diff --git a/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/CopilotWorkflowRunner.cs b/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/CopilotWorkflowRunner.cs
index 5e94c60..eacee7d 100644
--- a/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/CopilotWorkflowRunner.cs
+++ b/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/CopilotWorkflowRunner.cs
@@ -500,11 +500,30 @@ public sealed class CopilotWorkflowRunner : ITurnWorkflowRunner
         private Workflow BuildHandoffWorkflow(PatternDefinitionDto pattern)
         {
             AIAgent firstAgent = Agents[0];
-            IReadOnlyList<AIAgent> specialists = Agents.Skip(1).ToList();
+            PatternAgentDefinitionDto triageDefinition = pattern.Agents[0];
+            IReadOnlyList<(AIAgent Agent, PatternAgentDefinitionDto Definition)> specialists =
+                Agents.Skip(1)
+                    .Zip(pattern.Agents.Skip(1), (agent, definition) => (agent, definition))
+                    .ToList();
 
             HandoffsWorkflowBuilder builder = AgentWorkflowBuilder.CreateHandoffBuilderWith(firstAgent)
-                .WithHandoffs(firstAgent, specialists)
-                .WithHandoffs(specialists, firstAgent);
+                .WithHandoffInstructions(HandoffWorkflowGuidance.CreateWorkflowInstructions());
+
+            foreach ((AIAgent specialist, PatternAgentDefinitionDto definition) in specialists)
+            {
+                builder = builder.WithHandoff(
+                    firstAgent,
+                    specialist,
+                    HandoffWorkflowGuidance.CreateForwardReason(definition));
+            }
+
+            foreach ((AIAgent specialist, _) in specialists)
+            {
+                builder = builder.WithHandoff(
+                    specialist,
+                    firstAgent,
+                    HandoffWorkflowGuidance.CreateReturnReason(triageDefinition));
+            }
 
             return builder.Build();
         }
diff --git a/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/HandoffWorkflowGuidance.cs b/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/HandoffWorkflowGuidance.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb55027
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sidecar/src/Kopaya.AgentHost/Services/HandoffWorkflowGuidance.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+using Kopaya.AgentHost.Contracts;
+
+namespace Kopaya.AgentHost.Services;
+
+internal static class HandoffWorkflowGuidance
+{
+    public static string CreateWorkflowInstructions()
+    {
+        return """
+               This workflow uses explicit handoffs to transfer ownership between agents.
+               If another agent should do the substantive work, perform an actual handoff instead of answering as though the handoff already happened.
+               Do not claim that you delegated unless you actually executed the handoff.
+               The triage agent should route to the best specialist promptly once ownership is clear.
+               Specialists should complete the substantive work after handoff and only hand control back when the task needs re-routing, broader coordination, or is outside their specialty.
+               """;
+    }
+
+    public static string CreateForwardReason(PatternAgentDefinitionDto target)
+    {
+        string specialty = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(target.Description)
+            ? target.Name
+            : target.Description.TrimEnd('.');
+
+        return $"Hand off when the request primarily concerns {specialty}. Once handed off, let {target.Name} own the substantive response.";
+    }
+
+    public static string CreateReturnReason(PatternAgentDefinitionDto triageAgent)
+    {
+        return $"Hand off back to {triageAgent.Name} only when the task needs re-routing, cross-specialist coordination, or is outside your specialty.";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/sidecar/tests/Kopaya.AgentHost.Tests/HandoffWorkflowGuidanceTests.cs b/sidecar/tests/Kopaya.AgentHost.Tests/HandoffWorkflowGuidanceTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee7f9c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sidecar/tests/Kopaya.AgentHost.Tests/HandoffWorkflowGuidanceTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+using Kopaya.AgentHost.Contracts;
+using Kopaya.AgentHost.Services;
+
+namespace Kopaya.AgentHost.Tests;
+
+public sealed class HandoffWorkflowGuidanceTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void CreateWorkflowInstructions_RequiresRealHandoffs()
+    {
+        string instructions = HandoffWorkflowGuidance.CreateWorkflowInstructions();
+
+        Assert.Contains("explicit handoffs", instructions, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.Contains("Do not claim that you delegated", instructions, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.Contains("Specialists should complete the substantive work", instructions, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void CreateForwardReason_UsesTargetSpecialtyAndOwnership()
+    {
+        PatternAgentDefinitionDto specialist = new()
+        {
+            Id = "agent-handoff-ux",
+            Name = "UX Specialist",
+            Description = "Handles user experience questions.",
+            Instructions = "Focus on UX.",
+            Model = "claude-opus-4.5",
+        };
+
+        string reason = HandoffWorkflowGuidance.CreateForwardReason(specialist);
+
+        Assert.Contains("Handles user experience questions", reason, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.Contains("UX Specialist", reason, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.Contains("substantive response", reason, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void CreateReturnReason_RestrictsReturnToReroutingCases()
+    {
+        PatternAgentDefinitionDto triage = new()
+        {
+            Id = "agent-handoff-triage",
+            Name = "Triage",
+            Description = "Routes the request to the right specialist.",
+            Instructions = "Triages requests.",
+            Model = "gpt-5.4",
+        };
+
+        string reason = HandoffWorkflowGuidance.CreateReturnReason(triage);
+
+        Assert.Contains("Triage", reason, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.Contains("re-routing", reason, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.Contains("outside your specialty", reason, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+}