diff --git a/scripts/detect_missing_tool.py b/scripts/detect_missing_tool.py
index f734e83..dcdf60e 100755
--- a/scripts/detect_missing_tool.py
+++ b/scripts/detect_missing_tool.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 """Claude Code hook: point a failed command at the cli-tools catalog.
 
 Registered in hooks/hooks.json for PostToolUseFailure and PostToolUse on Bash.
-A command that is not installed makes the shell print a "command not found"
+A command the shell cannot find on PATH makes it print a "command not found"
 line; this hook finds it, looks the binary up in catalog/*.json and adds the
 install command to Claude's context.
 
@@ -63,15 +63,15 @@ def advice(binary: str, root: Path) -> str:
     entry = catalog_entry(binary, root / "catalog")
     if entry is None:
         return (
-            f"`{binary}` is not installed and has no entry in the cli-tools catalog. "
-            "Check `type -P -a` and `hash -r` first; the cli-tools skill lists alternatives "
+            f"`{binary}` was not found on PATH and has no entry in the cli-tools catalog. "
+            f"Check `type -P -a {binary}` and `hash -r` first; the cli-tools skill lists alternatives "
             "and troubleshooting."
         )
     install = root / "scripts" / "install_tool.sh"
     via = "" if entry == binary else f" (provided by catalog entry `{entry}`)"
     return (
-        f"`{binary}` is not installed{via}. Check `type -P -a {binary}` and `hash -r` first "
-        f"in case it is only off PATH; otherwise install it with `{install} {entry} install`. "
+        f"`{binary}` was not found on PATH{via}. Check `type -P -a {binary}` and `hash -r` first "
+        f"in case it is installed elsewhere or the shell cached a stale path; otherwise install it with `{install} {entry} install`. "
         "The cli-tools skill covers the rest of the workflow."
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/test_detect_missing_tool.py b/tests/test_detect_missing_tool.py
index ccec4ca..ca4544a 100644
--- a/tests/test_detect_missing_tool.py
+++ b/tests/test_detect_missing_tool.py
@@ -75,6 +75,13 @@ def test_failure_names_the_catalog_entry_and_the_installer(self):
         assert "catalog entry `ripgrep`" in context
         assert f"{PROJECT_ROOT / 'scripts' / 'install_tool.sh'} ripgrep install" in context
 
+    def test_says_what_it_knows_not_what_it_infers(self):
+        # A shell reports "not found on PATH"; the tool may still be installed
+        # somewhere else, which is why the advice checks `type -P -a` first.
+        context = hook.context_for(_failure("bash: rg: command not found"))
+        assert "not found on PATH" in context
+        assert "not installed" not in context
+
     def test_uncataloged_command_says_so(self):
         context = hook.context_for(_failure("bash: zzq: command not found"))
         assert "no entry in the cli-tools catalog" in context