diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cc97330..19e7332 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+- Refreshed the bundled skills to workbench `e8bcc26`: the `dlthub-router` skill now only runs the `dlthub ai status` verification when the install result is ambiguous or MCP hasn't been checked this session, instead of every time.
+
 ## [0.2.1] - 2026-07-01
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/scripts/generate_skills.py b/scripts/generate_skills.py
index e5b79f7..b434de8 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_skills.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_skills.py
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
 
 WORKBENCH_REPO = os.environ.get("DLTHUB_WORKBENCH_REPO", "https://github.com/dlt-hub/dlthub-ai-workbench.git")
 WORKBENCH_BRANCH = "master"
-WORKBENCH_REF_SHORT = "1853f50"
-WORKBENCH_REF = "1853f504a88d018c9d47f62bcbdfa43aa3384a35"
+WORKBENCH_REF_SHORT = "e8bcc26"
+WORKBENCH_REF = "e8bcc26a8a2c72c0228f2c917802cdfed25f9af0"
 SKILL_TOOLKITS = ("init",)
 
 _KEEP = ".gitkeep"
diff --git a/skills/dlthub-router/SKILL.md b/skills/dlthub-router/SKILL.md
index 1512380..840dbff 100644
--- a/skills/dlthub-router/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/dlthub-router/SKILL.md
@@ -27,13 +27,16 @@ Use this **only** when the index has no matching row (an unfamiliar need, or you
 
 Match intent to the best toolkit, then install as in Step 1. Toolkits marked `(installed: <version>)` are already available.
 
-## Step 3: Confirm & enable MCP
+## Step 3: Verify install (only when needed)
 
-```
-uv run dlthub ai status
-```
-1. You should see the new toolkit and its entry skill.
-2. If you see any **WARNING** about the MCP server (e.g. cannot be started), **fix it** using the error message.
+**Skip this step** when the install output already confirms success and the new toolkit's entry skill is available in this session — that is all the confirmation you need. (MCP health was already checked at session start via `dlthub ai status`.)
+
+Run `uv run dlthub ai status` only if:
+- the install output was ambiguous or reported an error,
+- the entry skill doesn't appear to be available, or
+- the `dlt-workspace-mcp` server hasn't been verified this session (no session-start status check and no successful MCP call yet).
+
+If status shows a **WARNING** about the MCP server (e.g. cannot be started), **fix it** using the error message before handing over.
 
 ## Step 4: Handover (no restart needed)