diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 55142332..5880e465 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ Run `adhd-ai setup` to answer plain-language prompts and generate local setup fi
 
 At runtime, config resolution uses this precedence for env-like values: process environment -> SQLite env store -> built-in defaults.
 
-Run `adhd-ai setup --check` to validate that config loads, the execution path exists, `gh` is authenticated, Codex is available, and configured secrets are not present in tracked config files.
+Run `adhd-ai setup --check` to validate that config loads, the execution path exists, `gh` is authenticated, `rtk` is available, Codex is available, and configured secrets are not present in tracked config files.
 
 ## Cron Jobs
 
diff --git a/docs/product-specs/new-user-onboarding.md b/docs/product-specs/new-user-onboarding.md
index ab871dc0..baba7672 100644
--- a/docs/product-specs/new-user-onboarding.md
+++ b/docs/product-specs/new-user-onboarding.md
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ Get a new operator from zero setup to running a scoped project workflow.
 ## Preconditions
 
 1. Repository is cloned.
-2. `bun` and `gh` are installed.
+2. `bun`, `gh`, and `rtk` are installed.
 3. Linear and GitHub credentials are available.
 
 ## Setup
 
 1. Run `adhd-ai setup` and answer the guided prompts.
 2. Confirm the wizard writes `.env` for secrets and `adhd-ai.local.config.ts` for local project settings.
-3. Run `adhd-ai setup --check` to verify config, GitHub auth, Codex availability, and secret placement.
+3. Run `adhd-ai setup --check` to verify config, GitHub auth, RTK availability, Codex availability, and secret placement.
 
 ## First Run
 
diff --git a/src/core/setup.ts b/src/core/setup.ts
index 9450835a..c340dce6 100644
--- a/src/core/setup.ts
+++ b/src/core/setup.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const ENV_FILE = ".env";
 const LOCAL_CONFIG_FILE = "adhd-ai.local.config.ts";
 const DEFAULT_PROJECT_NAME = "Default Project";
 const DEFAULT_BASE_BRANCH = "main";
+const RTK_INSTALL_URL = "https://github.com/rtk-ai/rtk";
 
 export interface SetupDraft {
 	projectId: string;
@@ -340,6 +341,21 @@ export async function collectSetupChecks(
 				},
 	);
 
+	const rtk = await safeRun(commandRunner, "rtk", ["--version"], commandCwd);
+	checks.push(
+		rtk.code === 0
+			? {
+					name: "RTK binary",
+					status: "pass",
+					message: "rtk is available",
+				}
+			: {
+					name: "RTK binary",
+					status: "fail",
+					message: formatMissingRtkMessage(),
+				},
+	);
+
 	const codexBackends = config.projects.filter(
 		(project) => !project.agent?.backend || project.agent.backend === "codex",
 	);
@@ -421,6 +437,11 @@ export async function runSetupWizard(cwd: string): Promise<void> {
 	});
 
 	try {
+		const rtk = await safeRun(runCommand, "rtk", ["--version"], cwd);
+		if (rtk.code !== 0) {
+			process.stdout.write(renderSetupRtkInstallPrompt());
+		}
+
 		const projectName = await ask(io, "Project name", DEFAULT_PROJECT_NAME);
 		const projectId = await ask(
 			io,
@@ -680,6 +701,14 @@ function commandFailureMessage(result: CommandResult): string {
 	return output || `command exited with ${result.code}`;
 }
 
+function formatMissingRtkMessage(): string {
+	return `rtk binary not found. Install from: ${RTK_INSTALL_URL}`;
+}
+
+export function renderSetupRtkInstallPrompt(): string {
+	return `RTK is required for ADHD.ai agent workflow commands.\nInstall RTK before running workflows: ${RTK_INSTALL_URL}\n`;
+}
+
 function renderEnvEntries(entries: Record<string, string | undefined>): string {
 	return Object.entries(entries)
 		.map(([key, value]) => renderEnvEntry(key, value ?? ""))
diff --git a/tests/setup.test.ts b/tests/setup.test.ts
index c01d8af5..45e43264 100644
--- a/tests/setup.test.ts
+++ b/tests/setup.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
 	normalizeProjectId,
 	renderEnvFile,
 	renderLocalConfig,
+	renderSetupRtkInstallPrompt,
 	writeSetupFiles,
 } from "../src/core/setup";
 import type { CommandResult } from "../src/utils/shell";
@@ -204,6 +205,35 @@ describe("setup helpers", () => {
 			message: "adhd-ai.config.ts contains a configured secret",
 		});
 	});
+
+	it("reports missing rtk binary", async () => {
+		const checks = await collectSetupChecks("/tmp/demo", {
+			loadConfig: async () => loadedConfig({ linearApiKey: "lin_secret_123" }),
+			access: async () => {},
+			readFile: async () => "",
+			runCommand: async (command) =>
+				command === "rtk"
+					? {
+							code: 1,
+							stdout: "",
+							stderr: "command not found: rtk",
+						}
+					: okCommand(),
+		});
+
+		expect(checks).toContainEqual({
+			name: "RTK binary",
+			status: "fail",
+			message:
+				"rtk binary not found. Install from: https://github.com/rtk-ai/rtk",
+		});
+	});
+
+	it("renders setup rtk install prompt", () => {
+		expect(renderSetupRtkInstallPrompt()).toContain(
+			"Install RTK before running workflows: https://github.com/rtk-ai/rtk",
+		);
+	});
 });
 
 function loadedConfig({