diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8c9dffc7..7ed827c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ the service connections. Approve the permissions and the pipeline is ready.
 | `setup` | list | — | Separate job before agentic task |
 | `teardown` | list | — | Separate job after safe outputs |
 | `network` | object | — | Additional allowed/blocked hosts |
+| `inlined-imports` | boolean | `false` | When `true`, resolves all `{{#runtime-import …}}` markers at compile time; the generated YAML is self-contained but prompt-body edits require recompilation. See [runtime-imports.md](docs/runtime-imports.md). |
 | `env` | map | — | Workflow-level environment variables (reserved, not yet implemented) |
 
 ### Markdown Body
diff --git a/prompts/create-ado-agentic-workflow.md b/prompts/create-ado-agentic-workflow.md
index df07fde9..ab455c60 100644
--- a/prompts/create-ado-agentic-workflow.md
+++ b/prompts/create-ado-agentic-workflow.md
@@ -561,6 +561,18 @@ parameters:
 
 Omit `parameters:` if no runtime configuration knobs are needed.
 
+### Step 16 — Inlined Imports (advanced, optional)
+
+By default (`inlined-imports: false`), any `{{#runtime-import …}}` markers in the agent body — including the implicit marker that reloads the body itself — are resolved at **pipeline runtime**. This means editing the `.md` agent body does not require recompiling the `.lock.yml` pipeline.
+
+Set `inlined-imports: true` only when you need a fully self-contained pipeline YAML (e.g., for auditing or air-gapped deployment):
+
+```yaml
+inlined-imports: true
+```
+
+**Trade-off**: with `inlined-imports: true`, every change to the agent instructions requires running `ado-aw compile` and committing the updated `.lock.yml`. Omit this field (or set it to `false`) for the typical edit-without-recompile workflow.
+
 ---
 
 ## Agent Instruction Body