diff --git a/docs/us-cpa.md b/docs/us-cpa.md
index 956ee48..6f019d3 100644
--- a/docs/us-cpa.md
+++ b/docs/us-cpa.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ To install the skill for OpenClaw itself, copy the repo skill into the workspace
 1. Sync the repo copy into the workspace:
 
 ```bash
-rsync -a --delete \
+rsync -a --delete --exclude '.venv' \
   ~/.openclaw/workspace/projects/stef-openclaw-skills/skills/us-cpa/ \
   ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/us-cpa/
 ```
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ python3 -m pip install -e '.[dev]'
 
 The wrapper prefers `.venv/bin/python` inside the skill directory when present, so OpenClaw can run the workspace copy without relying on global Python packages.
 
+Keep the `--exclude '.venv'` flag on future syncs, otherwise `rsync --delete` will remove the workspace virtualenv.
+
 ## Current Milestone
 
 Current implementation now includes:
diff --git a/skills/us-cpa/README.md b/skills/us-cpa/README.md
index b762c63..817641e 100644
--- a/skills/us-cpa/README.md
+++ b/skills/us-cpa/README.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Install the skill into the OpenClaw workspace copy, not only in the repo checkou
 1. Sync the skill into the workspace:
 
 ```bash
-rsync -a --delete \
+rsync -a --delete --exclude '.venv' \
   ~/.openclaw/workspace/projects/stef-openclaw-skills/skills/us-cpa/ \
   ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/us-cpa/
 ```
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ python3 -m pip install -e '.[dev]'
 
 The wrapper now prefers `~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/us-cpa/.venv/bin/python` when present and falls back to `python3` otherwise.
 
+Keep the `--exclude '.venv'` flag on future syncs, otherwise the workspace virtualenv will be deleted by `rsync --delete`.
+
 ## Run
 
 Installed entry point:
diff --git a/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_cli.py b/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_cli.py
index 39a5547..3dbc915 100644
--- a/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -52,11 +52,13 @@ class UsCpaCliSmokeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn(".venv/bin/python", readme)
         self.assertIn("python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade", readme)
         self.assertIn("python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel", readme)
+        self.assertIn("--exclude '.venv'", readme)
         self.assertNotIn("/Users/stefano/", readme)
         self.assertIn("OpenClaw installation", operator_doc)
         self.assertIn("rsync -a --delete", operator_doc)
         self.assertIn("python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade", operator_doc)
         self.assertIn("python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel", operator_doc)
+        self.assertIn("--exclude '.venv'", operator_doc)
         self.assertIn("~/", operator_doc)
         self.assertNotIn("/Users/stefano/", operator_doc)
         self.assertIn("~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/us-cpa/scripts/us-cpa", skill_doc)