diff --git a/codex-rs/app-server-protocol/src/protocol/v2.rs b/codex-rs/app-server-protocol/src/protocol/v2.rs
index ee061158065..744926738b2 100644
--- a/codex-rs/app-server-protocol/src/protocol/v2.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/app-server-protocol/src/protocol/v2.rs
@@ -1460,6 +1460,7 @@ pub enum UserInput {
     Text { text: String },
     Image { url: String },
     LocalImage { path: PathBuf },
+    Skill { name: String, path: PathBuf },
 }
 
 impl UserInput {
@@ -1468,6 +1469,7 @@ impl UserInput {
             UserInput::Text { text } => CoreUserInput::Text { text },
             UserInput::Image { url } => CoreUserInput::Image { image_url: url },
             UserInput::LocalImage { path } => CoreUserInput::LocalImage { path },
+            UserInput::Skill { name, path } => CoreUserInput::Skill { name, path },
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1478,6 +1480,7 @@ impl From<CoreUserInput> for UserInput {
             CoreUserInput::Text { text } => UserInput::Text { text },
             CoreUserInput::Image { image_url } => UserInput::Image { url: image_url },
             CoreUserInput::LocalImage { path } => UserInput::LocalImage { path },
+            CoreUserInput::Skill { name, path } => UserInput::Skill { name, path },
             _ => unreachable!("unsupported user input variant"),
         }
     }
@@ -2063,6 +2066,10 @@ mod tests {
                 CoreUserInput::LocalImage {
                     path: PathBuf::from("local/image.png"),
                 },
+                CoreUserInput::Skill {
+                    name: "skill-creator".to_string(),
+                    path: PathBuf::from("/repo/.codex/skills/skill-creator/SKILL.md"),
+                },
             ],
         });
 
@@ -2080,6 +2087,10 @@ mod tests {
                     UserInput::LocalImage {
                         path: PathBuf::from("local/image.png"),
                     },
+                    UserInput::Skill {
+                        name: "skill-creator".to_string(),
+                        path: PathBuf::from("/repo/.codex/skills/skill-creator/SKILL.md"),
+                    },
                 ],
             }
         );
diff --git a/codex-rs/app-server/README.md b/codex-rs/app-server/README.md
index 88d96dda56b..e09c47ce027 100644
--- a/codex-rs/app-server/README.md
+++ b/codex-rs/app-server/README.md
@@ -200,13 +200,14 @@ You can optionally specify config overrides on the new turn. If specified, these
 
 ### Example: Start a turn (invoke a skill)
 
-Invoke a skill by sending a text input that begins with `$<skill-name>`.
+Invoke a skill explicitly by including `$<skill-name>` in the text input and adding a `skill` input item alongside it.
 
 ```json
 { "method": "turn/start", "id": 33, "params": {
     "threadId": "thr_123",
     "input": [
-        { "type": "text", "text": "$skill-creator Add a new skill for triaging flaky CI and include step-by-step usage." }
+        { "type": "text", "text": "$skill-creator Add a new skill for triaging flaky CI and include step-by-step usage." },
+        { "type": "skill", "name": "skill-creator", "path": "/Users/me/.codex/skills/skill-creator/SKILL.md" }
     ]
 } }
 { "id": 33, "result": { "turn": {
@@ -428,7 +429,23 @@ UI guidance for IDEs: surface an approval dialog as soon as the request arrives.
 
 ## Skills
 
-Skills are invoked by sending a text input that starts with `$<skill-name>`. The rest of the text is passed to the skill as its input.
+Invoke a skill by including `$<skill-name>` in the text input. Add a `skill` input item (recommended) so the backend injects full skill instructions instead of relying on the model to resolve the name.
+
+```json
+{
+  "method": "turn/start",
+  "id": 101,
+  "params": {
+    "threadId": "thread-1",
+    "input": [
+      { "type": "text", "text": "$skill-creator Add a new skill for triaging flaky CI." },
+      { "type": "skill", "name": "skill-creator", "path": "/Users/me/.codex/skills/skill-creator/SKILL.md" }
+    ]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+If you omit the `skill` item, the model will still parse the `$<skill-name>` marker and try to locate the skill, which can add latency.
 
 Example: