diff --git a/gardener/gardener-agent.sh b/gardener/gardener-agent.sh
index d4cb1ac..868076d 100644
--- a/gardener/gardener-agent.sh
+++ b/gardener/gardener-agent.sh
@@ -267,13 +267,6 @@ When all work is done and verify confirms zero tech-debt:
 On unrecoverable error:
   printf 'PHASE:failed\nReason: %s\n' 'describe error' > '${PHASE_FILE}'"
 
-# Write phase protocol to context file for compaction survival
-write_compact_context "$PHASE_FILE" "## Phase protocol (REQUIRED)
-When all work is done and verify confirms zero tech-debt:
-  echo 'PHASE:done' > '${PHASE_FILE}'
-On unrecoverable error:
-  printf 'PHASE:failed\nReason: %s\n' 'describe error' > '${PHASE_FILE}'"
-
 # ── Reset phase + result files ────────────────────────────────────────────
 agent_kill_session "$SESSION_NAME"
 rm -f "$PHASE_FILE" "${PHASE_FILE%.phase}.context" "$RESULT_FILE"
@@ -286,6 +279,13 @@ if ! create_agent_session "$SESSION_NAME" "$PROJECT_REPO_ROOT" "$PHASE_FILE"; th
   exit 1
 fi
 
+# Write phase protocol to context file for compaction survival
+write_compact_context "$PHASE_FILE" "## Phase protocol (REQUIRED)
+When all work is done and verify confirms zero tech-debt:
+  echo 'PHASE:done' > '${PHASE_FILE}'
+On unrecoverable error:
+  printf 'PHASE:failed\nReason: %s\n' 'describe error' > '${PHASE_FILE}'"
+
 agent_inject_into_session "$SESSION_NAME" "$PROMPT"
 log "Prompt sent to tmux session"
 matrix_send "gardener" "🌱 Gardener session started for ${CODEBERG_REPO}" 2>/dev/null || true