diff --git a/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs b/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs
index 95ae67f8..590f22c6 100644
--- a/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs
+++ b/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs
@@ -1126,7 +1126,11 @@ impl OpenFangKernel {
                                             || disk_manifest.tool_allowlist
                                                 != entry.manifest.tool_allowlist
                                             || disk_manifest.tool_blocklist
-                                                != entry.manifest.tool_blocklist;
+                                                != entry.manifest.tool_blocklist
+                                            || disk_manifest.skills
+                                                != entry.manifest.skills
+                                            || disk_manifest.mcp_servers
+                                                != entry.manifest.mcp_servers;
                                         if changed {
                                             info!(
                                                 agent = %name,
diff --git a/crates/openfang-kernel/tests/integration_test.rs b/crates/openfang-kernel/tests/integration_test.rs
index f546ff17..2a6cd44e 100644
--- a/crates/openfang-kernel/tests/integration_test.rs
+++ b/crates/openfang-kernel/tests/integration_test.rs
@@ -161,3 +161,39 @@ memory_write = ["self.*"]
     kernel.kill_agent(id2).unwrap();
     kernel.shutdown();
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_agent_manifest_skills_parsing() {
+    let toml_str = r#"
+name = "skills-test-agent"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "Test agent with skills"
+author = "test"
+module = "builtin:chat"
+
+skills = ["Productivity", "web-search"]
+mcp_servers = ["github"]
+
+[model]
+provider = "groq"
+model = "llama-3.3-70b-versatile"
+
+[capabilities]
+tools = ["file_read"]
+
+[resources]
+max_llm_tokens_per_hour = 100000
+"#;
+
+    let manifest: AgentManifest = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        manifest.skills,
+        vec!["Productivity", "web-search"],
+        "Skills should be parsed correctly (must be at top level, not after [capabilities])"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        manifest.mcp_servers,
+        vec!["github"],
+        "MCP servers should be parsed correctly (must be at top level)"
+    );
+}