diff --git a/app/core/deep_agent.py b/app/core/deep_agent.py
index 55a4536..1ecae95 100644
--- a/app/core/deep_agent.py
+++ b/app/core/deep_agent.py
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ _CONTEXTUAL_SYSTEM_PROMPT = """You are adiuvAI's contextual assistant. The user
 
 Rules:
 1. Base context (current view summary) is provided every turn. Treat it as ground truth for ids and names; never invent them.
-2. When the user asks about details not in the base context (e.g. "what tasks are blocking the launch milestone"), call `get_page_details` for the relevant entity before answering. Don't guess.
+2. ALL reads go through `get_page_details`. The legacy tools `list_projects`, `get_project`, `list_tasks`, `get_task`, `list_notes`, `get_note` are NOT available in this channel — do not attempt to call them. To find an entity by name, call `get_page_details({entityType: 'projects_all' | 'tasks_all' | 'timeline_all'})` to list, then `get_page_details({entityType: '<type>', entityId})` for the full snapshot.
 3. When the user requests an action that creates or updates an entity:
    - If the current view is a project and no project is specified, use the current project automatically.
    - If the current view is the global Tasks / Projects / Timeline list and no project is specified, ASK before attaching to any project. Don't silently create orphan entities.
@@ -606,25 +606,21 @@ async def get_page_details(
 def _contextual_tools(user_id: str, trace_id: str | None) -> list[Any]:
     """Return the tool palette for the contextual sidebar agent.
 
-    Includes get_page_details, entity-create/update tools, and memory tools.
-    Note-edit tools (propose_note_edit) are intentionally excluded — next sprint.
+    Read ops go through get_page_details only — legacy list_*/get_* tools
+    return shallow snapshots and cause the agent to under-answer (see
+    smoke trace 0b46841484ba7d024ed9f8d5ac8b1df0). Writes are limited
+    to entity creation + task update; note edits are next-sprint.
     """
-    from app.agents.note_agent import create_note, list_notes, get_note  # noqa: PLC0415
-    from app.agents.task_agent import create_task, update_task, list_tasks  # noqa: PLC0415
-    from app.agents.timeline_agent import create_timeline, list_timelines  # noqa: PLC0415
-    from app.agents.project_agent import PROJECT_TOOLS  # noqa: PLC0415
+    from app.agents.note_agent import create_note  # noqa: PLC0415
+    from app.agents.task_agent import create_task, update_task  # noqa: PLC0415
+    from app.agents.timeline_agent import create_timeline  # noqa: PLC0415
 
     return [
         get_page_details,
         create_task,
         update_task,
-        list_tasks,
         create_note,
-        list_notes,
-        get_note,
         create_timeline,
-        list_timelines,
-        *PROJECT_TOOLS,
         *_memory_tools(user_id, trace_id),
     ]
 
diff --git a/tests/test_run_contextual.py b/tests/test_run_contextual.py
index d336201..81fade8 100644
--- a/tests/test_run_contextual.py
+++ b/tests/test_run_contextual.py
@@ -74,3 +74,12 @@ async def test_run_contextual_stream_includes_scope_block(monkeypatch):
 
     # Note edit tools must NOT be exposed.
     assert "propose_note_edit" not in names, "propose_note_edit must be excluded"
+
+    # Legacy read tools must be excluded — they return shallow snapshots and
+    # cause the agent to under-answer (see trace 0b46841484ba7d024ed9f8d5ac8b1df0).
+    assert "list_projects" not in names, "list_projects must be excluded (legacy read)"
+    assert "get_project" not in names, "get_project must be excluded (legacy read)"
+    assert "list_tasks" not in names, "list_tasks must be excluded (legacy read)"
+    assert "get_task" not in names, "get_task must be excluded (legacy read)"
+    assert "list_notes" not in names, "list_notes must be excluded (legacy read)"
+    assert "get_note" not in names, "get_note must be excluded (legacy read)"