diff --git a/src/tools/skill/constants.ts b/src/tools/skill/constants.ts
index 735772d8..e65e66e4 100644
--- a/src/tools/skill/constants.ts
+++ b/src/tools/skill/constants.ts
@@ -2,13 +2,8 @@ export const TOOL_NAME = "skill" as const
 
 export const TOOL_DESCRIPTION_NO_SKILLS = "Load a skill or execute a slash command to get detailed instructions for a specific task. No skills are currently available."
 
-export const TOOL_DESCRIPTION_PREFIX = `Load a skill or execute a slash command to get detailed instructions for a specific task.
+export const TOOL_DESCRIPTION_PREFIX = `Load a skill or execute a command to get detailed instructions for a specific task.
 
 Skills and commands provide specialized knowledge and step-by-step guidance.
 Use this when a task matches an available skill's or command's description.
-
-**How to use:**
-- Call with a skill name: name='code-review'
-- Call with a command name (without leading slash): name='publish'
-- The tool will return detailed instructions with your context applied.
 `
diff --git a/src/tools/skill/tools.test.ts b/src/tools/skill/tools.test.ts
index 52d69bb5..b74af012 100644
--- a/src/tools/skill/tools.test.ts
+++ b/src/tools/skill/tools.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import * as fs from "node:fs"
 import { createSkillTool } from "./tools"
 import { SkillMcpManager } from "../../features/skill-mcp-manager"
 import type { LoadedSkill } from "../../features/opencode-skill-loader/types"
+import type { CommandInfo } from "../slashcommand/types"
 import type { Tool as McpTool } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/types.js"
 
 const originalReadFileSync = fs.readFileSync.bind(fs)
@@ -105,6 +106,61 @@ describe("skill tool - synchronous description", () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe("skill tool - command listing format", () => {
+  it("uses XML format for commands in description", () => {
+    // given
+    const commands: CommandInfo[] = [
+      {
+        name: "publish",
+        path: "/test/commands/publish",
+        metadata: { name: "publish", description: "Publish to npm", argumentHint: "<patch|minor|major>" },
+        scope: "opencode-project",
+      },
+      {
+        name: "commit",
+        path: "/test/commands/commit",
+        metadata: { name: "commit", description: "Commits changes" },
+        scope: "builtin",
+      },
+    ]
+
+    // when
+    const tool = createSkillTool({ skills: [], commands })
+
+    // then
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<available_commands>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("</available_commands>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<command>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<name>/publish <patch|minor|major></name>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<description>Publish to npm</description>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<scope>opencode-project</scope>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<name>/commit</name>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<scope>builtin</scope>")
+  })
+
+  it("uses XML format for both skills and commands together", () => {
+    // given
+    const loadedSkills = [createMockSkill("test-skill")]
+    const commands: CommandInfo[] = [
+      {
+        name: "deploy",
+        path: "/test/commands/deploy",
+        metadata: { name: "deploy", description: "Deploy app" },
+        scope: "user",
+      },
+    ]
+
+    // when
+    const tool = createSkillTool({ skills: loadedSkills, commands })
+
+    // then
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<available_skills>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<available_commands>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<command>")
+    expect(tool.description).toContain("<name>/deploy</name>")
+  })
+})
+
 describe("skill tool - agent restriction", () => {
   it("allows skill without agent restriction to any agent", async () => {
     // given
diff --git a/src/tools/skill/tools.ts b/src/tools/skill/tools.ts
index 151190cc..5a7f05b1 100644
--- a/src/tools/skill/tools.ts
+++ b/src/tools/skill/tools.ts
@@ -48,11 +48,18 @@ function formatCombinedDescription(skills: SkillInfo[], commands: CommandInfo[])
   }
 
   if (commands.length > 0) {
-    const commandLines = commands.map(cmd => {
+    const commandsXml = commands.map(cmd => {
       const hint = cmd.metadata.argumentHint ? ` ${cmd.metadata.argumentHint}` : ""
-      return `  - /${cmd.name}${hint}: ${cmd.metadata.description || "(no description)"} (${cmd.scope})`
+      const parts = [
+        "  <command>",
+        `    <name>/${cmd.name}${hint}</name>`,
+        `    <description>${cmd.metadata.description || "(no description)"}</description>`,
+        `    <scope>${cmd.scope}</scope>`,
+        "  </command>",
+      ]
+      return parts.join("\n")
     }).join("\n")
-    lines.push(`\n<available_commands>\n${commandLines}\n</available_commands>`)
+    lines.push(`\n<available_commands>\n${commandsXml}\n</available_commands>`)
   }
 
   return TOOL_DESCRIPTION_PREFIX + lines.join("")