diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 763ac2d..b1ca9d5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ Export response payload:
 Files at or below `maxInlineBytes` also include `encoding: "base64"` and `content`.
 When `artifactScope` is omitted, export/list defaults to the current task scope
 derived from `sessionKey/runId`. If that scope has no files, export/list returns
-an empty artifact list. The plugin does not scan the workspace root and does not
-borrow artifacts from earlier task scopes.
+an empty artifact list with the manifest text `No artifacts found for this task
+run.` The plugin does not scan the workspace root and does not borrow artifacts
+from earlier task scopes.
 
 Each exported artifact includes `artifactRef`, a plugin-signed reference over
 the issued session/run scope, artifact scope, path, size, and SHA-256 digest. `read` accepts
diff --git a/dist/src/exportArtifacts.js b/dist/src/exportArtifacts.js
index e1380df..a7c89bf 100644
--- a/dist/src/exportArtifacts.js
+++ b/dist/src/exportArtifacts.js
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export async function exportXWorkmateArtifacts(input) {
         })
         : [];
     if (!scopePrepared) {
-        warnings.push("artifact scope is not prepared");
+        warnings.push("artifact scope is not prepared for this task run");
     }
     candidates.sort((left, right) => {
         if (right.mtimeMs !== left.mtimeMs) {
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ export function formatArtifactManifestMarkdown(input) {
         "",
     ];
     if (input.artifacts.length === 0) {
-        lines.push("No artifacts found.");
+        lines.push("No artifacts found for this task run.");
     }
     else {
         lines.push("| File | Type | Size | SHA-256 | Inline |");
diff --git a/index.test.ts b/index.test.ts
index 470cbc5..ac686dc 100644
--- a/index.test.ts
+++ b/index.test.ts
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ describe("plugin registration", () => {
     });
     expect(unprepared.ok).toBe(true);
     expect(unprepared.payload?.artifacts).toEqual([]);
-    expect(unprepared.payload?.warnings).toEqual(["artifact scope is not prepared"]);
+    expect(unprepared.payload?.warnings).toEqual(["artifact scope is not prepared for this task run"]);
+    expect(unprepared.payload?.manifestMarkdown).toContain("No artifacts found for this task run.");
   });
 
   it("does not invent default session or run ids for the optional agent tool", async () => {
diff --git a/src/exportArtifacts.test.ts b/src/exportArtifacts.test.ts
index 0ac22eb..607e243 100644
--- a/src/exportArtifacts.test.ts
+++ b/src/exportArtifacts.test.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ describe("exportXWorkmateArtifacts", () => {
 
     expect(result.scopeKind).toBe("task");
     expect(result.artifacts).toEqual([]);
+    expect(result.manifestMarkdown).toContain("No artifacts found for this task run.");
+    expect(result.manifestMarkdown).toContain("Artifact scope: `tasks/thread-main/turn-1`");
   });
 
   it("rejects scoped exports that do not match the requested session/run", async () => {
diff --git a/src/exportArtifacts.ts b/src/exportArtifacts.ts
index f454cef..2ab1901 100644
--- a/src/exportArtifacts.ts
+++ b/src/exportArtifacts.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export async function exportXWorkmateArtifacts(input: ExportInput): Promise<XWor
       })
     : [];
   if (!scopePrepared) {
-    warnings.push("artifact scope is not prepared");
+    warnings.push("artifact scope is not prepared for this task run");
   }
 
   candidates.sort((left, right) => {
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ export function formatArtifactManifestMarkdown(input: {
     "",
   ];
   if (input.artifacts.length === 0) {
-    lines.push("No artifacts found.");
+    lines.push("No artifacts found for this task run.");
   } else {
     lines.push("| File | Type | Size | SHA-256 | Inline |");
     lines.push("| --- | --- | ---: | --- | --- |");