diff --git a/crates/skills/src/commands.rs b/crates/skills/src/commands.rs
index 5428d3ddf..5cf4b3acd 100644
--- a/crates/skills/src/commands.rs
+++ b/crates/skills/src/commands.rs
@@ -140,10 +140,15 @@ fn locale_compare(a: &str, b: &str) -> std::cmp::Ordering {
 fn check(io: &mut Io) -> R<()> {
     let (sys, _) = ctx(io);
     let root = sys.find_project_root();
-    // Home-rooted checkout = user-level install. Use User scope so leftover
-    // project-layout dirs and unrelated harness skills cannot make a current
-    // impeccable install look stale (#824).
-    let scope = if sys.is_home_dir(&root) { Some(Scope::User) } else { None };
+    // Prefer the user-level tree when one exists so leftover project-layout
+    // dirs cannot make a current install look stale (#824). Stay on inferred
+    // scope otherwise so a home-rooted project install (`install -y`) is
+    // still visible.
+    let scope = if sys.is_home_dir(&root) && sys.is_already_installed(&root, Some(Scope::User)).is_some() {
+        Some(Scope::User)
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
     if sys.is_already_installed(&root, scope).is_none() {
         out(io, "Impeccable is not installed in this project.");
         out(io, "Run `npx impeccable install` to install.");
diff --git a/crates/skills/tests/drift_ports_tests.rs b/crates/skills/tests/drift_ports_tests.rs
index 093e76794..4d37efd87 100644
--- a/crates/skills/tests/drift_ports_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/skills/tests/drift_ports_tests.rs
@@ -527,6 +527,33 @@ fn check_ignores_leftover_pi_project_layout_in_home_rooted_tree() {
     std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root).ok();
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn check_sees_home_rooted_project_scope_pi_install() {
+    let root = temp_root("check-824-pi-project");
+    let home = format!("{root}/home");
+    let tmpdir = format!("{root}/tmp");
+    for d in [&home, &tmpdir] {
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(d).unwrap();
+    }
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(format!("{home}/.git")).unwrap();
+    let bundle_root = create_fake_universal_bundle(&home, &[".pi"]);
+    let env = base_env(&home, &tmpdir, &bundle_root);
+
+    let r = run_cli(
+        &["install", "-y", "--scope=project", "--no-hooks", "--providers=pi"],
+        &home,
+        &env,
+    );
+    assert_eq!(r.code, 0, "{}\n{}", r.stdout, r.stderr);
+    assert!(std::path::Path::new(&format!("{home}/.pi/skills/impeccable/SKILL.md")).exists());
+    assert!(!std::path::Path::new(&format!("{home}/.pi/agent/skills/impeccable/SKILL.md")).exists());
+
+    let r = run_cli(&["check"], &home, &env);
+    assert!(!r.stdout.contains("not installed"), "{}\n{}", r.stdout, r.stderr);
+    assert!(r.stdout.contains("Skills are up to date"), "{}\n{}", r.stdout, r.stderr);
+    std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root).ok();
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn check_reports_stale_impeccable_in_home_rooted_tree() {
     let root = temp_root("check-824-stale");