fix(cron): keep SOUL.md identity when workdir is unset

cron/scheduler.py

@@ -1033,10 +1033,12 @@ def run_job(job: dict) -> tuple[bool, str, str, Optional[str]]:
             enabled_toolsets=_resolve_cron_enabled_toolsets(job, _cfg),
             disabled_toolsets=["cronjob", "messaging", "clarify"],
             quiet_mode=True,
-            # When a workdir is configured, inject AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
-            # .cursorrules from that directory; otherwise preserve the old
-            # behaviour (don't inject SOUL.md/AGENTS.md from the scheduler cwd).
+            # Cron jobs should always inherit the user's SOUL.md identity from
+            # HERMES_HOME. When a workdir is configured, also inject project
+            # context files (AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md / .cursorrules) from there.
+            # Without a workdir, keep cwd context discovery disabled.
             skip_context_files=not bool(_job_workdir),
+            load_soul_identity=True,
             skip_memory=True,  # Cron system prompts would corrupt user representations
             platform="cron",
             session_id=_cron_session_id,

run_agent.py

@@ -926,6 +926,7 @@ class AIAgent:
         thread_id: str = None,
         gateway_session_key: str = None,
         skip_context_files: bool = False,
+        load_soul_identity: bool = False,
         skip_memory: bool = False,
         session_db=None,
         parent_session_id: str = None,
@@ -977,6 +978,9 @@ class AIAgent:
             skip_context_files (bool): If True, skip auto-injection of SOUL.md, AGENTS.md, and .cursorrules
                 into the system prompt. Use this for batch processing and data generation to avoid
                 polluting trajectories with user-specific persona or project instructions.
+            load_soul_identity (bool): If True, still use ~/.hermes/SOUL.md as the primary
+                identity even when skip_context_files=True. Project context files from the cwd
+                remain skipped.
         """
         _install_safe_stdio()
 
@@ -1005,6 +1009,7 @@ class AIAgent:
         self._print_fn = None
         self.background_review_callback = None  # Optional sync callback for gateway delivery
         self.skip_context_files = skip_context_files
+        self.load_soul_identity = load_soul_identity
         self.pass_session_id = pass_session_id
         self._credential_pool = credential_pool
         self.log_prefix_chars = log_prefix_chars
@@ -4742,9 +4747,11 @@ class AIAgent:
         #   6. Current date & time (frozen at build time)
         #   7. Platform-specific formatting hint
 
-        # Try SOUL.md as primary identity (unless context files are skipped)
+        # Try SOUL.md as primary identity unless the caller explicitly skipped it.
+        # Some execution modes (cron) still want HERMES_HOME persona while keeping
+        # cwd project instructions disabled.
         _soul_loaded = False
-        if not self.skip_context_files:
+        if self.load_soul_identity or not self.skip_context_files:
             _soul_content = load_soul_md()
             if _soul_content:
                 prompt_parts = [_soul_content]

tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py

@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ class TestRunJobTerminalCwd:
         class FakeAgent:
             def __init__(self, **kwargs):
                 observed["skip_context_files"] = kwargs.get("skip_context_files")
+                observed["load_soul_identity"] = kwargs.get("load_soul_identity")
                 observed["terminal_cwd_during_init"] = os.environ.get(
                     "TERMINAL_CWD", "_UNSET_"
                 )
@@ -335,6 +336,7 @@ class TestRunJobTerminalCwd:
 
         # AIAgent was built with skip_context_files=False (feature ON).
         assert observed["skip_context_files"] is False
+        assert observed["load_soul_identity"] is True
         # TERMINAL_CWD was pointing at the job workdir while the agent ran.
         assert observed["terminal_cwd_during_init"] == str(tmp_path.resolve())
         assert observed["terminal_cwd_during_run"] == str(tmp_path.resolve())
@@ -373,6 +375,8 @@ class TestRunJobTerminalCwd:
 
         # Feature is OFF — skip_context_files stays True.
         assert observed["skip_context_files"] is True
+        # Cron still forces SOUL.md identity even when cwd context files stay off.
+        assert observed["load_soul_identity"] is True
         # TERMINAL_CWD saw the same value during init as it had before.
         assert observed["terminal_cwd_during_init"] == before
         # And after run_job completes, it's still the sentinel (nothing

tests/run_agent/test_run_agent.py

@@ -862,6 +862,26 @@ class TestBuildSystemPrompt:
         prompt = agent._build_system_prompt()
         assert DEFAULT_AGENT_IDENTITY in prompt
 
+    def test_can_use_soul_identity_even_when_context_files_are_skipped(self):
+        with (
+            patch("run_agent.get_tool_definitions", return_value=_make_tool_defs("terminal")),
+            patch("run_agent.check_toolset_requirements", return_value={}),
+            patch("run_agent.OpenAI"),
+            patch("run_agent.load_soul_md", return_value="SOUL IDENTITY"),
+        ):
+            agent = AIAgent(
+                api_key="test-k...7890",
+                base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+                quiet_mode=True,
+                skip_context_files=True,
+                load_soul_identity=True,
+                skip_memory=True,
+            )
+            prompt = agent._build_system_prompt()
+
+        assert "SOUL IDENTITY" in prompt
+        assert DEFAULT_AGENT_IDENTITY not in prompt
+
     def test_includes_system_message(self, agent):
         prompt = agent._build_system_prompt(system_message="Custom instruction")
         assert "Custom instruction" in prompt