diff --git a/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs b/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
index d4f1770673..9a2c798ef6 100644
--- a/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
@@ -2420,6 +2420,13 @@ pub fn handle_skills_slash_command_json(args: Option<&str>, cwd: &Path) -> std::
 pub fn classify_skills_slash_command(args: Option<&str>) -> SkillSlashDispatch {
     match normalize_optional_args(args) {
         None | Some("list" | "help" | "-h" | "--help") => SkillSlashDispatch::Local,
+        Some(args)
+            if args
+                .split_whitespace()
+                .any(|part| matches!(part, "-h" | "--help")) =>
+        {
+            SkillSlashDispatch::Local
+        }
         Some(args) if args == "install" || args.starts_with("install ") => {
             SkillSlashDispatch::Local
         }
diff --git a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
index dbdbd07b64..2fae6a8b6a 100644
--- a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -10142,6 +10142,47 @@ mod tests {
                 allow_broad_cwd: false,
             }
         );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_args(&[
+                "skills".to_string(),
+                "list".to_string(),
+                "--help".to_string(),
+                "--output-format".to_string(),
+                "json".to_string(),
+            ])
+            .expect("skills list help json should stay local"),
+            CliAction::Skills {
+                args: Some("list --help".to_string()),
+                output_format: CliOutputFormat::Json,
+            }
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_args(&[
+                "skills".to_string(),
+                "show".to_string(),
+                "--help".to_string(),
+                "--output-format=json".to_string(),
+            ])
+            .expect("skills show help json should stay local"),
+            CliAction::Skills {
+                args: Some("show --help".to_string()),
+                output_format: CliOutputFormat::Json,
+            }
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_args(&[
+                "skills".to_string(),
+                "missing-skill".to_string(),
+                "--help".to_string(),
+                "--output-format".to_string(),
+                "json".to_string(),
+            ])
+            .expect("missing skill help json should stay local"),
+            CliAction::Skills {
+                args: Some("missing-skill --help".to_string()),
+                output_format: CliOutputFormat::Json,
+            }
+        );
         assert_eq!(
             parse_args(&["agents".to_string(), "--help".to_string()])
                 .expect("agents help should parse"),
diff --git a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/tests/output_format_contract.rs b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/tests/output_format_contract.rs
index 9fbbdcb00c..6ed76ce658 100644
--- a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/tests/output_format_contract.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/tests/output_format_contract.rs
@@ -64,6 +64,33 @@ fn acp_guidance_emits_json_when_requested() {
         .contains("discoverability alias"));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn skills_subcommand_help_json_is_bounded_and_static() {
+    let root = unique_temp_dir("skills-help-json");
+    fs::create_dir_all(&root).expect("temp dir should exist");
+
+    for args in [
+        &["skills", "list", "--help", "--output-format", "json"][..],
+        &["skills", "install", "--help", "--output-format", "json"][..],
+        &["skills", "show", "--help", "--output-format", "json"][..],
+        &[
+            "skills",
+            "missing-skill",
+            "--help",
+            "--output-format",
+            "json",
+        ][..],
+    ] {
+        let help = assert_json_command(&root, args);
+        assert_eq!(help["kind"], "skills");
+        assert_eq!(help["action"], "help");
+        assert!(help["usage"]["direct_cli"]
+            .as_str()
+            .expect("direct CLI usage")
+            .contains("claw skills"));
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn inventory_commands_emit_structured_json_when_requested() {
     let root = unique_temp_dir("inventory-json");