diff --git a/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/args.rs b/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/args.rs
index 801d620..6968a85 100644
--- a/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/args.rs
+++ b/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/args.rs
@@ -114,6 +114,14 @@ pub fn accepts_object(schema: &Value) -> bool {
 /// / `object`, and a bare scalar → `[scalar]` for `array`. A value that does
 /// not convert is left as it was, so the schema validator still reports it.
 /// Recurses into nested objects and array items with their own schemas.
+///
+/// An object-typed property given a string that is not strict JSON goes
+/// through the same lenient [`super::json::recover_object`] ladder as a whole
+/// argument blob (trailing commas, bare keys, a fence, leaked template
+/// markers). A `null` for an **optional** property whose declared `type` does
+/// not admit null is dropped: the model meant "not given" (`"tool": null`),
+/// and the key's absence is what the schema accepts. A required property is
+/// never dropped, so the validator still names it.
 #[must_use]
 pub fn coerce_to_schema(arguments: Value, schema: &Value) -> Value {
     let Value::Object(map) = arguments else {
@@ -122,9 +130,14 @@ pub fn coerce_to_schema(arguments: Value, schema: &Value) -> Value {
     let Some(properties) = schema.get("properties").and_then(Value::as_object) else {
         return Value::Object(map);
     };
+    let required = schema.get("required").and_then(Value::as_array);
+    let is_required = |key: &str| required.is_some_and(|list| list.iter().any(|r| r == key));
     let mut out = Map::with_capacity(map.len());
     for (key, value) in map {
         let coerced = match properties.get(&key) {
+            Some(property) if value.is_null() && !is_required(&key) && rejects_null(property) => {
+                continue;
+            }
             Some(property) => coerce_value(value, property),
             None => value,
         };
@@ -133,6 +146,16 @@ pub fn coerce_to_schema(arguments: Value, schema: &Value) -> Value {
     Value::Object(out)
 }
 
+/// Whether `schema` declares a `type` that does not include `null`. An
+/// untyped property accepts null already, so it is never rewritten.
+fn rejects_null(schema: &Value) -> bool {
+    match schema.get("type") {
+        Some(Value::String(kind)) => kind != "null",
+        Some(Value::Array(kinds)) => !kinds.iter().any(|kind| kind == "null"),
+        _ => false,
+    }
+}
+
 fn schema_type(schema: &Value) -> Option<&str> {
     match schema.get("type") {
         Some(Value::String(s)) => Some(s.as_str()),
@@ -169,7 +192,11 @@ fn coerce_value(value: Value, schema: &Value) -> Value {
         (Some("array"), scalar @ (Value::Number(_) | Value::Bool(_))) => Value::Array(vec![scalar]),
         (Some("object"), Value::String(s)) => match serde_json::from_str::<Value>(s.trim()) {
             Ok(object @ Value::Object(_)) => coerce_to_schema(object, schema),
-            _ => Value::String(s),
+            Ok(_) => Value::String(s),
+            Err(_) => match super::json::recover_object(super::json::strip_code_fence(&s)) {
+                Some(object) => coerce_to_schema(object, schema),
+                None => Value::String(s),
+            },
         },
         (Some("object"), object @ Value::Object(_)) => coerce_to_schema(object, schema),
         (Some("string"), Value::Number(n)) => Value::String(n.to_string()),
diff --git a/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/test/args.rs b/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/test/args.rs
index 6be2f30..181af93 100644
--- a/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/test/args.rs
+++ b/crates/tinytools-agent/src/repair/test/args.rs
@@ -231,3 +231,71 @@ fn unconvertible_scalars_are_left_for_the_validator() {
         json!({ "l": [3] })
     );
 }
+
+/// `use_skill` captures: the nested `args` object arrives as a JSON string that
+/// is not strictly valid (single-quoted keys stripped by the model, a trailing
+/// comma, unquoted keys). Strict parsing fails; the lenient object recovery
+/// the rest of the repair path uses must still apply.
+#[test]
+fn an_object_typed_string_that_is_relaxed_json_is_recovered() {
+    let schema = json!({
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": {
+            "skill": { "type": "string" },
+            "args": { "type": "object", "additionalProperties": true }
+        },
+        "required": ["skill"]
+    });
+    for raw in [
+        "{\"query\": \"inbox\",}",
+        "{query: \"inbox\"}",
+        "```json\n{\"query\":\"inbox\"}\n```",
+        "{\"query\":\"inbox\"}<tool_call|>",
+    ] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            coerce_to_schema(json!({ "skill": "email", "args": raw }), &schema),
+            json!({ "skill": "email", "args": { "query": "inbox" } }),
+            "{raw}"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+/// `use_skill` captures: `"tool": null` / `"args": null` for optional
+/// properties whose declared type does not admit null. The model meant "not
+/// given"; dropping the key is what makes the call validate.
+#[test]
+fn null_for_an_optional_non_nullable_property_is_dropped() {
+    let schema = json!({
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": {
+            "skill": { "type": "string" },
+            "tool": { "type": "string" },
+            "args": { "type": "object" },
+            "maybe": { "type": ["string", "null"] },
+            "untyped": {}
+        },
+        "required": ["skill"]
+    });
+    assert_eq!(
+        coerce_to_schema(
+            json!({ "skill": "email", "tool": null, "args": null, "maybe": null, "untyped": null }),
+            &schema
+        ),
+        json!({ "skill": "email", "maybe": null, "untyped": null })
+    );
+}
+
+/// A required property set to null is left for the validator: dropping it
+/// would only trade "must be string" for "is required".
+#[test]
+fn null_for_a_required_property_is_kept() {
+    let schema = json!({
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": { "skill": { "type": "string" } },
+        "required": ["skill"]
+    });
+    assert_eq!(
+        coerce_to_schema(json!({ "skill": null }), &schema),
+        json!({ "skill": null })
+    );
+}