diff --git a/scripts/lib/planner.py b/scripts/lib/planner.py
index 49b2a20..63ab0a9 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/planner.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/planner.py
@@ -113,17 +113,23 @@ def plan_query(
                 topic, available_sources, requested_sources, depth,
                 note=f"fallback-plan (LLM error: {type(exc).__name__})",
             )
-    # No provider configured and no --plan was passed. The deterministic
-    # fallback path produces weaker plans than the LLM or the --plan path
-    # (narrower subquery breadth, no semantic expansion). Surface that
-    # so Claude Code callers know to pass --plan with a JSON plan they
-    # generate themselves. See 2026-04-19 Hermes Agent Use Cases failure.
+    # No --plan was passed and no engine-internal provider is configured.
+    # The deterministic fallback path produces weaker plans than either the
+    # --plan path or the engine-internal LLM planner path. Surface this so
+    # the HOSTING reasoning model (Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, Gemini, etc.)
+    # realizes it is supposed to generate the plan itself and pass --plan.
+    # The word "provider" in engine messages refers to the engine's INTERNAL
+    # planner credentials - NOT a prerequisite the caller needs. If you are
+    # the hosting reasoning model, YOU are the provider. LAW 7 / 2026-04-19
+    # Hermes Agent Use Cases failure mode.
     import sys
     print(
-        "[Planner] No --plan and no LLM provider configured. "
-        "Using deterministic fallback; results will be weaker than the "
-        "LLM-planned path. If invoked from Claude Code, generate a JSON "
-        "query plan and pass --plan.",
+        "[Planner] No --plan passed. If you are the reasoning model hosting "
+        "this skill (Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, Gemini, or any agent runtime), "
+        "YOU ARE the planner: generate a JSON query plan yourself and pass it "
+        "via --plan. You do not need an API key or credentials; you ARE the "
+        "LLM. The deterministic fallback below is the headless/cron path only. "
+        "See LAW 7 in SKILL.md and Step 0.75 for the plan schema.",
         file=sys.stderr,
     )
     return _fallback_plan(topic, available_sources, requested_sources, depth)
diff --git a/tests/test_planner_v3.py b/tests/test_planner_v3.py
index 56e8f6f..fee2484 100644
--- a/tests/test_planner_v3.py
+++ b/tests/test_planner_v3.py
@@ -413,14 +413,24 @@ class FallbackDefaultsTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 provider=None,
                 model=None,
             )
-        self.assertIn("No --plan and no LLM provider configured", buf.getvalue())
+        output = buf.getvalue()
+        # New language: "No --plan passed" + "YOU ARE the planner" +
+        # runtime enumeration. Unit 4 (2026-04-19) rewrite to stop the
+        # "no provider = no LLM = I need a key" misread.
+        self.assertIn("No --plan passed", output)
+        self.assertIn("YOU ARE the planner", output)
+        self.assertIn("you ARE the LLM", output)
+        # Runtime-agnostic: each supported runtime name should appear.
+        for runtime_name in ("Claude Code", "Codex", "Hermes", "Gemini"):
+            self.assertIn(runtime_name, output)
+        # The old misleading phrasing must NOT appear.
+        self.assertNotIn("No --plan and no LLM provider configured", output)
 
-    def test_fallback_does_not_log_warning_when_provider_present(self):
+    def test_fallback_does_not_log_new_warning_when_provider_present(self):
         # When a provider is configured, the provider path runs; if it
-        # succeeds, no fallback warning should appear.
-        # (The existing sanitize tests cover this; we just confirm the
-        # warning string gating is on provider-presence, not on fallback
-        # activation.)
+        # errors, we get the "LLM planning failed" message, NOT the
+        # "No --plan passed" guidance (which is specifically for the
+        # no-provider-no-plan caller path).
         import io
         import contextlib
         buf = io.StringIO()
@@ -438,11 +448,9 @@ class FallbackDefaultsTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 provider=_NoopProvider(),
                 model="some-model",
             )
-        # Provider was present — we expect the "LLM planning failed" message,
-        # NOT the "No --plan and no LLM provider" message.
         output = buf.getvalue()
         self.assertIn("LLM planning failed", output)
-        self.assertNotIn("No --plan and no LLM provider configured", output)
+        self.assertNotIn("No --plan passed", output)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":