diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fe68ac..00945b3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ fi
 When `AGORA_URL` is set, the skill tells agents to post progress, questions,
 blockers, verification results, and final handoffs to Agora.
 
+The server-backed CLI commands `agora post`, `agora inbox`, and `agora status`
+require `AGORA_URL` and fail when it is missing. `agora session` does not
+contact the server and does not require `AGORA_URL`.
+
 Run `agora session` once when each coding-agent session starts. The generated
 `AGORA_THREAD` keeps that session's posts together while replies still inherit
 their parent post's thread.
diff --git a/internal/agoracli/cli.go b/internal/agoracli/cli.go
index aa8e7cb..22a6054 100644
--- a/internal/agoracli/cli.go
+++ b/internal/agoracli/cli.go
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ func runPost(ctx context.Context, args []string, cfg Config) int {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(*title) == "" {
 		return usageError(fs, "--title is required")
 	}
-	if skipIfNoServer(cfg) {
-		return 0
+	if code := requireServerURL("agora post", cfg); code != -1 {
+		return code
 	}
 
 	threadValue := thread.value
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ func runInbox(ctx context.Context, args []string, cfg Config) int {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(*agent) == "" {
 		return usageError(fs, "--agent is required")
 	}
-	if skipIfNoServer(cfg) {
-		return 0
+	if code := requireServerURL("agora inbox", cfg); code != -1 {
+		return code
 	}
 
 	query := url.Values{"limit": {fmt.Sprint(*limit)}}
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ func runStatus(ctx context.Context, args []string, cfg Config) int {
 	if !statuses[status] {
 		return usageError(fs, "unknown status %q", status)
 	}
-	if skipIfNoServer(cfg) {
-		return 0
+	if code := requireServerURL("agora status", cfg); code != -1 {
+		return code
 	}
 
 	payload := map[string]any{"actor": *actor, "status": status}
@@ -289,12 +289,12 @@ func usageError(fs *flag.FlagSet, format string, args ...any) int {
 	return 2
 }
 
-func skipIfNoServer(cfg Config) bool {
+func requireServerURL(command string, cfg Config) int {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.BaseURL) != "" {
-		return false
+		return -1
 	}
-	fmt.Fprintln(cfg.stderr(), "AGORA_URL is not set; skipping Agora.")
-	return true
+	fmt.Fprintf(cfg.stderr(), "%s: AGORA_URL is required\n", command)
+	return 1
 }
 
 func printUsage(w io.Writer) {
diff --git a/internal/agoracli/cli_test.go b/internal/agoracli/cli_test.go
index 8c3bd05..2b04544 100644
--- a/internal/agoracli/cli_test.go
+++ b/internal/agoracli/cli_test.go
@@ -302,21 +302,48 @@ func TestStatusUpdatesEvent(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestMissingURLSkipsRequest(t *testing.T) {
-	var stdout bytes.Buffer
-	var stderr bytes.Buffer
-	code := Run(context.Background(), []string{"post", "--type", "summary", "--title", "Started task"}, Config{
-		Stdout: &stdout,
-		Stderr: &stderr,
-	})
-	if code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, stderr = %s", code, stderr.String())
-	}
-	if stdout.String() != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want empty", stdout.String())
+func TestMissingURLFailsForServerCommands(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		args    []string
+		command string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "post",
+			args:    []string{"post", "--type", "summary", "--title", "Started task"},
+			command: "agora post",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "inbox",
+			args:    []string{"inbox", "--agent", "codex"},
+			command: "agora inbox",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "status",
+			args:    []string{"status", "evt-1", "acknowledged"},
+			command: "agora status",
+		},
 	}
-	if got := stderr.String(); got != "AGORA_URL is not set; skipping Agora.\n" {
-		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q", got)
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var stdout bytes.Buffer
+			var stderr bytes.Buffer
+			code := Run(context.Background(), tt.args, Config{
+				Stdout: &stdout,
+				Stderr: &stderr,
+			})
+			if code != 1 {
+				t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, stderr = %s", code, stderr.String())
+			}
+			if stdout.String() != "" {
+				t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want empty", stdout.String())
+			}
+			want := tt.command + ": AGORA_URL is required\n"
+			if got := stderr.String(); got != want {
+				t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want %q", got, want)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/skills/agora-reporting/SKILL.md b/skills/agora-reporting/SKILL.md
index 6e514c1..48a67e3 100644
--- a/skills/agora-reporting/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/agora-reporting/SKILL.md
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ description: Report coding-agent progress, questions, decisions, blockers, tests
 
 Use Agora as the shared coordination feed for human and agent work. If
 `AGORA_URL` is unset, skip Agora reporting without blocking the task.
+The server-backed commands `post`, `inbox`, and `status` require `AGORA_URL`;
+`session` does not contact the server and does not require `AGORA_URL`.
 
 ## Setup