diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 5cb4ca0..eefcb08 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ Requires Python 3.14+. Run `make install` before first use to set up the virtual
 
 The LLM tests read two environment variables: `OLLAMA_MODEL_NAME` (the DeepEval judge model, defaults to `gemma4`) and `SLACK_MCP_TOKEN` (a Slack MCP bearer token; the MCP tool-selection test is skipped when it's unset). Copy `.env.example` to `.env` and fill in values — the `Makefile` auto-loads `.env` — or pass them inline, e.g. `OLLAMA_MODEL_NAME=<model> make test-eval`.
 
+## Cross-Skill References
+
+When one `SKILL.md` references another skill (e.g., to delegate a step instead of duplicating content), follow these rules:
+
+- Use the backticked `plugin:skill` form, e.g. `` `slack:slack-cli` ``.
+- When pointing at a specific step, include the step's heading text, not just the number — references survive future reordering.
+- Add a sentence of prose explaining what the referenced section does and why you're delegating to it.
+- Don't use markdown anchor links (`[text](#step-1)`), `@`-include syntax (`@path/to/SKILL.md`), or bare file paths — none are idiomatic in installed skills, and `@`-includes force-load context.
+
+See `skills/create-slack-app/SKILL.md` Step 1a for an example.
+
 ## Testing
 
 Two test layers validate skills:
diff --git a/tests/config.py b/tests/config.py
index 7b4a015..376fc66 100644
--- a/tests/config.py
+++ b/tests/config.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
+import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 # Filesystem
 SKILLS_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "skills"
 
+# Plugin namespace (single source of truth: the plugin manifest)
+PLUGIN_MANIFEST = Path(__file__).parent.parent / ".claude-plugin" / "plugin.json"
+PLUGIN_NAME = json.loads(PLUGIN_MANIFEST.read_text())["name"]
+
 # Skill inventory (single source of truth)
 EXPECTED_SKILLS = ("create-slack-app", "block-kit", "slack-api", "slack-cli")
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_cross_skill_references.py b/tests/unit/test_cross_skill_references.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bc45a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_cross_skill_references.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import re
+
+from tests.config import PLUGIN_NAME
+from tests.skill import discover_skills
+
+
+class TestCrossSkillReferences:
+    def setup_method(self):
+        self.skills = discover_skills()
+        self.skill_names = {skill.metadata.name for skill in self.skills}
+
+    def test_plugin_skill_references_target_real_skills(self):
+        pattern = re.compile(rf"`{re.escape(PLUGIN_NAME)}:([a-z0-9-]+)`")
+        for skill in self.skills:
+            for target in pattern.findall(skill.body):
+                assert (
+                    target in self.skill_names
+                ), f"{skill.path} references unknown skill `{PLUGIN_NAME}:{target}`"
+
+    def test_no_markdown_anchor_links(self):
+        for skill in self.skills:
+            # .find() returns -1 if the substring is not found
+            anchor_index = skill.body.find("](#")
+
+            snippet = skill.body[anchor_index : anchor_index + 30]
+            assert anchor_index == -1, (
+                f"'{skill.path}' uses a markdown anchor link near "
+                f'"{snippet}"; '
+                "cross-skill references must not use `[text](#anchor)` links"
+            )
+
+    def test_no_bare_skill_file_paths(self):
+        for skill in self.skills:
+            # .find() returns -1 if the substring is not found
+            path_index = skill.body.find("SKILL.md")
+
+            # A bare path precedes "SKILL.md" (e.g. "skills/foo/SKILL.md"), so
+            # the error window reaches back to show that leading context.
+            start = max(0, path_index - 30)
+            snippet = skill.body[start : path_index + 8]
+            assert path_index == -1, (
+                f"'{skill.path}' references a SKILL.md path near "
+                f'"{snippet}"; '
+                "reference skills by the backticked `plugin:skill` form instead"
+            )