diff --git a/cmd/core-runtime/main.go b/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
index 9c627a6..c03e182 100644
--- a/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
+++ b/cmd/core-runtime/main.go
@@ -2029,7 +2029,12 @@ func stableKnowledgeAnswer(answer string) bool {
 // completed entirely in the reply. It excludes specialized routes and durable
 // work, so cognition can produce content but cannot stand in for an executor.
 func shouldGenerateNonMutatingTextDirective(semantic interactiondomain.SemanticResult, routes []chatRoute, helpPath work.HelpPath, creativeRequest bool) bool {
-	if semantic.Interpretation.SpeechAct != interaction.SpeechActDirective || creativeRequest || helpPath.Kind != "" || helpPath.NeedsDurableWork {
+	if semantic.Interpretation.SpeechAct != interaction.SpeechActDirective || creativeRequest || helpPath.NeedsDurableWork {
+		return false
+	}
+	// ANSWER and COGNITION are reply-only help paths. They do not execute an
+	// external action, unlike direct capabilities, gaps or durable work.
+	if helpPath.Kind != work.HelpPathAnswer && helpPath.Kind != work.HelpPathCognition && helpPath.Kind != "" {
 		return false
 	}
 	return !hasChatRoute(routes, chatRouteResearch) && !hasChatRoute(routes, chatRouteMedia) && !hasChatRoute(routes, chatRouteAgent)
diff --git a/cmd/core-runtime/main_test.go b/cmd/core-runtime/main_test.go
index 4bbce78..3c0fd9d 100644
--- a/cmd/core-runtime/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/core-runtime/main_test.go
@@ -151,6 +151,12 @@ func TestNonMutatingTextDirectiveCanUseCognitiveReply(t *testing.T) {
 	if !shouldGenerateNonMutatingTextDirective(semantic, nil, work.HelpPath{}, false) {
 		t.Fatal("ordinary formatting directive was not eligible for a cognitive reply")
 	}
+	if !shouldGenerateNonMutatingTextDirective(semantic, nil, work.HelpPath{Kind: work.HelpPathCognition}, false) {
+		t.Fatal("reply-only cognition path was incorrectly rejected")
+	}
+	if shouldGenerateNonMutatingTextDirective(semantic, nil, work.HelpPath{Kind: work.HelpPathDirectCapability}, false) {
+		t.Fatal("direct capability was incorrectly replaced by a textual reply")
+	}
 	if shouldGenerateNonMutatingTextDirective(semantic, []chatRoute{{Kind: chatRouteMedia}}, work.HelpPath{}, false) {
 		t.Fatal("media route was incorrectly replaced by a textual reply")
 	}