diff --git a/strix/tools/web_search/tool.py b/strix/tools/web_search/tool.py
index 9f1c4910..f525b1ea 100644
--- a/strix/tools/web_search/tool.py
+++ b/strix/tools/web_search/tool.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def _exa_content(api_key: str, query: str, search_type: str, num_results: int) -
         api_key,
         "https://api.exa.ai/search",
         {
-            "query": f"{_SYSTEM_PROMPT}\n\n{query}",
+            "query": query,
             "type": search_type,
             "numResults": num_results,
             "contents": {"summary": {"query": _EXA_SUMMARY_PROMPT}},
diff --git a/tests/test_web_search.py b/tests/test_web_search.py
index 7ec066b9..6aff26ba 100644
--- a/tests/test_web_search.py
+++ b/tests/test_web_search.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def test_exa_content_requests_summaries_and_renders_results(
 
     assert captured["url"] == "https://api.exa.ai/search"
     assert captured["headers"]["x-api-key"] == "ek"
-    assert "OpenSSH 7.4 RCE?" in captured["json"]["query"]
+    assert captured["json"]["query"] == "OpenSSH 7.4 RCE?"
     assert captured["json"]["type"] == "auto"
     assert captured["json"]["numResults"] == 5
     assert captured["json"]["contents"] == {"summary": {"query": tool._EXA_SUMMARY_PROMPT}}