diff --git a/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish.go b/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish.go
index 636484684..73343f171 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish.go
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ func NewCmdPublish(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*PublishOptions) error) *cobra.
 
 			Use %[1]s--dry-run%[1]s to validate without publishing.
 			Use %[1]s--tag%[1]s to publish non-interactively with a specific tag.
-			Use %[1]s--fix%[1]s to automatically strip install metadata from committed files.
+			Use %[1]s--fix%[1]s to automatically strip install metadata from committed files
+			without publishing. Review and commit the changes, then run publish again.
 		`, "`"),
 		Example: heredoc.Doc(`
 			# Validate and publish interactively
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ func NewCmdPublish(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*PublishOptions) error) *cobra.
 			# Validate only (no publish)
 			$ gh skill publish --dry-run
 
-			# Validate and strip install metadata
+			# Strip install metadata without publishing
 			$ gh skills publish --fix
 		`),
 		Args: cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ func NewCmdPublish(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*PublishOptions) error) *cobra.
 		},
 	}
 
-	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&opts.Fix, "fix", false, "Auto-fix issues where possible (e.g. strip install metadata)")
+	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&opts.Fix, "fix", false, "Auto-fix issues where possible without publishing (e.g. strip install metadata)")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&opts.DryRun, "dry-run", false, "Validate without publishing")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&opts.Tag, "tag", "", "Version tag for the release (e.g. v1.0.0)")
 
@@ -410,6 +411,15 @@ func publishRun(opts *PublishOptions) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if opts.Fix {
+		if fixes > 0 {
+			fmt.Fprintf(opts.IO.ErrOut, "\nFixed %d file(s). Review and commit the changes, then run %s to publish.\n", fixes, "gh skills publish")
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(opts.IO.ErrOut, "\nNo issues to fix.\n")
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if owner == "" || repo == "" {
 		fmt.Fprintf(opts.IO.ErrOut, "\nValidation passed. Set up a GitHub remote to publish.\n")
 		return nil
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish_test.go b/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish_test.go
index f83117b5b..2eac240bc 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/skills/publish/publish_test.go
@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ func TestPublishRun(t *testing.T) {
 				return &PublishOptions{IO: ios, Dir: dir, Fix: true}
 			},
 			wantStdout: "stripped install metadata",
+			wantStderr: "Fixed 1 file(s). Review and commit the changes",
 			verify: func(t *testing.T, dir string) {
 				t.Helper()
 				fixed, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "skills", "test-skill", "SKILL.md"))