diff --git a/scripts/dashboard-web.js b/scripts/dashboard-web.js
index c4a54ae81..cd6cdecb9 100644
--- a/scripts/dashboard-web.js
+++ b/scripts/dashboard-web.js
@@ -54,9 +54,7 @@ const PORT = parsePort(process.argv[2] || process.env.ECC_DASHBOARD_PORT || '345
 const HOST = resolveDashboardHost();
 const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
 
-function readFrontmatter(p) {
-  try {
-    const c = fs.readFileSync(p, 'utf8');
+function parseFrontmatter(c) {
     const m = c.match(/^---\n([\s\S]*?)\n---/);
     if (!m) return {};
     const fm = {};
@@ -73,9 +71,18 @@ function readFrontmatter(p) {
     }
     fm._body = c.replace(/^---[\s\S]*?---\n*/, '').trim();
     return fm;
-  } catch { return {}; }
 }
-function readSkill(p) { try { const c = fs.readFileSync(p, 'utf8'); const fm = readFrontmatter(p); return { d: fm.description || '', b: c.replace(/^---[\s\S]*?---\n*/, '').trim() }; } catch { return { d: '', b: '' }; } }
+function readFrontmatter(p) {
+  try { return parseFrontmatter(fs.readFileSync(p, 'utf8')); }
+  catch { return {}; }
+}
+function readSkill(p) {
+  try {
+    const c = fs.readFileSync(p, 'utf8');
+    const fm = parseFrontmatter(c);
+    return { d: fm.description || '', b: c.replace(/^---[\s\S]*?---\n*/, '').trim() };
+  } catch { return { d: '', b: '' }; }
+}
 
 function loadAgents(_root) {
   const root = _root || ROOT;
diff --git a/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js b/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js
index b3809def4..b06ab2e2c 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js
+++ b/tests/scripts/dashboard-web.test.js
@@ -393,6 +393,28 @@ test('readSkill parses skill frontmatter and body', () => {
   cleanup(testRoot);
 });
 
+test('readSkill reads each skill file only once', () => {
+  const { readSkill } = require(SCRIPT);
+  testRoot = createTempDir('ecc-test-');
+  const skillPath = path.join(testRoot, 'SKILL.md');
+  writeFile(testRoot, 'SKILL.md', '---\ndescription: A test skill\n---\nbody');
+  const originalReadFileSync = fs.readFileSync;
+  let readCount = 0;
+  fs.readFileSync = (...args) => {
+    readCount++;
+    return originalReadFileSync(...args);
+  };
+
+  try {
+    readSkill(skillPath);
+  } finally {
+    fs.readFileSync = originalReadFileSync;
+    cleanup(testRoot);
+  }
+
+  assert.strictEqual(readCount, 1);
+});
+
 test('readSkill returns empty defaults for missing file', () => {
   const { readSkill } = require(SCRIPT);
   const skill = readSkill('/nonexistent/skill/SKILL.md');