diff --git a/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts b/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts
index 274b6b7..a66645f 100644
--- a/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts
+++ b/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts
@@ -176,9 +176,13 @@ export function registerProjectMcpEndpoint(app: FastifyInstance, mcpdClient: Mcp
     chain.push(createAgentsPlugin());
     router.setPlugin(composePlugins(chain));
 
-    // Fetch project instructions and set on router
+    // Fetch project instructions and set on router. Must ride the CALLER's
+    // token (requestClient) like every other downstream call here: in HTTP
+    // mode mcpdClient's own token is empty, mcpd answers 401, and the catch
+    // below swallowed it — every session initialized with no instructions
+    // while nothing looked broken (#113).
     try {
-      const instructions = await mcpdClient.get<{ prompt: string; servers: Array<{ name: string; description: string }> }>(
+      const instructions = await requestClient.get<{ prompt: string; servers: Array<{ name: string; description: string }> }>(
         `/api/v1/projects/${encodeURIComponent(projectName)}/instructions`,
       );
       const parts: string[] = [];