diff --git a/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ts b/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ts
index df1f930fd..e7585b7b3 100644
--- a/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ts
+++ b/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@ import { readState, writeState } from "../hooks/ralph-loop/storage"
 
 import type { CreatedHooks } from "../create-hooks"
 
+function getLoopCommandArguments(args: Record<string, unknown>, command: "ralph-loop" | "ulw-loop"): string {
+  const rawUserMessage = typeof args.user_message === "string" ? args.user_message.trim() : ""
+  if (rawUserMessage) {
+    return rawUserMessage
+  }
+
+  const rawName = typeof args.name === "string" ? args.name : ""
+  return rawName.replace(new RegExp(`^/?(${command})\\s*`, "i"), "")
+}
+
 export function createToolExecuteBeforeHandler(args: {
   ctx: PluginContext
   hooks: CreatedHooks
@@ -137,7 +147,7 @@ export function createToolExecuteBeforeHandler(args: {
       const sessionID = input.sessionID || getMainSessionID()
 
       if (command === "ralph-loop" && sessionID) {
-        const rawArgs = rawName?.replace(/^\/?(ralph-loop)\s*/i, "") || ""
+        const rawArgs = getLoopCommandArguments(output.args, "ralph-loop")
         const parsedArguments = parseRalphLoopArguments(rawArgs)
 
         hooks.ralphLoop.startLoop(sessionID, parsedArguments.prompt, {
@@ -148,7 +158,7 @@ export function createToolExecuteBeforeHandler(args: {
       } else if (command === "cancel-ralph" && sessionID) {
         hooks.ralphLoop.cancelLoop(sessionID)
       } else if (command === "ulw-loop" && sessionID) {
-        const rawArgs = rawName?.replace(/^\/?(ulw-loop)\s*/i, "") || ""
+        const rawArgs = getLoopCommandArguments(output.args, "ulw-loop")
         const parsedArguments = parseRalphLoopArguments(rawArgs)
 
         hooks.ralphLoop.startLoop(sessionID, parsedArguments.prompt, {
diff --git a/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ulw-loop.test.ts b/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ulw-loop.test.ts
index 50e29ca05..d4283c044 100644
--- a/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ulw-loop.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugin/tool-execute-before.ulw-loop.test.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,47 @@ describe("tool.execute.before ultrawork oracle verification", () => {
 		rmSync(directory, { recursive: true, force: true })
 	})
 
+	test("#given ulw-loop skill invocation carries user_message #when tool.execute.before runs #then the loop starts with that prompt", async () => {
+		const directory = join(tmpdir(), `tool-before-ulw-skill-${Date.now()}`)
+		mkdirSync(directory, { recursive: true })
+		const startLoopCalls: Array<{ sessionID: string; prompt: string; options: Record<string, unknown> }> = []
+		const handler = createToolExecuteBeforeHandler({
+			ctx: createCtx(directory) as unknown as Parameters<typeof createToolExecuteBeforeHandler>[0]["ctx"],
+			hooks: {
+				ralphLoop: {
+					startLoop: (sessionID: string, prompt: string, options?: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+						startLoopCalls.push({ sessionID, prompt, options: options ?? {} })
+						return true
+					},
+					cancelLoop: () => true,
+					getState: () => null,
+				},
+			} as unknown as Parameters<typeof createToolExecuteBeforeHandler>[0]["hooks"],
+		})
+		const output = {
+			args: {
+				name: "ulw-loop",
+				user_message: '"Ship feature" --strategy=continue',
+			},
+		}
+
+		await handler({ tool: "skill", sessionID: "ses-main", callID: "call-skill-ulw" }, output)
+
+		expect(startLoopCalls).toHaveLength(1)
+		expect(startLoopCalls[0]).toEqual({
+			sessionID: "ses-main",
+			prompt: "Ship feature",
+			options: {
+				ultrawork: true,
+				maxIterations: undefined,
+				completionPromise: undefined,
+				strategy: "continue",
+			},
+		})
+
+		rmSync(directory, { recursive: true, force: true })
+	})
+
 	test("#given ulw loop is awaiting verification #when oracle sync task metadata is persisted #then oracle session id is stored", async () => {
 		const directory = join(tmpdir(), `tool-after-ulw-${Date.now()}`)
 		mkdirSync(directory, { recursive: true })