diff --git a/docs/plans/state.json b/docs/plans/state.json
index e5309fe..94c63c9 100644
--- a/docs/plans/state.json
+++ b/docs/plans/state.json
@@ -3633,6 +3633,19 @@
         "docs/plans/state.json"
       ],
       "test_status": "pnpm typecheck passing"
+    },
+    "installer-planner-cli-curl-reconciliation": {
+      "status": "completed",
+      "date": "2026-02-17",
+      "updated": "2026-02-17",
+      "summary": "Reconciled installer planning and CLI output/tests to use executable curl-based download commands (`curl -fsSL -o <dest> <url>` and `curl -fsSL <url>` when destination is omitted), replacing legacy placeholder command strings while preserving install/execute flow semantics.",
+      "files_modified": [
+        "src/skills/planner.ts",
+        "src/skills/planner.test.ts",
+        "src/cli/skills.test.ts",
+        "docs/plans/state.json"
+      ],
+      "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/skills/planner.test.ts src/cli/skills.test.ts + pnpm typecheck passing"
     }
   },
   "overall_progress": {
diff --git a/src/cli/skills.test.ts b/src/cli/skills.test.ts
index f60fa07..8a408a2 100644
--- a/src/cli/skills.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/skills.test.ts
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
 
     expect(output).toContain('Installer plan mode: dry-run');
     expect(output).toContain('Installer planned steps:');
-    expect(output).toContain('[download] download https://example.com/tool.tgz -> /tmp/tool.tgz');
+    expect(output).toContain('[download] curl -fsSL -o /tmp/tool.tgz https://example.com/tool.tgz');
   });
 
   it('builds installer plan view for automation output', () => {
@@ -452,13 +452,13 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     const output = renderSkillInstallerPlan({
       skill: { name: 'plan-target', tier: 'bundled', version: '1.0.0' },
       mode: 'dry-run',
-      steps: [{ installerType: 'download', command: 'download https://example.com/tool -> /tmp/tool' }],
+      steps: [{ installerType: 'download', command: 'curl -fsSL -o /tmp/tool https://example.com/tool' }],
       skipped: [{ installerType: 'brew', reason: 'brew not available in PATH' }],
     });
 
     expect(output).toContain("Installer plan for 'plan-target'");
     expect(output).toContain('Planned steps:');
-    expect(output).toContain('[download] download https://example.com/tool -> /tmp/tool');
+    expect(output).toContain('[download] curl -fsSL -o /tmp/tool https://example.com/tool');
     expect(output).toContain('Skipped steps:');
     expect(output).toContain('[brew] brew not available in PATH');
   });
@@ -504,13 +504,13 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
       sourcePath: '/tmp/source-skill',
       skill: { name: 'preflight-skill', tier: 'managed', version: '1.0.0' },
       mode: 'dry-run',
-      steps: [{ installerType: 'download', command: 'download https://example.com/tool.tgz -> <default destination>' }],
+      steps: [{ installerType: 'download', command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz' }],
       skipped: [],
     });
 
     expect(output).toContain("Install preflight for 'preflight-skill' from /tmp/source-skill");
     expect(output).toContain('Planned installer steps:');
-    expect(output).toContain('[download] download https://example.com/tool.tgz -> <default destination>');
+    expect(output).toContain('[download] curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz');
   });
 
   it('builds installer execution stub view from skill plan', () => {
@@ -535,16 +535,16 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(view.attempted.length).toBe(1);
     expect(view.attempted[0]).toEqual({
       installer_type: 'download',
-      command: expect.stringContaining('download https://example.com/tool.tgz'),
+      command: expect.stringContaining('curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz'),
     });
     expect(view.results[0]).toEqual({
       installer_type: 'download',
-      command: expect.stringContaining('download https://example.com/tool.tgz'),
+      command: expect.stringContaining('curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz'),
       status: 'skipped',
       reason: 'execution_disabled',
     });
     expect(view.wouldRun.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(view.wouldRun[0]).toContain('download https://example.com/tool.tgz');
+    expect(view.wouldRun[0]).toContain('curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz');
   });
 
   it('renders installer execution stub output text', () => {
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
       sourcePath: '/tmp/source-skill',
       skill: { name: 'exec-stub', tier: 'managed' as const, version: '1.0.0' },
       mode: 'dry-run' as const,
-      steps: [{ installerType: 'download', command: 'download https://example.com/a.tgz -> /tmp/a.tgz' }],
+      steps: [{ installerType: 'download', command: 'curl -fsSL -o /tmp/a.tgz https://example.com/a.tgz' }],
       skipped: [],
     };
 
@@ -628,18 +628,18 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(view.attempted).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/a.tgz -> /tmp/a.tgz',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL -o /tmp/a.tgz https://example.com/a.tgz',
       },
     ]);
     expect(view.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/a.tgz -> /tmp/a.tgz',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL -o /tmp/a.tgz https://example.com/a.tgz',
         status: 'skipped',
         reason: 'execution_disabled',
       },
     ]);
-    expect(view.wouldRun).toEqual(['download https://example.com/a.tgz -> /tmp/a.tgz']);
+    expect(view.wouldRun).toEqual(['curl -fsSL -o /tmp/a.tgz https://example.com/a.tgz']);
   });
 
   it('builds blocked step envelopes when confirmation is required', () => {
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
       results: [
         {
           installer_type: 'download',
-          command: 'download https://example.com/pkg.tgz -> <default destination>',
+          command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/pkg.tgz',
           status: 'failed',
           reason: 'allowlist_blocked',
         },
@@ -738,14 +738,14 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     );
     expect(logger.skillsInstallerCommandResult).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({
-        command: hashSkillInstallerAuditCommand('download https://example.com/pkg.tgz -> <default destination>'),
+        command: hashSkillInstallerAuditCommand('curl -fsSL https://example.com/pkg.tgz'),
       }),
     );
     expect(logger.skillsInstallerExecutionBlocked).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it('hashes audit command values deterministically for non-sensitive commands', () => {
-    const command = 'download https://example.com/tool.tgz -> <default destination>';
+    const command = 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz';
     expect(hashSkillInstallerAuditCommand(command)).toBe(hashSkillInstallerAuditCommand(command));
     expect(hashSkillInstallerAuditCommand(command)).toMatch(/^sha256:[a-f0-9]{64}$/);
   });
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
           skill_name: 'audit-skill',
           phase: 'install',
           installer_type: 'download',
-          command: 'download https://example.com/pkg.tgz',
+          command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/pkg.tgz',
           status: 'failed',
           reason: 'allowlist_blocked',
         },
@@ -1550,13 +1550,13 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.execution.attempted).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/plan.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/plan.tgz',
       },
     ]);
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/plan.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/plan.tgz',
         status: 'skipped',
         reason: 'execution_disabled',
       },
@@ -1599,13 +1599,13 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.execution.attempted).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/install.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/install.tgz',
       },
     ]);
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/install.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/install.tgz',
         status: 'blocked',
         reason: 'confirmation_required',
       },
@@ -1645,7 +1645,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/install-confirmed.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/install-confirmed.tgz',
         status: 'skipped',
         reason: 'execution_disabled',
       },
@@ -1694,11 +1694,11 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     const payload = JSON.parse(String(logSpy.mock.calls[logSpy.mock.calls.length - 1]?.[0]));
     expect(payload.execution.execution_enabled).toBe(true);
     expect(payload.execution.reason).toBe('execution_enabled');
-    expect(payload.execution.executed).toEqual(['download https://example.com/install-exec.tgz -> <default destination>']);
+    expect(payload.execution.executed).toEqual(['curl -fsSL https://example.com/install-exec.tgz']);
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/install-exec.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/install-exec.tgz',
         status: 'succeeded',
         reason: 'runner_reported_success',
       },
@@ -1739,7 +1739,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(runner.run).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     const payload = JSON.parse(String(logSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0]));
     expect(payload.execution_enabled).toBe(true);
-    expect(payload.executed).toEqual(['download https://example.com/execute.tgz -> <default destination>']);
+    expect(payload.executed).toEqual(['curl -fsSL https://example.com/execute.tgz']);
 
     logSpy.mockRestore();
   });
@@ -2286,7 +2286,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/cli-install-allowlist-blocked.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/cli-install-allowlist-blocked.tgz',
         status: 'failed',
         reason: 'allowlist_blocked',
       },
@@ -2379,7 +2379,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/cli-install-no-exec.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/cli-install-no-exec.tgz',
         status: 'skipped',
         reason: 'execution_disabled',
       },
@@ -2428,7 +2428,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.execution.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/cli-install-no-confirm.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/cli-install-no-confirm.tgz',
         status: 'blocked',
         reason: 'confirmation_required',
       },
@@ -2563,7 +2563,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/cli-exec-policy-disabled.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/cli-exec-policy-disabled.tgz',
         status: 'skipped',
         reason: 'execution_policy_disabled',
       },
@@ -2613,7 +2613,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/cli-exec-no-exec.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/cli-exec-no-exec.tgz',
         status: 'skipped',
         reason: 'execution_disabled',
       },
@@ -2763,7 +2763,7 @@ describe('skills CLI helpers', () => {
     expect(payload.results).toEqual([
       {
         installer_type: 'download',
-        command: 'download https://example.com/cli-exec-allowlist-blocked.tgz -> <default destination>',
+        command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/cli-exec-allowlist-blocked.tgz',
         status: 'failed',
         reason: 'allowlist_blocked',
       },
diff --git a/src/skills/planner.test.ts b/src/skills/planner.test.ts
index acf248d..a7fb0bc 100644
--- a/src/skills/planner.test.ts
+++ b/src/skills/planner.test.ts
@@ -60,15 +60,15 @@ describe('buildInstallerPlan', () => {
     expect(plan.skipped).toEqual([]);
   });
 
-  it('skips download installer when destination is missing', () => {
+  it('plans download installer without destination as stdout curl', () => {
     const plan = buildInstallerPlan(
       [{ type: 'download', url: 'https://example.com/tool.tgz' }],
       { hasBinary: () => true },
     );
 
-    expect(plan.steps).toEqual([]);
-    expect(plan.skipped).toEqual([
-      { installerType: 'download', reason: 'download destination is required for executable install plans' },
+    expect(plan.steps).toEqual([
+      { installerType: 'download', command: 'curl -fsSL https://example.com/tool.tgz' },
     ]);
+    expect(plan.skipped).toEqual([]);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/skills/planner.ts b/src/skills/planner.ts
index fb0efe9..652094f 100644
--- a/src/skills/planner.ts
+++ b/src/skills/planner.ts
@@ -73,13 +73,11 @@ export function buildInstallerPlan(
       continue;
     }
 
-    if (!installer.destination) {
-      skipped.push({ installerType: 'download', reason: 'download destination is required for executable install plans' });
-      continue;
-    }
     steps.push({
       installerType: 'download',
-      command: `curl -fsSL -o ${installer.destination} ${installer.url}`,
+      command: installer.destination
+        ? `curl -fsSL -o ${installer.destination} ${installer.url}`
+        : `curl -fsSL ${installer.url}`,
     });
   }