diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-cli/src/install/payload/manifest.rs b/crates/hypercolor-cli/src/install/payload/manifest.rs
index ed838be54..468b9974c 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-cli/src/install/payload/manifest.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-cli/src/install/payload/manifest.rs
@@ -186,15 +186,32 @@ struct RawAssets {
     docs: u64,
     #[serde(rename = "skill_files")]
     skills: u64,
+    #[serde(
+        default,
+        rename = "user_skill_files",
+        deserialize_with = "present_asset_count"
+    )]
+    user_skills: Option<u64>,
     #[serde(rename = "agent_files")]
     agents: u64,
     #[serde(rename = "site_files")]
     site: u64,
 }
 
+fn present_asset_count<'de, D: serde::Deserializer<'de>>(
+    deserializer: D,
+) -> Result<Option<u64>, D::Error> {
+    u64::deserialize(deserializer).map(Some)
+}
+
 impl RawAssets {
     fn validate_minimums(&self) -> Result<(), ReleasePayloadError> {
-        if self.ui == 0 || self.bundled_effects == 0 || self.skills == 0 || self.agents == 0 {
+        if self.ui == 0
+            || self.bundled_effects == 0
+            || self.skills == 0
+            || self.user_skills == Some(0)
+            || self.agents == 0
+        {
             return Err(ReleasePayloadError::InvalidManifest(
                 "required release asset counts must be nonzero".to_owned(),
             ));
@@ -311,7 +328,11 @@ fn validate_asset_counts(
         ("share/hypercolor/agents/agents", assets.agents),
         ("share/hypercolor/site", assets.site),
     ];
-    for (prefix, expected_count) in expected {
+    // Older releases predate the separate user-facing skills directory.
+    let user_skills = assets
+        .user_skills
+        .map(|count| ("share/hypercolor/skills", count));
+    for (prefix, expected_count) in expected.into_iter().chain(user_skills) {
         if !members
             .get(prefix)
             .is_some_and(ValidatedMember::is_directory)
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-cli/tests/install_payload_tests.rs b/crates/hypercolor-cli/tests/install_payload_tests.rs
index 035e268fd..9428fcc16 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-cli/tests/install_payload_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-cli/tests/install_payload_tests.rs
@@ -576,6 +576,76 @@ fn verified_manifest_digest_mismatch_fails_before_install_state_mutation() {
     assert_no_private_residue(&store);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn user_skill_asset_count_validates_shipped_tree_and_preserves_legacy_manifests() {
+    let fixture = ReleaseFixture::new();
+    validate_release_payload(fixture.path(), &fixture.candidate, &fixture.expected_unit())
+        .expect("legacy manifest without separate user skills remains valid");
+
+    let root = "share/hypercolor/skills";
+    let file = "share/hypercolor/skills/SKILL.md";
+    fs::create_dir(fixture.path().join(root)).expect("create user skills root");
+    fs::set_permissions(fixture.path().join(root), fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o755))
+        .expect("set root mode");
+    fs::write(fixture.path().join(file), b"user skill").expect("write user skill");
+    fs::set_permissions(fixture.path().join(file), fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o644))
+        .expect("set skill mode");
+    let mut manifest = fixture.manifest_value();
+    manifest["assets"]["user_skill_files"] = json!(1);
+    let members = manifest["members"].as_array_mut().expect("member list");
+    members.push(json!({"path": root, "type": "directory", "mode": 0o755}));
+    members.push(json!({"path": file, "type": "file", "mode": 0o644,
+        "size": 10, "sha256": sha256(b"user skill")}));
+    members.sort_by(|left, right| left["path"].as_str().cmp(&right["path"].as_str()));
+    fixture.write_manifest(&manifest);
+    validate_release_payload(fixture.path(), &fixture.candidate, &fixture.expected_unit())
+        .expect("current user skills manifest validates");
+
+    manifest["assets"]["user_skill_files"] = json!(2);
+    fixture.write_manifest(&manifest);
+    let error =
+        validate_release_payload(fixture.path(), &fixture.candidate, &fixture.expected_unit())
+            .expect_err("incorrect user skill count must fail");
+    assert!(error.to_string().contains("asset count is wrong"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn user_skill_asset_field_requires_a_root_and_rejects_null() {
+    for count in [json!(1), Value::Null] {
+        let fixture = ReleaseFixture::new();
+        let mut manifest = fixture.manifest_value();
+        manifest["assets"]["user_skill_files"] = count.clone();
+        fixture.write_manifest(&manifest);
+        let error =
+            validate_release_payload(fixture.path(), &fixture.candidate, &fixture.expected_unit())
+                .expect_err("present user skills count must be valid and have a root");
+        if count.is_null() {
+            assert!(error.to_string().contains("strict JSON"));
+        } else {
+            assert!(error.to_string().contains("asset root is missing"));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn user_skill_asset_field_rejects_an_empty_present_root() {
+    let fixture = ReleaseFixture::new();
+    let root = "share/hypercolor/skills";
+    fs::create_dir(fixture.path().join(root)).expect("create user skills root");
+    fs::set_permissions(fixture.path().join(root), fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o755))
+        .expect("set root mode");
+    let mut manifest = fixture.manifest_value();
+    manifest["assets"]["user_skill_files"] = json!(0);
+    let members = manifest["members"].as_array_mut().expect("member list");
+    members.push(json!({"path": root, "type": "directory", "mode": 0o755}));
+    members.sort_by(|left, right| left["path"].as_str().cmp(&right["path"].as_str()));
+    fixture.write_manifest(&manifest);
+    let error =
+        validate_release_payload(fixture.path(), &fixture.candidate, &fixture.expected_unit())
+            .expect_err("declared user skills must be nonempty like other required assets");
+    assert!(error.to_string().contains("counts must be nonzero"));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn release_preflight_validates_before_store_bootstrap() {
     let fixture = ReleaseFixture::new();