diff --git a/pkg/agent/loop.go b/pkg/agent/loop.go
index 693f2227b..4249cde92 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/loop.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/loop.go
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ func (al *AgentLoop) ProcessHeartbeat(ctx context.Context, content, channel, cha
 		Channel:         channel,
 		ChatID:          chatID,
 		UserMessage:     content,
-		DefaultResponse: "I've completed processing but have no response to give.",
+		DefaultResponse: "I've completed processing but have no response to give. Increase `max_tool_iterations` in configs.json.",
 		EnableSummary:   false,
 		SendResponse:    false,
 		NoHistory:       true, // Don't load session history for heartbeat
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ func (al *AgentLoop) processMessage(ctx context.Context, msg bus.InboundMessage)
 		Channel:         msg.Channel,
 		ChatID:          msg.ChatID,
 		UserMessage:     msg.Content,
-		DefaultResponse: "I've completed processing but have no response to give.",
+		DefaultResponse: "I've completed processing but have no response to give.  Increase `max_tool_iterations` in configs.json.",
 		EnableSummary:   true,
 		SendResponse:    false,
 	})