diff --git a/packages/client/README.md b/packages/client/README.md
index ab7c7bd1..bbe0170f 100644
--- a/packages/client/README.md
+++ b/packages/client/README.md
@@ -799,9 +799,10 @@ version does not recognise, not that something failed.
 
 > **Beta caveats, worth knowing before you deploy.** Payload signing does not exist on this
 > channel yet, so delivery is TLS-only and the content hash establishes self-consistency, not
-> origin authenticity. The FDv2 protocol is opt-in per account: without it the endpoints
-> return HTTP 403, which the store reports as a fatal error explaining what to do. `ld-relay`
-> does not speak the FDv2 endpoints, so relay-only deployments cannot receive skills.
+> origin authenticity. The SDK-facing FDv2 endpoints are available to every account. An
+> account without Agent Skills access receives no skill content rather than an error status.
+> An HTTP 403 is reported as a fatal error explaining what to check. `ld-relay` does not
+> speak the FDv2 endpoints, so relay-only deployments cannot receive skills.
 
 **If every skill comes back empty, check `diagnostics.hashless_objects`.** Objects without a
 `contentHash` are withheld, so a nonzero count means skills are being withheld, not that the
diff --git a/packages/client/src/launchdarkly_ai_server/skills_fdv2.py b/packages/client/src/launchdarkly_ai_server/skills_fdv2.py
index 90aee139..2c797f07 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/launchdarkly_ai_server/skills_fdv2.py
+++ b/packages/client/src/launchdarkly_ai_server/skills_fdv2.py
@@ -914,9 +914,10 @@ class _StaleRequestStateError(_RecoverableTransportError):
 )
 
 _FORBIDDEN_ADVICE = (
-    "The FDv2 protocol is opt-in per LaunchDarkly account and is served as HTTP "
-    "403 while it is off. Skill delivery needs it enabled; contact LaunchDarkly "
-    "support to enable it for your account."
+    "The SDK-facing FDv2 endpoints are available to every LaunchDarkly account, "
+    "so check that the SDK key is the environment's server-side SDK key and that "
+    "no proxy in between is refusing the request. If neither explains it, "
+    "contact LaunchDarkly support."
 )
 
 
diff --git a/packages/client/tests/test_skills_fdv2.py b/packages/client/tests/test_skills_fdv2.py
index ce5c0e69..b35c5d72 100644
--- a/packages/client/tests/test_skills_fdv2.py
+++ b/packages/client/tests/test_skills_fdv2.py
@@ -2136,8 +2136,8 @@ def test_a_403_stops_delivery_and_explains_why(
             with poll_store(endpoint) as store:
                 assert wait_until(lambda: store.failed is not None)
         assert "403" in store.failed
-        assert "opt-in" in store.failed
-        assert any("opt-in" in r.getMessage() for r in caplog.records)
+        assert "proxy" in store.failed
+        assert any("proxy" in r.getMessage() for r in caplog.records)
 
     def test_the_give_up_line_points_at_start_not_a_process_restart(
         self, endpoint: Any, caplog: Any