diff --git a/agents/gsd-executor.md b/agents/gsd-executor.md
index 602fa51e1..e00bed6d2 100644
--- a/agents/gsd-executor.md
+++ b/agents/gsd-executor.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ Your job: Execute the plan completely, commit each task, create SUMMARY.md, upda
 <project_context>
 Before executing, discover project context:
 
+**Project instructions:** Read `./CLAUDE.md` if it exists in the working directory. Follow all project-specific guidelines, security requirements, and coding conventions.
+
 **Project skills:** Check `.agents/skills/` directory if it exists:
 1. List available skills (subdirectories)
 2. Read `SKILL.md` for each skill (lightweight index ~130 lines)
diff --git a/agents/gsd-phase-researcher.md b/agents/gsd-phase-researcher.md
index 6cc964b5d..b04e197fe 100644
--- a/agents/gsd-phase-researcher.md
+++ b/agents/gsd-phase-researcher.md
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ Spawned by `/gsd:plan-phase` (integrated) or `/gsd:research-phase` (standalone).
 <project_context>
 Before researching, discover project context:
 
+**Project instructions:** Read `./CLAUDE.md` if it exists in the working directory. Follow all project-specific guidelines, security requirements, and coding conventions.
+
 **Project skills:** Check `.agents/skills/` directory if it exists:
 1. List available skills (subdirectories)
 2. Read `SKILL.md` for each skill (lightweight index ~130 lines)
diff --git a/agents/gsd-plan-checker.md b/agents/gsd-plan-checker.md
index 2c2982e54..beddf647c 100644
--- a/agents/gsd-plan-checker.md
+++ b/agents/gsd-plan-checker.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ You are NOT the executor or verifier — you verify plans WILL work before execu
 <project_context>
 Before verifying, discover project context:
 
+**Project instructions:** Read `./CLAUDE.md` if it exists in the working directory. Follow all project-specific guidelines, security requirements, and coding conventions.
+
 **Project skills:** Check `.agents/skills/` directory if it exists:
 1. List available skills (subdirectories)
 2. Read `SKILL.md` for each skill (lightweight index ~130 lines)
diff --git a/agents/gsd-planner.md b/agents/gsd-planner.md
index b405876b4..ae23ac493 100644
--- a/agents/gsd-planner.md
+++ b/agents/gsd-planner.md
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ Your job: Produce PLAN.md files that Claude executors can implement without inte
 <project_context>
 Before planning, discover project context:
 
+**Project instructions:** Read `./CLAUDE.md` if it exists in the working directory. Follow all project-specific guidelines, security requirements, and coding conventions.
+
 **Project skills:** Check `.agents/skills/` directory if it exists:
 1. List available skills (subdirectories)
 2. Read `SKILL.md` for each skill (lightweight index ~130 lines)
diff --git a/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md b/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md
index 532918583..dc6258567 100644
--- a/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md
+++ b/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ Execute each wave in sequence. Within a wave: parallel if `PARALLELIZATION=true`
        - Plan: {phase_dir}/{plan_file}
        - State: .planning/STATE.md
        - Config: .planning/config.json (if exists)
+       - Project instructions: ./CLAUDE.md (if exists — follow project-specific guidelines and coding conventions)
        - Project skills: .agents/skills/ (if exists — list skills, read SKILL.md for each, follow relevant rules during implementation)
        </files_to_read>
 
diff --git a/get-shit-done/workflows/plan-phase.md b/get-shit-done/workflows/plan-phase.md
index 3855aad7d..efe7bd158 100644
--- a/get-shit-done/workflows/plan-phase.md
+++ b/get-shit-done/workflows/plan-phase.md
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ IMPORTANT: If CONTEXT.md exists below, it contains user decisions from /gsd:disc
 **Requirements:** {requirements}
 **Prior decisions:** {decisions}
 
+**Project instructions:** Read ./CLAUDE.md if exists — follow project-specific guidelines
 **Project skills:** Check .agents/skills/ directory (if exists) — read SKILL.md files, research should account for project skill patterns
 </additional_context>
 
@@ -203,6 +204,7 @@ IMPORTANT: If context exists below, it contains USER DECISIONS from /gsd:discuss
 **Research:** {research_content}
 **Gap Closure (if --gaps):** {verification_content} {uat_content}
 
+**Project instructions:** Read ./CLAUDE.md if exists — follow project-specific guidelines
 **Project skills:** Check .agents/skills/ directory (if exists) — read SKILL.md files, plans should account for project skill rules
 </planning_context>
 
@@ -273,6 +275,7 @@ IMPORTANT: Plans MUST honor user decisions. Flag as issue if plans contradict.
 
 {context_content}
 
+**Project instructions:** Read ./CLAUDE.md if exists — verify plans honor project guidelines
 **Project skills:** Check .agents/skills/ directory (if exists) — verify plans account for project skill rules
 </verification_context>
 
diff --git a/get-shit-done/workflows/quick.md b/get-shit-done/workflows/quick.md
index d8611f672..6ae1e5477 100644
--- a/get-shit-done/workflows/quick.md
+++ b/get-shit-done/workflows/quick.md
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ Task(
 **Project State:**
 @.planning/STATE.md
 
+**Project instructions:** Read ./CLAUDE.md if exists — follow project-specific guidelines
 **Project skills:** Check .agents/skills/ directory (if exists) — read SKILL.md files, plans should account for project skill rules
 
 </planning_context>
@@ -251,6 +252,7 @@ Execute quick task ${next_num}.
 
 Plan: @${QUICK_DIR}/${next_num}-PLAN.md
 Project state: @.planning/STATE.md
+Project instructions: ./CLAUDE.md (if exists — follow project-specific guidelines)
 Project skills: .agents/skills/ (if exists — list skills, read SKILL.md for each, follow relevant rules during implementation)
 
 <constraints>