diff --git a/backend/pkg/providers/helpers.go b/backend/pkg/providers/helpers.go
index cc80eeaf..31174d14 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/providers/helpers.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/providers/helpers.go
@@ -46,11 +46,12 @@ type dummyMessage struct {
 
 // wrapToolCallIDTemplateError annotates an error returned by
 // Provider.GetToolCallIDTemplate so the user sees an actionable hint when a
-// known upstream limitation blocks flow creation. Currently it covers the
-// Ollama "model does not support tools" case (issue #280): the underlying
-// error is returned by the Ollama API itself and surfaces five wraps deep,
-// which previously left the user with a cryptic "failed to determine tool
-// call ID template" message.
+// known upstream limitation blocks provider initialization. Currently it
+// covers the Ollama "model does not support tools" case (issue #280): the
+// underlying error is returned by the Ollama API itself and surfaces five
+// wraps deep, which previously left the user with a cryptic "failed to
+// determine tool call ID template" message. This helper is shared by the
+// flow and assistant provider paths, so the wording stays context-neutral.
 //
 // The function preserves the original error chain via %w so downstream code
 // (logs, langfuse spans, errors.Is/As) keeps working.
@@ -62,9 +63,9 @@ func wrapToolCallIDTemplateError(err error) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf(
 			"failed to determine tool call ID template: the selected model "+
 				"does not support tool/function calling, which PentAGI requires "+
-				"for flow execution; pick an Ollama model that advertises the "+
-				"\"tools\" capability (for example llama3.1, qwen2.5, or "+
-				"mistral-nemo) and update the provider configuration: %w",
+				"for tool execution in flows and assistant sessions; select an "+
+				"Ollama model whose metadata advertises tool/function calling "+
+				"support and update the provider configuration: %w",
 			err)
 	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("failed to determine tool call ID template: %w", err)
diff --git a/backend/pkg/providers/helpers_test.go b/backend/pkg/providers/helpers_test.go
index a59188c0..3fe35b7e 100644
--- a/backend/pkg/providers/helpers_test.go
+++ b/backend/pkg/providers/helpers_test.go
@@ -1207,9 +1207,24 @@ func TestWrapToolCallIDTemplateError(t *testing.T) {
 				"failed to determine tool call ID template",
 				"does not support tool/function calling",
 				"PentAGI requires",
-				"\"tools\" capability",
+				"flows and assistant sessions",
+				"metadata advertises tool/function calling",
 				"does not support tools",
 			},
+			wantNotContain: []string{
+				// The hint must not name specific model tags as
+				// tool-capable, because Ollama model capabilities are
+				// not verified by PentAGI and any concrete list ages
+				// poorly.
+				"llama3.1",
+				"qwen2.5",
+				"mistral-nemo",
+				// The helper is shared by both the flow and assistant
+				// provider paths, so the message must not imply this
+				// is a flow-only failure mode.
+				"flow execution",
+				"flow creation",
+			},
 			wantUnwrapsTo: ollamaErr,
 		},
 		{
@@ -1221,7 +1236,7 @@ func TestWrapToolCallIDTemplateError(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			wantNotContain: []string{
 				"does not support tool/function calling",
-				"\"tools\" capability",
+				"metadata advertises tool/function calling",
 			},
 			wantUnwrapsTo: genericErr,
 		},