diff --git a/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector.go b/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector.go
index d0f84fff..043815f9 100644
--- a/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector.go
+++ b/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector.go
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func reservedPathSourcesFromToolCall(tc normalizedToolCall) []string {
 	}
 	add(tc.Path)
 	if tc.Arguments != nil {
-		collectReservedStrings(tc.Arguments, add)
+		collectReservedArgumentStrings(tc.Arguments, add)
 		if tc.RawArgs == "" {
 			return paths
 		}
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ func reservedPathSourcesFromToolCall(tc normalizedToolCall) []string {
 		decoder.UseNumber()
 		if decoder.Decode(&decoded) == nil && decoded != nil {
 			if !reflect.DeepEqual(decoded, tc.Arguments) {
-				collectReservedStrings(decoded, add)
+				collectReservedArgumentStrings(decoded, add)
 			}
 			return paths
 		}
@@ -365,24 +365,28 @@ func reservedPathSourcesFromToolCall(tc normalizedToolCall) []string {
 	decoder := json.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(tc.RawArgs))
 	decoder.UseNumber()
 	if decoder.Decode(&decoded) == nil {
-		collectReservedStrings(decoded, add)
+		collectReservedArgumentStrings(decoded, add)
 	} else {
 		add(tc.RawArgs)
 	}
 	return paths
 }
 
-func collectReservedStrings(value any, add func(string)) {
+func collectReservedArgumentStrings(value any, add func(string)) {
 	switch typed := value.(type) {
 	case string:
 		add(typed)
 	case map[string]any:
-		for _, item := range typed {
-			collectReservedStrings(item, add)
+		for key, item := range typed {
+			switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(key)) {
+			case "content", "plan_content", "review_content":
+				continue
+			}
+			collectReservedArgumentStrings(item, add)
 		}
 	case []any:
 		for _, item := range typed {
-			collectReservedStrings(item, add)
+			collectReservedArgumentStrings(item, add)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector_test.go b/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector_test.go
index 183dadd6..cf86c59d 100644
--- a/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector_test.go
+++ b/apps/edge/internal/openai/hot_path_selector_test.go
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ func TestHotPathSelectorDecisionMatrix(t *testing.T) {
 				{ID: "call_review", Name: "write_file", Arguments: map[string]any{"path": issued.ReviewPath}},
 			}},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "ExactPairContentMayMentionReservedPaths", preset: preset, gate: validGate, wantMode: modeLight, wantReason: reasonLightExactPair,
+			output: normalizedStageOutput{ToolCalls: []normalizedToolCall{
+				{ID: "call_plan", Name: "write_file", Arguments: map[string]any{"path": issued.PlanPath, "content": "Read " + issued.ReviewPath + " before handoff."}},
+				{ID: "call_review", Name: "write_file", Arguments: map[string]any{"path": issued.ReviewPath, "content": "Template for " + issued.PlanPath}},
+			}},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "PartialPair", preset: preset, gate: validGate, wantReason: reasonMalformedPartialPair, wantErr: true,
 			output: normalizedStageOutput{ToolCalls: []normalizedToolCall{{ID: "call_plan", Name: "write_file", Arguments: map[string]any{"path": issued.PlanPath}}}},