diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d7aa73616..a1e07df09 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Doctor: warn when gateway.mode is unset with configure/config guidance.
 - macOS: include Textual syntax highlighting resources in packaged app to prevent chat crashes. (#1362)
 - Cron: cap reminder context history to 10 messages and honor `contextMessages`. (#1103) Thanks @mkbehr.
+- Cron: clarify reminder systemEvent wording guidance. (#1204) Thanks @cpojer.
 - UI: refresh debug panel on route-driven tab changes. (#1373) Thanks @yazinsai.
 
 ## 2026.1.21
diff --git a/src/agents/system-prompt.ts b/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
index dbf30414f..2d02963d4 100644
--- a/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
+++ b/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
     browser: "Control web browser",
     canvas: "Present/eval/snapshot the Canvas",
     nodes: "List/describe/notify/camera/screen on paired nodes",
-    cron: "Manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
+    cron: "Manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; set systemEvent to a reminder-style message, especially after long delays; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
     message: "Send messages and channel actions",
     gateway: "Restart, apply config, or run updates on the running Clawdbot process",
     agents_list: "List agent ids allowed for sessions_spawn",
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
           "- browser: control clawd's dedicated browser",
           "- canvas: present/eval/snapshot the Canvas",
           "- nodes: list/describe/notify/camera/screen on paired nodes",
-          "- cron: manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
+          "- cron: manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; set systemEvent to a reminder-style message, especially after long delays; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
           "- sessions_list: list sessions",
           "- sessions_history: fetch session history",
           "- sessions_send: send to another session",