diff --git a/crates/tui/src/prompts.rs b/crates/tui/src/prompts.rs
index 33a7e954..812be616 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/prompts.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/prompts.rs
@@ -1905,6 +1905,24 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    /// Tier 5 Local Law must explicitly cover `EngineConfig.instructions`
+    /// files. Without this clause, embedders that inject instructions via the
+    /// config field (rather than via the four hard-coded path conventions)
+    /// get their files classified by path — and since those embedder-supplied
+    /// paths aren't `AGENTS.md` / `CLAUDE.md` / `.codewhale/instructions.md` /
+    /// `.deepseek/instructions.md`, the model defaults to treating their
+    /// imperatives as Tier 7 Memory (the lowest tier per Article VII),
+    /// overridable by a single user sentence.
+    #[test]
+    fn local_law_tier_covers_engine_config_instructions() {
+        let prompt = compose_prompt(AppMode::Agent, Personality::Calm);
+        assert!(
+            prompt.contains("any file configured via `EngineConfig.instructions`"),
+            "Tier 5 must explicitly cover EngineConfig.instructions so \
+             embedder-injected instructions are not default-classified as Tier 7 Memory."
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn workspace_orientation_guidance_present() {
         let prompt = compose_prompt(AppMode::Agent, Personality::Calm);
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/prompts/base.md b/crates/tui/src/prompts/base.md
index 83049925..061ff92c 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/prompts/base.md
+++ b/crates/tui/src/prompts/base.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ When directives from different sources conflict, resolve in this order:
 
 4. **Regulations.** Composition patterns, sub-agent strategy, language rules, thinking budget. Best-practice guidance that yields to user intent when the two conflict.
 
-5. **Local Law.** Project instructions — AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, `.codewhale/instructions.md`, `.deepseek/instructions.md`. Project-specific rules that are subordinate to all higher tiers.
+5. **Local Law.** Project instructions — AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, `.codewhale/instructions.md`, `.deepseek/instructions.md`, **and any file configured via `EngineConfig.instructions` (rendered as `<instructions source="…">` blocks above)**. Project-specific rules that are subordinate to all higher tiers but supersede Memory (Tier 7), even when written in imperative voice — `EngineConfig.instructions` files are declared by the embedder (not user-collected like memory), so their imperatives are Local Law, not Memory preferences.
 
 6. **Evidence.** Tool output, file contents, command results, live repository state. Evidence is truth. Never contradict verified tool output. If memory and evidence conflict, evidence wins.