diff --git a/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.spec.ts b/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.spec.ts
index a4702d7a..70dbda90 100644
--- a/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.spec.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ Content.
       expect(result.agent).toBe('security-specialist');
     });
 
-    it('should parse allowed-tools field', () => {
+    it('should parse allowed-tools field as array', () => {
       const content = `---
 name: tools-skill
 description: Skill with allowed tools
@@ -125,6 +125,48 @@ Content.
       expect(result.allowedTools).toEqual(['Read', 'Grep', 'Glob']);
     });
 
+    it('should parse allowed-tools as comma-separated string', () => {
+      const content = `---
+name: tools-skill
+description: Skill with comma-string tools
+allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob
+---
+
+Content.
+`;
+      const result = parseSkill(content, 'path');
+
+      expect(result.allowedTools).toEqual(['Read', 'Grep', 'Glob']);
+    });
+
+    it('should parse allowed-tools comma string with parenthesized patterns', () => {
+      const content = `---
+name: tools-skill
+description: Skill with paren patterns
+allowed-tools: "Read, Grep, Glob, Bash(gh:*, git:*)"
+---
+
+Content.
+`;
+      const result = parseSkill(content, 'path');
+
+      expect(result.allowedTools).toEqual(['Read', 'Grep', 'Glob', 'Bash(gh:*, git:*)']);
+    });
+
+    it('should parse allowed-tools empty string as empty array', () => {
+      const content = `---
+name: tools-skill
+description: Skill with empty tools
+allowed-tools: ""
+---
+
+Content.
+`;
+      const result = parseSkill(content, 'path');
+
+      expect(result.allowedTools).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
     it('should leave extended fields undefined when not present', () => {
       const content = `---
 name: basic-skill
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.ts b/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.ts
index f11674c1..2f79c160 100644
--- a/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.ts
+++ b/apps/mcp-server/src/rules/skill.schema.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,31 @@ export class SkillSchemaError extends Error {
 // Zod Schemas
 // ============================================================================
 
+/**
+ * Split a comma-separated allowed-tools string, respecting parenthesized
+ * patterns like `Bash(gh:*, git:*)` where commas inside parens are not
+ * delimiters.
+ */
+function splitAllowedTools(s: string): string[] {
+  const result: string[] = [];
+  let current = '';
+  let depth = 0;
+  for (const ch of s) {
+    if (ch === '(') depth++;
+    else if (ch === ')') depth--;
+    if (ch === ',' && depth === 0) {
+      const trimmed = current.trim();
+      if (trimmed) result.push(trimmed);
+      current = '';
+    } else {
+      current += ch;
+    }
+  }
+  const trimmed = current.trim();
+  if (trimmed) result.push(trimmed);
+  return result;
+}
+
 /**
  * Trigger entry schema for SKILL.md frontmatter
  * - pattern: regex pattern string (non-empty)
@@ -57,7 +82,9 @@ const SkillFrontmatterSchema = z.object({
   'disable-model-invocation': z.boolean().optional(),
   context: z.string().optional(),
   agent: z.string().optional(),
-  'allowed-tools': z.array(z.string()).optional(),
+  'allowed-tools': z
+    .union([z.array(z.string()), z.string().transform(s => splitAllowedTools(s))])
+    .optional(),
 });
 
 // ============================================================================