diff --git a/coworker/engine.py b/coworker/engine.py
index 1e393199..9b36e43d 100644
--- a/coworker/engine.py
+++ b/coworker/engine.py
@@ -976,6 +976,7 @@ class TurnEngine:
                     "installable": info is not None,
                     "version": (info or {}).get("version", ""),
                     "summary": (info or {}).get("summary", ""),
+                    "source": (info or {}).get("source", ""),
                 },
             )
             self._audit(tool_call, stage="tool_requested", reason=reason)
diff --git a/coworker/server/app.py b/coworker/server/app.py
index 460a0d2c..375037a7 100644
--- a/coworker/server/app.py
+++ b/coworker/server/app.py
@@ -1717,6 +1717,7 @@ def create_app(manager: SessionManager) -> FastAPI:
                     "version": (info or {}).get("version", ""),
                     "summary": (info or {}).get("summary", ""),
                     "url": (info or {}).get("url", ""),
+                    "source": (info or {}).get("source", ""),
                 },
                 tool_call_id=tool_call_id,
             )
diff --git a/coworker/tools/toolreq.py b/coworker/tools/toolreq.py
index e611b838..a0ad4040 100644
--- a/coworker/tools/toolreq.py
+++ b/coworker/tools/toolreq.py
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@ from aisuite.agents import ToolMetadata, tool
 def request_tool_tool() -> object:
     def request_tool(name: str, reason: str) -> dict:
         """Ask the user to install a command-line tool you need but can't find on this
-        machine (e.g. `gitleaks`, `osv-scanner`, `semgrep`). Say in `reason` what check it
-        unlocks, so the user can judge whether it's worth installing.
+        machine (e.g. `gitleaks`, `osv-scanner`, `semgrep`).
+
+        Keep `reason` to ONE sentence: which check needs the tool. The prompt the user
+        sees already explains what the install is (pinned version, publisher, checksum)
+        and what happens if they decline — don't restate any of that in `reason`.
 
         Use this INSTEAD of quietly skipping a check. If the user declines, carry on with a
         fallback (e.g. reading git history yourself instead of running gitleaks) and state
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/e2e/fixtures.ts b/surfaces/gui/e2e/fixtures.ts
index f1da713e..0fd085d7 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/e2e/fixtures.ts
+++ b/surfaces/gui/e2e/fixtures.ts
@@ -628,6 +628,7 @@ export async function mockApi(page: import("@playwright/test").Page) {
             installable: true,
             version: "8.30.1",
             summary: "scans git history and the working tree for committed secrets",
+            source: "github.com/gitleaks",
           });
           return; // suspended on the tool request
         }
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/e2e/toolreq.spec.ts b/surfaces/gui/e2e/toolreq.spec.ts
index b3a879cf..5e420e5f 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/e2e/toolreq.spec.ts
+++ b/surfaces/gui/e2e/toolreq.spec.ts
@@ -17,10 +17,14 @@ test("request_tool surfaces a card naming the tool, the reason and the pinned ve
   const card = page.locator(".dirreq-card");
   await expect(card).toContainText("gitleaks");
   await expect(card).toContainText("scan the git history for committed secrets");
-  await expect(card).toContainText("8.30.1");
-  await expect(card).toContainText(/checksum-verified/i);
-  // Declining must read as a normal choice, not a failure.
-  await expect(card.getByTestId("toolreq-skip")).toBeVisible();
+  // The fact strip is the product's voice: version, publisher, checksum — kept apart from
+  // the coworker's quoted reason (mixing them is what made the card confusing, 2026-08-14).
+  const facts = card.locator(".toolreq-facts");
+  await expect(facts).toContainText("8.30.1");
+  await expect(facts).toContainText(/checksum-verified/i);
+  await expect(facts).toContainText("from github.com/gitleaks");
+  // Declining must read as a normal choice that continues the run, not a failure.
+  await expect(card.getByTestId("toolreq-skip")).toHaveText("Continue without it");
 });
 
 test("an event without install metadata fails CLOSED — Install disabled, skip offered", async ({
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx b/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx
index e9ae5662..dd70e707 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx
+++ b/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx
@@ -741,6 +741,7 @@ export function App() {
               installable: d.installable === true,
               version: d.version || "",
               summary: d.summary || "",
+              source: d.source || "",
             },
           ]);
           break;
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/src/components/ToolRequestCard.tsx b/surfaces/gui/src/components/ToolRequestCard.tsx
index 7a8e04d8..9847e59c 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/src/components/ToolRequestCard.tsx
+++ b/surfaces/gui/src/components/ToolRequestCard.tsx
@@ -22,23 +22,30 @@ export function ToolRequestCard({
         </span>
       </div>
       {item.reason && <div className="dirreq-reason">“{item.reason}”</div>}
+      {/* The fact strip is the PRODUCT speaking (registry metadata), styled apart from the
+          coworker's quoted ask above — mixing the two voices is what made the card confusing. */}
       {item.installable ? (
-        <div className="dirreq-reason">
-          {item.summary ? `${item.summary}. ` : ""}
-          Installs {item.tool}
-          {item.version ? ` ${item.version}` : ""} — a pinned build, checksum-verified before
-          it runs.
+        <div className="toolreq-facts">
+          <code>
+            {item.tool}
+            {item.version ? ` ${item.version}` : ""}
+          </code>
+          {item.summary && <span className="toolreq-fact">{item.summary}</span>}
+          <span className="toolreq-fact">pinned &amp; checksum-verified</span>
+          {item.source && <span className="toolreq-fact">from {item.source}</span>}
         </div>
       ) : (
-        <div className="dirreq-reason">
-          No verified build is available for this machine — install it yourself if you want
-          this check, or skip and the coworker will note the gap.
+        <div className="toolreq-facts">
+          <span className="toolreq-fact">
+            No verified build is available for this machine — install it yourself if you want
+            this check, or continue and the coworker will note the gap.
+          </span>
         </div>
       )}
       <div className="dirreq-actions">
         <span className="spacer" />
         <button className="btn" data-testid="toolreq-skip" onClick={() => onRespond(false)}>
-          Skip this check
+          Continue without it
         </button>
         <button
           className="btn primary"
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/src/styles.css b/surfaces/gui/src/styles.css
index 3de7841c..24c49792 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/src/styles.css
+++ b/surfaces/gui/src/styles.css
@@ -794,6 +794,19 @@ button.btn.danger { color: var(--accent); }
 .dirreq-head { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; font-weight: 600; font-size: 13.5px; color: var(--ink); }
 .dirreq-head .ico { color: var(--accent); }
 .dirreq-reason { font-size: 13px; color: var(--muted); font-style: italic; margin: 6px 0 10px; }
+/* request_tool fact strip — the product's own metadata (version, publisher, checksum),
+   deliberately NOT italic so it can't be misread as the coworker still talking */
+.toolreq-facts {
+  display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: baseline; gap: 4px 10px;
+  font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--muted); font-style: normal;
+  background: var(--paper); border: 1px solid var(--line); border-radius: 8px;
+  padding: 7px 10px; margin: 2px 0 10px;
+}
+.toolreq-facts code { color: var(--ink); font-size: 12.5px; }
+.toolreq-fact + .toolreq-fact::before,
+.toolreq-facts code + .toolreq-fact::before { content: "· "; color: var(--muted); }
+/* a disabled Install must LOOK disabled — the whole card exists to not oversell */
+.dirreq-actions .btn:disabled { opacity: 0.45; cursor: not-allowed; }
 .dirreq-pathrow { display: flex; gap: 8px; align-items: center; }
 .dirreq-path {
   flex: 1; font: inherit; font-size: 13px; color: var(--ink);
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/src/types.ts b/surfaces/gui/src/types.ts
index 5a974eaf..f2680538 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/src/types.ts
+++ b/surfaces/gui/src/types.ts
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ export type Item =
       installable?: boolean;
       version?: string;
       summary?: string;
+      source?: string;
       resolved?: "installed" | "skipped";
     }
   | {
diff --git a/tests/test_tool_request.py b/tests/test_tool_request.py
index 8da512c5..de5624b1 100644
--- a/tests/test_tool_request.py
+++ b/tests/test_tool_request.py
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ async def test_event_tells_the_truth_about_installability(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
     assert data["installable"] is True
     assert data["version"] == toolchain.MANAGED["gitleaks"].version
     assert data["summary"]
+    assert data["source"] == "github.com/gitleaks"
 
     events = await _run(_engine(tmp_path, requester, tool="not-a-managed-tool"))
     data = [e for e in events if e.type is EventType.TOOL_REQUESTED][0].data
diff --git a/tests/test_toolchain.py b/tests/test_toolchain.py
index e12d98d7..8a1c4804 100644
--- a/tests/test_toolchain.py
+++ b/tests/test_toolchain.py
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ def test_describe_surfaces_what_the_user_is_approving(monkeypatch):
     info = toolchain.describe("gitleaks")
     assert info and info["version"] and info["sha256"] and info["url"]
     assert "secret" in info["summary"].lower()
+    assert info["source"] == "github.com/gitleaks"  # publisher, human-readable
 
 
 def test_install_refuses_a_tampered_download(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
@@ -155,3 +156,7 @@ def test_install_writes_a_verified_binary(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setenv("PATH", "")
     monkeypatch.setattr(toolchain, "_KNOWN_DIRS", ())
     assert toolchain.resolve("osv-scanner") == path
+    # And linked under the stable bin dir, so a shell with that dir on PATH picks the
+    # tool up by name the moment the install finishes — no respawn, no full paths.
+    linked = toolchain.bin_dir() / "osv-scanner"
+    assert linked.exists() and open(linked, "rb").read() == payload