diff --git a/cmd/agent_loop_test.go b/cmd/agent_loop_test.go
index 330703cb7..30bfbce23 100644
--- a/cmd/agent_loop_test.go
+++ b/cmd/agent_loop_test.go
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@ func TestToolMessage(t *testing.T) {
 // in the tool loop should include thinking content.
 func TestAssistantMessageConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		name         string
-		content      string
-		thinking     string
-		toolCalls    []api.ToolCall
-		expectedMsg  api.Message
+		name        string
+		content     string
+		thinking    string
+		toolCalls   []api.ToolCall
+		expectedMsg api.Message
 	}{
 		{
 			name:     "assistant with thinking and tool calls",
@@ -171,9 +171,9 @@ func TestAssistantMessageConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name:      "assistant with multiple tool calls",
-			content:   "",
-			thinking:  "I'll check both cities.",
+			name:     "assistant with multiple tool calls",
+			content:  "",
+			thinking: "I'll check both cities.",
 			toolCalls: []api.ToolCall{
 				{
 					ID: "call_a",
diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index 8565a1d2b..1ca803292 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -1680,12 +1680,16 @@ func chat(cmd *cobra.Command, opts runOptions) (*api.Message, error) {
 			// Show what's being executed
 			switch call.Function.Name {
 			case "run_skill_script":
-				skill, _ := call.Function.Arguments["skill"].(string)
-				command, _ := call.Function.Arguments["command"].(string)
+				skillVal, _ := call.Function.Arguments.Get("skill")
+				skill, _ := skillVal.(string)
+				commandVal, _ := call.Function.Arguments.Get("command")
+				command, _ := commandVal.(string)
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Running script in %s: %s\n", skill, command)
 			case "read_skill_file":
-				skill, _ := call.Function.Arguments["skill"].(string)
-				path, _ := call.Function.Arguments["path"].(string)
+				skillVal, _ := call.Function.Arguments.Get("skill")
+				skill, _ := skillVal.(string)
+				pathVal, _ := call.Function.Arguments.Get("path")
+				path, _ := pathVal.(string)
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Reading file from %s: %s\n", skill, path)
 			default:
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Executing: %s\n", call.Function.Name)
diff --git a/cmd/skills.go b/cmd/skills.go
index ebbb65536..3a8ec19e5 100644
--- a/cmd/skills.go
+++ b/cmd/skills.go
@@ -370,6 +370,26 @@ func (c *skillCatalog) Tools() api.Tools {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	runScriptProps := api.NewToolPropertiesMap()
+	runScriptProps.Set("skill", api.ToolProperty{
+		Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
+		Description: "The name of the skill containing the script",
+	})
+	runScriptProps.Set("command", api.ToolProperty{
+		Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
+		Description: "The command to execute (e.g., 'python scripts/calculate.py 25 4' or './scripts/run.sh')",
+	})
+
+	readFileProps := api.NewToolPropertiesMap()
+	readFileProps.Set("skill", api.ToolProperty{
+		Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
+		Description: "The name of the skill containing the file",
+	})
+	readFileProps.Set("path", api.ToolProperty{
+		Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
+		Description: "The relative path to the file within the skill directory",
+	})
+
 	return api.Tools{
 		{
 			Type: "function",
@@ -377,18 +397,9 @@ func (c *skillCatalog) Tools() api.Tools {
 				Name:        "run_skill_script",
 				Description: "Execute a script or command within a skill's directory. Use this to run Python scripts, shell scripts, or other executables bundled with a skill.",
 				Parameters: api.ToolFunctionParameters{
-					Type:     "object",
-					Required: []string{"skill", "command"},
-					Properties: map[string]api.ToolProperty{
-						"skill": {
-							Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
-							Description: "The name of the skill containing the script",
-						},
-						"command": {
-							Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
-							Description: "The command to execute (e.g., 'python scripts/calculate.py 25 4' or './scripts/run.sh')",
-						},
-					},
+					Type:       "object",
+					Required:   []string{"skill", "command"},
+					Properties: runScriptProps,
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -398,18 +409,9 @@ func (c *skillCatalog) Tools() api.Tools {
 				Name:        "read_skill_file",
 				Description: "Read a file from a skill's directory. Use this to read additional documentation, reference files, or data files bundled with a skill.",
 				Parameters: api.ToolFunctionParameters{
-					Type:     "object",
-					Required: []string{"skill", "path"},
-					Properties: map[string]api.ToolProperty{
-						"skill": {
-							Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
-							Description: "The name of the skill containing the file",
-						},
-						"path": {
-							Type:        api.PropertyType{"string"},
-							Description: "The relative path to the file within the skill directory",
-						},
-					},
+					Type:       "object",
+					Required:   []string{"skill", "path"},
+					Properties: readFileProps,
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -562,7 +564,7 @@ func readSkillFile(skillDir, relPath string) (string, error) {
 }
 
 func requireStringArg(args api.ToolCallFunctionArguments, name string) (string, error) {
-	value, ok := args[name]
+	value, ok := args.Get(name)
 	if !ok {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("missing required argument %q", name)
 	}
diff --git a/parser/parser.go b/parser/parser.go
index 4bdcdfb03..e4ae82fac 100644
--- a/parser/parser.go
+++ b/parser/parser.go
@@ -122,7 +122,16 @@ func (f Modelfile) CreateRequest(relativeDir string) (*api.CreateRequest, error)
 			role, msg, _ := strings.Cut(c.Args, ": ")
 			messages = append(messages, api.Message{Role: role, Content: msg})
 		case "skill":
-			skills = append(skills, api.SkillRef{Name: c.Args})
+			skillName := c.Args
+			// Expand local paths relative to the Agentfile directory
+			if isLocalPath(skillName) {
+				expanded, err := expandPath(skillName, relativeDir)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("expanding skill path %q: %w", skillName, err)
+				}
+				skillName = expanded
+			}
+			skills = append(skills, api.SkillRef{Name: skillName})
 		case "mcp":
 			mcpRef, err := parseMCPArg(c.Args, relativeDir)
 			if err != nil {