diff --git a/HARNESS_VERSION b/HARNESS_VERSION
index 752e63038..e7c6f5dbf 100644
--- a/HARNESS_VERSION
+++ b/HARNESS_VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.20.6
+0.20.7
diff --git a/src/clean_agent_preview.py b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
index 3f86c6656..356e26a16 100644
--- a/src/clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -1571,8 +1571,15 @@ def artifact_completion_tool_schemas(offered_schemas, required_artifacts):
 
 
 def required_artifact_completion_tool_choice(required_artifacts, offered_schemas):
-    """Choose Python for one binary output; preserve the text-writer default."""
+    """Choose a writer only when the contract names an exact output file.
+
+    A directory contract needs the model to choose one or more child filenames.
+    Forcing ``write_file`` there encourages an impossible write to the directory
+    path itself, so leave tool choice unconstrained for that case.
+    """
     targets = [str(path or '').strip().rstrip('/') for path in required_artifacts]
+    if not targets or any(not Path(target).suffix for target in targets):
+        return None
     offered = {
         canonical((schema.get('function') or {}).get('name')):
         (schema.get('function') or {}).get('name')
@@ -4451,6 +4458,17 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                     and calls >= min(NATIVE_ARTIFACT_RESEARCH_LIMIT, tool_call_limit - 1)
                 ):
                     artifact_write_phase = True
+                    directory_artifact_guidance = ''
+                    directory_targets = [
+                        path for path in required_artifacts
+                        if not Path(str(path or '').strip().rstrip('/')).suffix
+                    ]
+                    if directory_targets:
+                        directory_artifact_guidance = (
+                            ' Each listed directory is a container: create one or more files '
+                            'inside it with meaningful content. Do not pass the directory itself '
+                            'as a file path.'
+                        )
                     history.append({
                         'role': 'user',
                         '_harness_control': True,
@@ -4459,7 +4477,9 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                             'unwritten after substantial research: '
                             + ', '.join(required_artifacts)
                             + '. Use the evidence already gathered and the offered workspace tools '
-                            'to create and verify the required outputs now. Do not continue broad '
+                            'to create and verify the required outputs now.'
+                            + directory_artifact_guidance
+                            + ' Do not continue broad '
                             'web, document, or media research.'
                         ),
                     })
diff --git a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
index c2d941d7c..58e1dd032 100644
--- a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -679,6 +679,17 @@ def test_required_binary_artifact_forces_python_instead_of_text_writer():
     ]
 
 
+def test_required_directory_artifact_does_not_force_writer_to_directory_path():
+    offered = [
+        {'type': 'function', 'function': {'name': 'bash'}},
+        {'type': 'function', 'function': {'name': 'write_file'}},
+    ]
+
+    assert required_artifact_completion_tool_choice(
+        ('/tmp_workspace/results',), offered,
+    ) is None
+
+
 def test_action_promise_response_rejects_future_work_but_not_real_answers():
     import src.clean_agent_preview as module
 
@@ -5317,9 +5328,11 @@ async def test_native_stream_reserves_remaining_budget_for_required_artifact(mon
     assert "web_search" not in request_contract["offered_tools"]
     assert request_contract["tool_choice"] is None
     reserved_names = [tool["function"]["name"] for tool in requests[12]["tools"]]
-    assert reserved_names == ["write_file"]
+    assert reserved_names == ["bash", "python", "write_file"]
     assert "tool_choice" not in requests[12]
-    assert "bash" not in executed
+    assert "create one or more files inside" in requests[12]["messages"][-1]["content"]
+    assert "Do not pass the directory itself as a file path" in requests[12]["messages"][-1]["content"]
+    assert "bash" in executed
     assert any(
         event.get("type") == "tool_output" and event.get("tool") == "write_file"
         and not event.get("error") for event in events
diff --git a/tests/test_harness_version.py b/tests/test_harness_version.py
index 4bf59e21f..6f70ed371 100644
--- a/tests/test_harness_version.py
+++ b/tests/test_harness_version.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
 def test_original_harness_version_is_canonical_semver() -> None:
     version = (ROOT / "HARNESS_VERSION").read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
 
-    assert version == "0.20.6"
+    assert version == "0.20.7"
     assert re.fullmatch(r"\d+\.\d+\.\d+", version)