diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f379530..679c7b9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,5 +4,3 @@
 /result
 /result-*
 /.claude/settings.local.json
-# Per-worktree agent scratch (PR bodies, logs, notes); see the start-quest skill.
-/.scratch/
diff --git a/assets/skills/start.md b/assets/skills/start.md
index b3ebb75..af9ca94 100644
--- a/assets/skills/start.md
+++ b/assets/skills/start.md
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ Claim it as `quest guide` describes: `quest branch` names the branch and its bas
 Delete a claim you cannot finish (remote branch and worktree).
 
 Implement the quest until it is complete, or some blocker is hit, then create a PR against the base.
-Keep scratch files (PR body, logs, notes) in the worktree's gitignored `.scratch/`.
 Never write to or clean up a directory other agents share, such as a session scratchpad.
 
 When done, explain the result in a few lines and summarize any issues encountered.
diff --git a/docs/getting-started.md b/docs/getting-started.md
index bf89756..ff9e89d 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started.md
@@ -25,10 +25,9 @@ quest init
 ```
 
 This writes a Quest stub for each shipped skill under `.claude/skills/`, links
-`.agents/skills/` to the same tree when needed, adds `/.scratch/` to
-`.gitignore`, creates `quest/README.md` when missing, and appends one line to
-your root `AGENTS.md` or `CLAUDE.md` telling agents to run `quest guide` when
-work mentions a quest. That line starts with `Quests: `; reword the rest freely,
+`.agents/skills/` to the same tree when needed, creates `quest/README.md` when
+missing, and appends one line to your root `AGENTS.md` or `CLAUDE.md` telling
+agents to run `quest guide` when work mentions a quest. That line starts with `Quests: `; reword the rest freely,
 since init and uninstall recognize it by that prefix.
 
 Init refuses to overwrite an existing same-named skill that is not a Quest stub.
@@ -84,6 +83,5 @@ GitHub issues, then run:
 quest uninstall
 ```
 
-Uninstall removes only Quest stubs that still match, the reference line, and the
-`/.scratch/` ignore entry. It never deletes your quest tree, and completed plans
-remain in Git history. Then remove the pin.
+Uninstall removes only Quest stubs that still match and the reference line. It
+never deletes your quest tree, and completed plans remain in Git history. Then remove the pin.
diff --git a/src/setup.rs b/src/setup.rs
index 1b7e700..644fd47 100644
--- a/src/setup.rs
+++ b/src/setup.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! `quest init` and `quest uninstall`: install skill stubs and reverse it.
 //!
-//! Init touches only stubs, one reference line, `/.scratch/` in `.gitignore`, and
-//! an empty `quest/README.md` when missing. Uninstall never deletes the quest tree.
+//! Init touches only stubs, one reference line, and an empty `quest/README.md`
+//! when missing. Uninstall never deletes the quest tree.
 
 use std::fs;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ const REFERENCE_MARKER: &str = "Quests: ";
 /// Appended to the root agent instructions when Quest is installed.
 pub const REFERENCE_LINE: &str = "Quests: when work mentions a quest, run `quest guide` and follow it.";
 
-const SCRATCH_IGNORE: &str = "/.scratch/";
-
 /// The skill directories Claude Code and Codex read. One holds the stubs and
 /// the other links to it.
 const SKILL_DIRS: [&str; 2] = [".claude/skills", ".agents/skills"];
@@ -65,16 +63,11 @@ pub fn init(root: &Path) -> Result<Vec<PathBuf>> {
 		changes.push(readme.into());
 	}
 
-	let ignore = Path::new(".gitignore");
-	if append_line(root, ignore, SCRATCH_IGNORE, SCRATCH_IGNORE, false)? {
-		changes.push(ignore.into());
-	}
-
 	let instructions = ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md"]
 		.into_iter()
 		.find(|name| root.join(name).is_file())
 		.unwrap_or("AGENTS.md");
-	if append_line(root, Path::new(instructions), REFERENCE_MARKER, REFERENCE_LINE, true)? {
+	if append_line(root, Path::new(instructions), REFERENCE_MARKER, REFERENCE_LINE)? {
 		changes.push(instructions.into());
 	}
 	Ok(changes)
@@ -113,12 +106,8 @@ pub fn uninstall(root: &Path) -> Result<Vec<PathBuf>> {
 		}
 	}
 
-	for (path, marker) in [
-		(".gitignore", SCRATCH_IGNORE),
-		("AGENTS.md", REFERENCE_MARKER),
-		("CLAUDE.md", REFERENCE_MARKER),
-	] {
-		if remove_line(root, Path::new(path), marker)? {
+	for path in ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md"] {
+		if remove_line(root, Path::new(path), REFERENCE_MARKER)? {
 			changes.push(path.into());
 		}
 	}
@@ -188,8 +177,8 @@ fn write(root: &Path, path: &Path, content: &str) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 /// Append `line` unless a line already starts with `marker`, creating the file
-/// if missing. `paragraph` separates it from existing content with a blank line.
-fn append_line(root: &Path, path: &Path, marker: &str, line: &str, paragraph: bool) -> Result<bool> {
+/// if missing, separated from existing content by a blank line.
+fn append_line(root: &Path, path: &Path, marker: &str, line: &str) -> Result<bool> {
 	let mut content = if root.join(path).is_file() {
 		read(root, path)?
 	} else {
@@ -202,9 +191,7 @@ fn append_line(root: &Path, path: &Path, marker: &str, line: &str, paragraph: bo
 		if !content.ends_with('\n') {
 			content.push('\n');
 		}
-		if paragraph {
-			content.push('\n');
-		}
+		content.push('\n');
 	}
 	content.push_str(line);
 	content.push('\n');
diff --git a/tests/init.rs b/tests/init.rs
index bab95a6..2d535d4 100644
--- a/tests/init.rs
+++ b/tests/init.rs
@@ -24,10 +24,8 @@ fn init_creates_layout_and_is_idempotent() {
 	assert!(dir.path().join(".claude/skills/quest-start/SKILL.md").is_file());
 	assert!(dir.path().join(".agents/skills/quest-start/SKILL.md").is_file());
 	assert!(dir.path().join("quest/README.md").is_file());
-	assert!(dir.path().join(".gitignore").is_file());
+	assert!(!dir.path().join(".gitignore").exists());
 	assert!(dir.path().join("AGENTS.md").is_file());
-	let ignore = std::fs::read_to_string(dir.path().join(".gitignore")).unwrap();
-	assert!(ignore.lines().any(|line| line == "/.scratch/"));
 	let agents = std::fs::read_to_string(dir.path().join("AGENTS.md")).unwrap();
 	assert!(agents.contains(quest::setup::REFERENCE_LINE));
 
@@ -80,7 +78,6 @@ fn uninstall_round_trip_preserves_user_content() {
 	let agents = std::fs::read_to_string(dir.path().join("AGENTS.md")).unwrap();
 	assert_eq!(agents, "# Repo\n\nUser rule.\n");
 	assert!(dir.path().join("quest/m0/plan.md").is_file());
-	assert!(!dir.path().join(".gitignore").exists());
 	assert!(!dir.path().join(".claude").exists());
 	assert!(!dir.path().join(".agents").exists());
 }