diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index 34f0d9f873..8d02fcafbc 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -1999,7 +1999,6 @@ impl Session {
             current_context,
             shell.as_ref(),
             exec_policy.as_ref(),
-            self.features.enabled(Feature::Personality),
         )
     }
 
@@ -2552,9 +2551,7 @@ impl Session {
         {
             items.push(collab_instructions.into());
         }
-        if self.features.enabled(Feature::Personality)
-            && let Some(personality) = turn_context.personality
-        {
+        if let Some(personality) = turn_context.personality {
             let model_info = turn_context.model_info.clone();
             let has_baked_personality = model_info.supports_personality()
                 && base_instructions == model_info.get_model_instructions(Some(personality));
@@ -7977,7 +7974,6 @@ mod tests {
                     }))
         })
             && let Some(p) = reconstruction_turn.personality
-            && session.features.enabled(Feature::Personality)
             && let Some(personality_message) = reconstruction_turn
                 .model_info
                 .model_messages
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs
index b83a17592c..08cd781d33 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -1656,11 +1656,7 @@ impl Config {
         let personality = personality
             .or(config_profile.personality)
             .or(cfg.personality)
-            .or_else(|| {
-                features
-                    .enabled(Feature::Personality)
-                    .then_some(Personality::Pragmatic)
-            });
+            .or(Some(Personality::Pragmatic));
 
         let experimental_compact_prompt_path = config_profile
             .experimental_compact_prompt_file
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/context_manager/updates.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/context_manager/updates.rs
index 4a3f0c15e5..e67bfb83b2 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/context_manager/updates.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/context_manager/updates.rs
@@ -62,11 +62,7 @@ fn build_collaboration_mode_update_item(
 fn build_personality_update_item(
     previous: Option<&TurnContext>,
     next: &TurnContext,
-    personality_feature_enabled: bool,
 ) -> Option<ResponseItem> {
-    if !personality_feature_enabled {
-        return None;
-    }
     let previous = previous?;
     if next.model_info.slug != previous.model_info.slug {
         return None;
@@ -120,7 +116,6 @@ pub(crate) fn build_settings_update_items(
     next: &TurnContext,
     shell: &Shell,
     exec_policy: &Policy,
-    personality_feature_enabled: bool,
 ) -> Vec<ResponseItem> {
     let mut update_items = Vec::new();
 
@@ -138,9 +133,7 @@ pub(crate) fn build_settings_update_items(
     {
         update_items.push(model_instructions_item);
     }
-    if let Some(personality_item) =
-        build_personality_update_item(previous, next, personality_feature_enabled)
-    {
+    if let Some(personality_item) = build_personality_update_item(previous, next) {
         update_items.push(personality_item);
     }
 
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/model_info.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/model_info.rs
index 19a945f951..ea6ecf7ad7 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/model_info.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/model_info.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use codex_protocol::openai_models::TruncationPolicyConfig;
 use codex_protocol::openai_models::default_input_modalities;
 
 use crate::config::Config;
-use crate::features::Feature;
 use crate::truncate::approx_bytes_for_tokens;
 use tracing::warn;
 
@@ -48,8 +47,6 @@ pub(crate) fn with_config_overrides(mut model: ModelInfo, config: &Config) -> Mo
     if let Some(base_instructions) = &config.base_instructions {
         model.base_instructions = base_instructions.clone();
         model.model_messages = None;
-    } else if !config.features.enabled(Feature::Personality) {
-        model.model_messages = None;
     }
 
     model
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/personality.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/personality.rs
index 51f99720aa..741b8dba00 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/personality.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/personality.rs
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ async fn user_turn_personality_same_value_does_not_add_update_message() -> anyho
 }
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
-async fn instructions_uses_base_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+async fn instructions_use_personality_template_even_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let codex_home = TempDir::new().expect("create temp dir");
     let mut config = load_default_config_for_test(&codex_home).await;
     config.features.disable(Feature::Personality);
@@ -473,16 +473,17 @@ async fn instructions_uses_base_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     let model_info =
         codex_core::test_support::construct_model_info_offline("gpt-5.2-codex", &config);
-    assert_eq!(
-        model_info.get_model_instructions(config.personality),
-        model_info.base_instructions
+    let instructions = model_info.get_model_instructions(config.personality);
+    assert!(
+        instructions.contains(LOCAL_FRIENDLY_TEMPLATE),
+        "expected local friendly personality template, got: {instructions:?}"
     );
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
-async fn user_turn_personality_skips_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+async fn user_turn_personality_updates_even_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
 
     let server = start_mock_server().await;
@@ -529,7 +530,7 @@ async fn user_turn_personality_skips_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()>
             effort: None,
             summary: None,
             collaboration_mode: None,
-            personality: Some(Personality::Pragmatic),
+            personality: Some(Personality::Friendly),
         })
         .await?;
 
@@ -562,10 +563,11 @@ async fn user_turn_personality_skips_if_feature_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()>
     let developer_texts = request.message_input_texts("developer");
     let personality_text = developer_texts
         .iter()
-        .find(|text| text.contains("<personality_spec>"));
+        .find(|text| text.contains("<personality_spec>"))
+        .expect("expected personality preamble");
     assert!(
-        personality_text.is_none(),
-        "expected no personality preamble, got {personality_text:?}"
+        personality_text.contains(LOCAL_FRIENDLY_TEMPLATE),
+        "expected friendly personality update, got {personality_text:?}"
     );
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index dcbee999bc..81ce5aa420 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -3854,7 +3854,6 @@ impl ChatWidget {
         let personality = self
             .config
             .personality
-            .filter(|_| self.config.features.enabled(Feature::Personality))
             .filter(|_| self.current_model_supports_personality());
         let op = Op::UserTurn {
             items,
@@ -6043,9 +6042,6 @@ impl ChatWidget {
             self.refresh_model_display();
             self.request_redraw();
         }
-        if feature == Feature::Personality {
-            self.sync_personality_command_enabled();
-        }
         if feature == Feature::PreventIdleSleep {
             self.turn_sleep_inhibitor = SleepInhibitor::new(enabled);
             self.turn_sleep_inhibitor
@@ -6130,8 +6126,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     }
 
     fn sync_personality_command_enabled(&mut self) {
-        self.bottom_pane
-            .set_personality_command_enabled(self.config.features.enabled(Feature::Personality));
+        self.bottom_pane.set_personality_command_enabled(true);
     }
 
     fn current_model_supports_personality(&self) -> bool {