   test('reports complete codebase map and onboarding summary in existing planning', () => {
     fs.mkdirSync(path.join(tmpDir, '.planning', 'codebase'), { recursive: true });
     for (const name of ['STACK', 'ARCHITECTURE', 'STRUCTURE', 'CONVENTIONS', 'TESTING', 'INTEGRATIONS', 'CONCERNS']) {
@@ -185,6 +211,17 @@ describe('/gsd:onboard command contract', () => {
     const content = fs.readFileSync(WF_PATH, 'utf8');
 
     assert.ok(content.includes('init onboard'), 'workflow must use init onboard projection');
+    for (const runtimeHome of [
+      'HERMES_HOME',
+      'CURSOR_CONFIG_DIR',
+      'CODEX_HOME',
+      'GEMINI_CONFIG_DIR',
+      'WINDSURF_CONFIG_DIR',
+      'OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR',
+    ]) {
+      assert.ok(content.includes(runtimeHome), `workflow resolver must include ${runtimeHome}`);
+    }
+    assert.match(content, /Parse JSON fields:.*`commit_docs`/s, 'workflow must parse commit_docs before using it');
     assert.ok(content.includes('map-codebase'), 'workflow must route to map-codebase');
     assert.ok(content.includes('ingest-docs'), 'workflow must route to ingest-docs');
     assert.match(