diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 77902644..e995d65c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ Each level overrides the previous, so project settings take priority over global
         "nudgeForce": "soft",
         // Tool names whose completed outputs are appended to the compression
         "protectedTools": [],
+        // Preserve text wrapped in <protect>...</protect> when compressed
+        "protectTags": false,
         // Preserve your messages during compression.
         // Warning: large copy-pasted prompts will never be compressed away
         "protectUserMessages": false,
diff --git a/dcp.schema.json b/dcp.schema.json
index 6b37e4f6..39f2df53 100644
--- a/dcp.schema.json
+++ b/dcp.schema.json
@@ -237,6 +237,11 @@
                     "default": [],
                     "description": "Tool names or wildcard patterns whose completed outputs should be appended to the compression summary. Supports glob wildcards: * matches any characters, ? matches a single character (e.g., \"mcp_*\", \"my_tool_?\")"
                 },
+                "protectTags": {
+                    "type": "boolean",
+                    "default": false,
+                    "description": "Preserve text wrapped in <protect>...</protect> when compressed"
+                },
                 "protectUserMessages": {
                     "type": "boolean",
                     "default": false,
@@ -254,6 +259,7 @@
                 "iterationNudgeThreshold": 15,
                 "nudgeForce": "soft",
                 "protectedTools": [],
+                "protectTags": false,
                 "protectUserMessages": false
             }
         },
diff --git a/lib/compress/message.ts b/lib/compress/message.ts
index 5d81161e..d6bf8874 100644
--- a/lib/compress/message.ts
+++ b/lib/compress/message.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { countTokens } from "../token-utils"
 import { MESSAGE_FORMAT_EXTENSION } from "../prompts/extensions/tool"
 import { formatIssues, formatResult, resolveMessages, validateArgs } from "./message-utils"
 import { finalizeSession, prepareSession, type NotificationEntry } from "./pipeline"
-import { appendProtectedTools } from "./protected-content"
+import { appendProtectedPromptInfo, appendProtectedTools } from "./protected-content"
 import {
     allocateBlockId,
     allocateRunId,
@@ -77,11 +77,19 @@ export function createCompressMessageTool(ctx: ToolContext): ReturnType<typeof t
             }> = []
 
             for (const plan of plans) {
+                const summaryWithPromptInfo = appendProtectedPromptInfo(
+                    plan.entry.summary,
+                    plan.selection,
+                    searchContext,
+                    ctx.state,
+                    ctx.config.compress.protectTags,
+                )
+
                 const summaryWithTools = await appendProtectedTools(
                     ctx.client,
                     ctx.state,
                     ctx.config.experimental.allowSubAgents,
-                    plan.entry.summary,
+                    summaryWithPromptInfo,
                     plan.selection,
                     searchContext,
                     ctx.config.compress.protectedTools,
diff --git a/lib/compress/protected-content.ts b/lib/compress/protected-content.ts
index 5001ed40..1af9ba5a 100644
--- a/lib/compress/protected-content.ts
+++ b/lib/compress/protected-content.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,58 @@ export function appendProtectedUserMessages(
     return summary + heading + body
 }
 
+export function appendProtectedPromptInfo(
+    summary: string,
+    selection: SelectionResolution,
+    searchContext: SearchContext,
+    state: SessionState,
+    enabled: boolean,
+): string {
+    if (!enabled) return summary
+
+    const protectedTexts: string[] = []
+
+    for (const messageId of selection.messageIds) {
+        const existingCompressionEntry = state.prune.messages.byMessageId.get(messageId)
+        if (existingCompressionEntry && existingCompressionEntry.activeBlockIds.length > 0) {
+            continue
+        }
+
+        const message = searchContext.rawMessagesById.get(messageId)
+        if (!message) continue
+
+        const parts = Array.isArray(message.parts) ? message.parts : []
+        for (const part of parts) {
+            if (part.type !== "text" || typeof part.text !== "string") continue
+
+            protectedTexts.push(...extractProtectedPromptInfo(part.text))
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (protectedTexts.length === 0) {
+        return summary
+    }
+
+    const heading =
+        "\n\nThe following protected prompt information was included in this conversation verbatim:"
+    const body = protectedTexts.map((text) => `\n${text}`).join("")
+    return summary + heading + body
+}
+
+export function extractProtectedPromptInfo(text: string): string[] {
+    const protectedTexts: string[] = []
+    const protectTagRegex = /<protect>([\s\S]*?)<\/protect>/gi
+
+    for (const match of text.matchAll(protectTagRegex)) {
+        const protectedText = match[1]?.trim()
+        if (protectedText) {
+            protectedTexts.push(protectedText)
+        }
+    }
+
+    return protectedTexts
+}
+
 export async function appendProtectedTools(
     client: any,
     state: SessionState,
diff --git a/lib/compress/range.ts b/lib/compress/range.ts
index cc2ceaa9..d320be89 100644
--- a/lib/compress/range.ts
+++ b/lib/compress/range.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ import type { ToolContext } from "./types"
 import { countTokens } from "../token-utils"
 import { RANGE_FORMAT_EXTENSION } from "../prompts/extensions/tool"
 import { finalizeSession, prepareSession, type NotificationEntry } from "./pipeline"
-import { appendProtectedTools, appendProtectedUserMessages } from "./protected-content"
+import {
+    appendProtectedPromptInfo,
+    appendProtectedTools,
+    appendProtectedUserMessages,
+} from "./protected-content"
 import {
     appendMissingBlockSummaries,
     injectBlockPlaceholders,
@@ -108,11 +112,19 @@ export function createCompressRangeTool(ctx: ToolContext): ReturnType<typeof too
                     ctx.config.compress.protectUserMessages,
                 )
 
+                const summaryWithPromptInfo = appendProtectedPromptInfo(
+                    summaryWithUsers,
+                    plan.selection,
+                    searchContext,
+                    ctx.state,
+                    ctx.config.compress.protectTags,
+                )
+
                 const summaryWithTools = await appendProtectedTools(
                     ctx.client,
                     ctx.state,
                     ctx.config.experimental.allowSubAgents,
-                    summaryWithUsers,
+                    summaryWithPromptInfo,
                     plan.selection,
                     searchContext,
                     ctx.config.compress.protectedTools,
diff --git a/lib/config.ts b/lib/config.ts
index 25f8a41c..d7ddee28 100644
--- a/lib/config.ts
+++ b/lib/config.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export interface CompressConfig {
     iterationNudgeThreshold: number
     nudgeForce: "strong" | "soft"
     protectedTools: string[]
+    protectTags: boolean
     protectUserMessages: boolean
 }
 
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ export const VALID_CONFIG_KEYS = new Set([
     "compress.iterationNudgeThreshold",
     "compress.nudgeForce",
     "compress.protectedTools",
+    "compress.protectTags",
     "compress.protectUserMessages",
     "strategies",
     "strategies.deduplication",
@@ -422,6 +424,14 @@ export function validateConfigTypes(config: Record<string, any>): ValidationErro
                 })
             }
 
+            if (compress.protectTags !== undefined && typeof compress.protectTags !== "boolean") {
+                errors.push({
+                    key: "compress.protectTags",
+                    expected: "boolean",
+                    actual: typeof compress.protectTags,
+                })
+            }
+
             if (
                 compress.protectUserMessages !== undefined &&
                 typeof compress.protectUserMessages !== "boolean"
@@ -677,6 +687,7 @@ const defaultConfig: PluginConfig = {
         iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
         nudgeForce: "soft",
         protectedTools: [...COMPRESS_DEFAULT_PROTECTED_TOOLS],
+        protectTags: false,
         protectUserMessages: false,
     },
     strategies: {
@@ -842,6 +853,7 @@ function mergeCompress(
         iterationNudgeThreshold: override.iterationNudgeThreshold ?? base.iterationNudgeThreshold,
         nudgeForce: override.nudgeForce ?? base.nudgeForce,
         protectedTools: [...new Set([...base.protectedTools, ...(override.protectedTools ?? [])])],
+        protectTags: override.protectTags ?? base.protectTags,
         protectUserMessages: override.protectUserMessages ?? base.protectUserMessages,
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/compress-message.test.ts b/tests/compress-message.test.ts
index ad0ab394..b1d9dd53 100644
--- a/tests/compress-message.test.ts
+++ b/tests/compress-message.test.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ function buildConfig(): PluginConfig {
             iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
             nudgeForce: "soft",
             protectedTools: ["task"],
+            protectTags: false,
             protectUserMessages: false,
         },
         strategies: {
@@ -226,6 +227,64 @@ test("compress message mode batches individual message summaries", async () => {
     assert.match(blocks[1]?.summary || "", /task output body/)
 })
 
+test("compress message mode appends protected prompt info", async () => {
+    const sessionID = `ses_message_protect_tag_${Date.now()}`
+    const rawMessages = buildMessages(sessionID)
+    const assistant = rawMessages.find((message) => message.info.id === "msg-assistant-1")
+    const part = assistant?.parts[0]
+    if (part?.type === "text") {
+        part.text = "I mapped the code path. <protect>Always preserve release checklist.</protect>"
+    }
+
+    const state = createSessionState()
+    const logger = new Logger(false)
+    const config = buildConfig()
+    config.compress.protectTags = true
+    const tool = createCompressMessageTool({
+        client: {
+            session: {
+                messages: async () => ({ data: rawMessages }),
+                get: async () => ({ data: { parentID: null } }),
+            },
+        },
+        state,
+        logger,
+        config,
+        prompts: {
+            reload() {},
+            getRuntimePrompts() {
+                return { compressMessage: "", compressRange: "" }
+            },
+        },
+    } as any)
+
+    await tool.execute(
+        {
+            topic: "Protected note",
+            content: [
+                {
+                    messageId: "m0002",
+                    topic: "Code path note",
+                    summary: "Captured the assistant's code-path findings.",
+                },
+            ],
+        },
+        {
+            ask: async () => {},
+            metadata: () => {},
+            sessionID,
+            messageID: "msg-compress-protect-tag",
+        },
+    )
+
+    const block = Array.from(state.prune.messages.blocksById.values())[0]
+    assert.match(
+        block?.summary || "",
+        /The following protected prompt information was included in this conversation verbatim:/,
+    )
+    assert.match(block?.summary || "", /Always preserve release checklist\./)
+})
+
 test("compress message mode stores call id for later duration attachment", async () => {
     const sessionID = `ses_message_compress_duration_${Date.now()}`
     const rawMessages = buildMessages(sessionID)
diff --git a/tests/compress-range.test.ts b/tests/compress-range.test.ts
index 7899189e..ff9c7161 100644
--- a/tests/compress-range.test.ts
+++ b/tests/compress-range.test.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ function buildConfig(): PluginConfig {
             iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
             nudgeForce: "soft",
             protectedTools: [],
+            protectTags: false,
             protectUserMessages: false,
         },
         strategies: {
@@ -178,6 +179,91 @@ test("compress range rebuilds subagent message refs after session state was rese
     assert.equal(state.prune.messages.blocksById.size, 1)
 })
 
+test("compress range mode appends protected prompt info", async () => {
+    const sessionID = `ses_range_protect_tag_${Date.now()}`
+    const rawMessages: WithParts[] = [
+        {
+            info: {
+                id: "msg-user-1",
+                role: "user",
+                sessionID,
+                agent: "assistant",
+                model: {
+                    providerID: "anthropic",
+                    modelID: "claude-test",
+                },
+                time: { created: 1 },
+            } as WithParts["info"],
+            parts: [
+                textPart(
+                    "msg-user-1",
+                    sessionID,
+                    "part-user-1",
+                    "Investigate the release. <protect>Keep the npm publish token note.</protect>",
+                ),
+            ],
+        },
+        {
+            info: {
+                id: "msg-assistant-1",
+                role: "assistant",
+                sessionID,
+                agent: "assistant",
+                time: { created: 2 },
+            } as WithParts["info"],
+            parts: [textPart("msg-assistant-1", sessionID, "part-assistant-1", "I checked it")],
+        },
+    ]
+
+    const state = createSessionState()
+    const logger = new Logger(false)
+    const config = buildConfig()
+    config.compress.protectTags = true
+    const tool = createCompressRangeTool({
+        client: {
+            session: {
+                messages: async () => ({ data: rawMessages }),
+                get: async () => ({ data: { parentID: null } }),
+            },
+        },
+        state,
+        logger,
+        config,
+        prompts: {
+            reload() {},
+            getRuntimePrompts() {
+                return { compressRange: "", compressMessage: "" }
+            },
+        },
+    } as any)
+
+    await tool.execute(
+        {
+            topic: "Protected range",
+            content: [
+                {
+                    startId: "m0001",
+                    endId: "m0002",
+                    summary: "Captured release investigation.",
+                },
+            ],
+        },
+        {
+            ask: async () => {},
+            metadata: () => {},
+            sessionID,
+            messageID: "msg-compress-range-protect-tag",
+        },
+    )
+
+    const block = Array.from(state.prune.messages.blocksById.values())[0]
+    assert.match(
+        block?.summary || "",
+        /The following protected prompt information was included in this conversation verbatim:/,
+    )
+    assert.match(block?.summary || "", /Keep the npm publish token note\./)
+})
+
 test("compress range mode batches multiple ranges into one notification", async () => {
     const sessionID = `ses_range_compress_batch_${Date.now()}`
     const rawMessages = buildMessages(sessionID)
diff --git a/tests/compression-groups.test.ts b/tests/compression-groups.test.ts
index f97d02ba..c5bac056 100644
--- a/tests/compression-groups.test.ts
+++ b/tests/compression-groups.test.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ function buildConfig(mode: "message" | "range"): PluginConfig {
             iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
             nudgeForce: "soft",
             protectedTools: ["task"],
+            protectTags: false,
             protectUserMessages: false,
         },
         strategies: {
diff --git a/tests/hooks-permission.test.ts b/tests/hooks-permission.test.ts
index 5cfd5bf1..8364a6fc 100644
--- a/tests/hooks-permission.test.ts
+++ b/tests/hooks-permission.test.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ function buildConfig(permission: "allow" | "ask" | "deny" = "allow"): PluginConf
             iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
             nudgeForce: "soft",
             protectedTools: ["task"],
+            protectTags: false,
             protectUserMessages: false,
         },
         strategies: {
diff --git a/tests/message-priority.test.ts b/tests/message-priority.test.ts
index 748c2c2d..1342ca1b 100644
--- a/tests/message-priority.test.ts
+++ b/tests/message-priority.test.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ function buildConfig(mode: "message" | "range" = "message"): PluginConfig {
             iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
             nudgeForce: "soft",
             protectedTools: ["task"],
+            protectTags: false,
             protectUserMessages: false,
         },
         strategies: {
diff --git a/tests/token-usage.test.ts b/tests/token-usage.test.ts
index 4c1e6af7..549edeae 100644
--- a/tests/token-usage.test.ts
+++ b/tests/token-usage.test.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ function buildConfig(maxContextLimit: number, minContextLimit = 1): PluginConfig
             iterationNudgeThreshold: 15,
             nudgeForce: "soft",
             protectedTools: ["task"],
+            protectTags: false,
             protectUserMessages: false,
         },
         strategies: {