diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ece53ad..0e16265 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.2.3
+
+- Always ask the model to report whether custom compaction instructions were applied.
+
 ## 0.2.2
 
 - Add explicit markers for applied and skipped custom compaction instructions.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 851244b..7fa92ad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Create `.opencode/compaction.md` in the project when you have project-specific c
 
 Append mode is the recommended default because it preserves OpenCode's built-in compaction behavior. Replace mode is available when the complete prompt needs to be controlled by this plugin.
 
-When neither a prompt nor a memory file is available, the plugin adds `opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.` instead.
+When neither a prompt nor a memory file is available, the plugin asks the model to echo `opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.` instead.
 
 ## Development
 
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index ab7a15c..2b06710 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@ function buildInstructions(
   prompt: string,
   completionMarker: string,
   memory: string,
-): string | undefined {
-  if (!prompt && !memory) {
-    return undefined;
-  }
-
+): string {
   const sections = [
     "## User Compaction Instructions",
     `These instructions take precedence over previous instructions if there is conflict. At the very end of the summary, echo exactly: **${completionMarker}**`,
@@ -115,17 +111,9 @@ export const CompactionPromptPlugin: Plugin = async (
       output,
     ): Promise<void> => {
       const memory = await readMemory(memoryPath, logError);
-      const instructions = buildInstructions(prompt, completionMarker, memory);
-
-      if (!instructions) {
-        if (mode === "replace") {
-          output.prompt = skippedCompactionMarker;
-        } else {
-          output.context.push(skippedCompactionMarker);
-        }
-
-        return;
-      }
+      const marker =
+        prompt || memory ? completionMarker : skippedCompactionMarker;
+      const instructions = buildInstructions(prompt, marker, memory);
 
       if (mode === "replace") {
         output.prompt = instructions;
diff --git a/test/index.test.ts b/test/index.test.ts
index bb81d8e..7b59e05 100644
--- a/test/index.test.ts
+++ b/test/index.test.ts
@@ -116,9 +116,9 @@ describe("CompactionPromptPlugin", () => {
     );
 
     expect(context.logs).toHaveLength(0);
-    expect(output.context).toEqual([
-      "opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.",
-    ]);
+    expect(output.context[0]).toContain(
+      "echo exactly: **opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.**",
+    );
   });
 
   test("adds a skipped marker when no instructions are provided", async () => {
@@ -133,10 +133,10 @@ describe("CompactionPromptPlugin", () => {
       output,
     );
 
-    expect(output.context).toEqual([
-      "Existing context",
-      "opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.",
-    ]);
+    expect(output.context[0]).toBe("Existing context");
+    expect(output.context[1]).toContain(
+      "echo exactly: **opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.**",
+    );
     expect(output.prompt).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ describe("CompactionPromptPlugin", () => {
     );
 
     expect(context.logs).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(output.context).toEqual([
-      "opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.",
-    ]);
+    expect(output.context[0]).toContain(
+      "echo exactly: **opencode-plugin-compaction-prompt: No custom compaction applied.**",
+    );
   });
 });