diff --git a/src/subconscious/defs.rs b/src/subconscious/defs.rs
index 7039c6a..983b420 100644
--- a/src/subconscious/defs.rs
+++ b/src/subconscious/defs.rs
@@ -561,6 +561,12 @@ fn resolve(
             Some(Resolved { text, keys })
         }
 
+        // tool:NAME ARGS — run a tool call and include its output
+        _ if name.starts_with("tool:") => {
+            let spec = name[5..].trim();
+            resolve_tool(spec, store, graph)
+        }
+
         // bash:COMMAND — run a shell command and include its stdout
         _ if name.starts_with("bash:") => {
             let cmd = &name[5..];
@@ -721,6 +727,44 @@ fn resolve_memory_ratio() -> String {
         pct, keys.len(), memory_bytes / 1024, transcript_size / 1024)
 }
 
+/// Resolve a {{tool: name {args}}} placeholder by calling the tool
+/// handler from the registry. Uses block_in_place to bridge sync→async.
+fn resolve_tool(spec: &str, _store: &Store, _graph: &Graph) -> Option<Resolved> {
+    // Parse "tool_name {json args}" or "tool_name arg"
+    let (name, args) = match spec.find('{') {
+        Some(i) => {
+            let name = spec[..i].trim();
+            let args: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(&spec[i..]).ok()?;
+            (name, args)
+        }
+        None => {
+            let mut parts = spec.splitn(2, char::is_whitespace);
+            let name = parts.next()?;
+            match parts.next() {
+                Some(arg) => (name, serde_json::json!({"key": arg})),
+                None => (name, serde_json::json!({})),
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    let tools = crate::agent::tools::tools();
+    let tool = tools.iter().find(|t| t.name == name)?;
+
+    let result = tokio::task::block_in_place(|| {
+        tokio::runtime::Handle::current().block_on(
+            (tool.handler)(None, args.clone())
+        )
+    });
+
+    match result {
+        Ok(text) => Some(Resolved { text, keys: vec![] }),
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("[defs] {{{{tool: {}}}}} failed: {}", name, e);
+            Some(Resolved { text: format!("(tool error: {})", e), keys: vec![] })
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Resolve all {{placeholder}} patterns in a prompt template.
 /// Returns the resolved text and all node keys collected from placeholders.
 pub fn resolve_placeholders(