diff --git a/dsh/README.md b/dsh/README.md
index 0b0c0cc..934d84f 100644
--- a/dsh/README.md
+++ b/dsh/README.md
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ risks.
 # Static check
 bash dsh/install.sh --check
 
+# Superpowers source: get it once per machine. install.sh never downloads
+# anything and no longer depends on ~/.claude.
+git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/obra/superpowers ~/.dsh/superpowers
+# ...or point at any checkout of the superpowers repo / its skills directory:
+bash dsh/install.sh --skills --superpowers-from /path/to/superpowers
+# ...or export DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE=/path/to/superpowers
+
 # Global instructions, superpowers skills, local role skill, and roles
 # (run from a terminal; these write outside the session workspace)
 bash dsh/install.sh --global
@@ -47,6 +54,12 @@ bash <harness>/dsh/install.sh --openspec
 #   or ask the agent to call plugin_manager install_bundle with that target.
 ```
 
+`--skills` resolves superpowers in this order: `--superpowers-from` →
+`$DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE` → `~/.dsh/superpowers` → the Claude Code plugin cache
+(legacy, warns). A clean HOME with no source and no installed copy fails with
+the clone command above instead of pretending success; the local `role` and
+`sdd` skills are copied either way.
+
 Do not hand-edit `$DSH_HOME/profiles/desktop/package.json` or
 `cordis.patch.yml`: the Desktop profile is Electron-managed and the plugin
 manager owns those writes.
diff --git a/dsh/install.sh b/dsh/install.sh
index 093cc16..1208114 100755
--- a/dsh/install.sh
+++ b/dsh/install.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 # Usage:
 #   bash dsh/install.sh --check
 #   bash dsh/install.sh --global
-#   bash dsh/install.sh --skills
+#   bash dsh/install.sh --skills [--superpowers-from <dir>]
 #   bash dsh/install.sh --roles
 #   bash dsh/install.sh --all
 #   bash dsh/install.sh --openspec
@@ -27,17 +27,27 @@ DO_GLOBAL=0
 DO_SKILLS=0
 DO_ROLES=0
 DO_OPENSPEC=0
+SUPERPOWERS_FROM=""
+CLONE_HINT="git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/obra/superpowers $DSH_HOME/superpowers"
 
 usage() {
   cat <<EOF
 Usage: bash dsh/install.sh [--check] [--global] [--skills] [--roles] [--all] [--openspec]
+       bash dsh/install.sh --skills --superpowers-from <dir>
 
-  --check      verify python3, git, node, hooks, bundle, skills, and roles
-  --global     back up and write \$DSH_HOME/AGENTS.md from global/CLAUDE.md
-  --skills     copy superpowers skills and local dsh/skills into \$DSH_HOME/skills
-  --roles      copy roles/ into \$DSH_HOME/roles
-  --all        --check + --global + --skills + --roles, then print the bundle step
-  --openspec   add the agents skill adapter to the current OpenSpec project
+  --check                 verify python3, git, node, hooks, bundle, skills, and roles
+  --global                back up and write \$DSH_HOME/AGENTS.md from global/CLAUDE.md
+  --skills                copy superpowers and local dsh/skills into \$DSH_HOME/skills
+  --roles                 copy roles/ into \$DSH_HOME/roles
+  --all                   --check + --global + --skills + --roles, then print the bundle step
+  --openspec              add the agents skill adapter to the current OpenSpec project
+  --superpowers-from DIR  copy superpowers skills from DIR (the repo root or its skills/)
+
+Superpowers source, first match wins. The script never downloads anything:
+  1. --superpowers-from DIR
+  2. \$DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE
+  3. \$DSH_HOME/superpowers -- get it once: $CLONE_HINT
+  4. legacy: the Claude Code plugin cache, then ~/.claude/skills (warns)
 
 Bundle installation itself is done in DSH:
   Plugins -> install a bundle from $BUNDLE
@@ -49,29 +59,88 @@ if [ "$#" -eq 0 ]; then
   DO_CHECK=1
 fi
 
-for arg in "$@"; do
-  case "$arg" in
+while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
+  case "$1" in
     --check) DO_CHECK=1 ;;
     --global) DO_GLOBAL=1 ;;
     --skills) DO_SKILLS=1 ;;
     --roles) DO_ROLES=1 ;;
     --openspec) DO_OPENSPEC=1 ;;
     --all) DO_CHECK=1; DO_GLOBAL=1; DO_SKILLS=1; DO_ROLES=1 ;;
+    --superpowers-from)
+      if [ "$#" -lt 2 ]; then
+        echo "option --superpowers-from needs a directory" >&2
+        exit 2
+      fi
+      SUPERPOWERS_FROM="$2"
+      shift
+      ;;
+    --superpowers-from=*) SUPERPOWERS_FROM="${1#*=}" ;;
     -h|--help) usage; exit 0 ;;
-    *) echo "unknown option: $arg" >&2; usage >&2; exit 2 ;;
+    *) echo "unknown option: $1" >&2; usage >&2; exit 2 ;;
   esac
+  shift
 done
 
-superpowers_skills() {
-  local dir
-  dir="$(ls -d "$HOME"/.claude/plugins/cache/claude-plugins-official/superpowers/*/skills 2>/dev/null | sort -V | tail -1 || true)"
-  if [ -n "$dir" ] && [ -d "$dir" ]; then
+# Normalize a superpowers source: accept the repo root (with skills/) or the
+# skills directory itself. Prints the skills directory, returns 1 otherwise.
+normalize_superpowers_dir() {
+  local dir="${1:-}"
+  [ -n "$dir" ] || return 1
+  if [ -f "$dir/skills/using-superpowers/SKILL.md" ]; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$dir/skills"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if [ -f "$dir/using-superpowers/SKILL.md" ]; then
     printf '%s\n' "$dir"
     return 0
   fi
   return 1
 }
 
+# Print "<skills-dir>\t<explicit|pinned|legacy>". Returns 2 when an explicitly
+# configured source is invalid (never fall back silently), 1 when none is found.
+superpowers_source() {
+  local dir legacy
+  if [ -n "$SUPERPOWERS_FROM" ]; then
+    dir="$(normalize_superpowers_dir "$SUPERPOWERS_FROM")" || return 2
+    printf '%s\texplicit\n' "$dir"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if [ -n "${DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE:-}" ]; then
+    dir="$(normalize_superpowers_dir "$DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE")" || return 2
+    printf '%s\texplicit\n' "$dir"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if dir="$(normalize_superpowers_dir "$DSH_HOME/superpowers")"; then
+    printf '%s\tpinned\n' "$dir"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  legacy="$(ls -d "$HOME"/.claude/plugins/cache/claude-plugins-official/superpowers/*/skills 2>/dev/null | sort -V | tail -1 || true)"
+  if [ -n "$legacy" ] && [ -d "$legacy" ]; then
+    printf '%s\tlegacy\n' "$legacy"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if dir="$(normalize_superpowers_dir "$HOME/.claude/skills")"; then
+    printf '%s\tlegacy\n' "$dir"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Human-readable name of the source that made superpowers_source() return 2.
+explicit_source_name() {
+  if [ -n "$SUPERPOWERS_FROM" ]; then
+    printf '%s\n' "--superpowers-from $SUPERPOWERS_FROM"
+  else
+    printf '%s\n' "DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE=$DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE"
+  fi
+}
+
+report_invalid_explicit_source() {
+  echo "FAIL: explicit superpowers source $(explicit_source_name) has no using-superpowers/SKILL.md (expected <dir>/skills/... or <dir>/...)" >&2
+}
+
 check() {
   local failed=0
   for cmd in python3 git node; do
@@ -134,12 +203,30 @@ check() {
   else
     echo "WARN: .agents/skills missing; run --openspec in the project" >&2
   fi
+  local src="" rc=0 kind
+  src="$(superpowers_source)" || rc=$?
+  if [ "$rc" -eq 2 ]; then
+    report_invalid_explicit_source
+    failed=1
+  elif [ "$rc" -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [ -f "$DSH_HOME/skills/using-superpowers/SKILL.md" ]; then
+      echo "WARN: no superpowers source; installed skills in $DSH_HOME/skills are used" >&2
+    else
+      echo "WARN: no superpowers source; run: $CLONE_HINT" >&2
+    fi
+  else
+    kind="${src##*$'\t'}"
+    src="${src%%$'\t'*}"
+    if [ "$kind" = legacy ]; then
+      echo "WARN: legacy superpowers source ($src); prefer --superpowers-from or $DSH_HOME/superpowers" >&2
+    else
+      echo "ok: superpowers source ($src)"
+    fi
+  fi
   if [ -f "$DSH_HOME/skills/using-superpowers/SKILL.md" ]; then
     echo "ok: dsh skills ($DSH_HOME/skills)"
-  elif superpowers_skills >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "ok: superpowers source ($(superpowers_skills)); run --skills to copy"
-  else
-    echo "WARN: superpowers plugin not found; the bootstrap will be skipped" >&2
+  elif [ "$rc" -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "WARN: superpowers skills are not copied yet; run --skills" >&2
   fi
   if [ -f "$DSH_HOME/skills/role/SKILL.md" ]; then
     echo "ok: role skill"
@@ -190,14 +277,30 @@ install_global() {
 
 install_skills() {
   mkdir -p "$DSH_HOME/skills"
-  local skills
-  if ! skills="$(superpowers_skills)"; then
-    echo "WARN: superpowers skills not found; nothing copied" >&2
-    return 0
+  local line="" rc=0 source kind count=0
+  line="$(superpowers_source)" || rc=$?
+  if [ "$rc" -eq 2 ]; then
+    report_invalid_explicit_source
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$rc" -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [ -f "$DSH_HOME/skills/using-superpowers/SKILL.md" ]; then
+      echo "WARN: no superpowers source found; keeping installed skills in $DSH_HOME/skills" >&2
+      echo "WARN: next time run: $CLONE_HINT" >&2
+      return 0
+    fi
+    echo "FAIL: no superpowers source found and $DSH_HOME/skills has no using-superpowers" >&2
+    echo "FAIL: get the source once: $CLONE_HINT" >&2
+    echo "FAIL: or pass --superpowers-from <dir>; local skills (role, sdd) are installed by this run" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+  kind="${line##*$'\t'}"
+  source="${line%%$'\t'*}"
+  if [ "$kind" = legacy ]; then
+    echo "WARN: legacy superpowers source $source; prefer --superpowers-from or $DSH_HOME/superpowers" >&2
   fi
-  local count=0
   local dir name dest
-  for dir in "$skills"/*; do
+  for dir in "$source"/*; do
     [ -f "$dir/SKILL.md" ] || continue
     name="$(basename "$dir")"
     dest="$DSH_HOME/skills/$name"
@@ -205,7 +308,7 @@ install_skills() {
     cp -R "$dir" "$dest"
     count=$((count + 1))
   done
-  echo "copied $count superpowers skills into $DSH_HOME/skills"
+  echo "copied $count superpowers skills into $DSH_HOME/skills (source: $source)"
 }
 
 install_local_skills() {
@@ -321,7 +424,9 @@ if [ "$DO_GLOBAL" = 1 ]; then
   install_global
 fi
 if [ "$DO_SKILLS" = 1 ]; then
-  install_skills
+  # Local skills do not depend on superpowers: install them even when the
+  # superpowers source is missing (the FAIL is reported by the exit status).
+  install_skills || status=1
   install_local_skills
 fi
 if [ "$DO_ROLES" = 1 ]; then
diff --git a/dsh/tests/install.test.mjs b/dsh/tests/install.test.mjs
index c04e940..29ea9e8 100644
--- a/dsh/tests/install.test.mjs
+++ b/dsh/tests/install.test.mjs
@@ -76,3 +76,206 @@ test('install.sh copies skills and roles instead of linking into ~/.claude', ()
 function countNotes(text) {
   return (text.match(/В DSH-сессии исполнение плана/g) ?? []).length
 }
+
+function makeSuperpowers(root, body = 'body') {
+  for (const name of ['using-superpowers', 'brainstorming']) {
+    write(join(root, 'skills', name, 'SKILL.md'), `---\nname: ${name}\n---\n${body}\n`)
+  }
+  return root
+}
+
+function makeLegacyCache(home) {
+  const root = join(home, '.claude', 'plugins', 'cache', 'claude-plugins-official', 'superpowers', '7.0.0')
+  makeSuperpowers(root)
+  return join(root, 'skills')
+}
+
+function installerEnv(home) {
+  const env = { ...process.env, HOME: home, DSH_HOME: join(home, '.dsh') }
+  delete env.DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE
+  return env
+}
+
+function runInstaller(home, args, extraEnv = {}) {
+  return spawnSync('bash', [script, ...args], {
+    env: { ...installerEnv(home), ...extraEnv },
+    encoding: 'utf8',
+  })
+}
+
+test('--skills takes superpowers from --superpowers-from in a clean HOME', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const src = makeSuperpowers(join(home, 'src', 'superpowers'))
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills', '--superpowers-from', src])
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, out)
+    assert.match(run.stdout, /copied 2 superpowers skills/)
+    assert.ok(run.stdout.includes(`source: ${join(src, 'skills')}`), out)
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers', 'SKILL.md')))
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'role', 'SKILL.md')))
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'sdd', 'SKILL.md')))
+    assert.equal(existsSync(join(home, '.claude')), false, 'clean HOME must stay clean')
+    assert.doesNotMatch(out, /legacy/)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--superpowers-from accepts the skills directory itself', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const src = makeSuperpowers(join(home, 'src', 'superpowers'))
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills', '--superpowers-from', join(src, 'skills')])
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, run.stdout + run.stderr)
+    assert.match(run.stdout, /copied 2 superpowers skills/)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--superpowers-from accepts a path with spaces', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const src = makeSuperpowers(join(home, 'super powers'))
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills', '--superpowers-from', src])
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, run.stdout + run.stderr)
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers', 'SKILL.md')))
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--superpowers-from wins over DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const fromFlag = makeSuperpowers(join(home, 'flag-source'), 'from-flag')
+    const fromEnv = makeSuperpowers(join(home, 'env-source'), 'from-env')
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills', '--superpowers-from', fromFlag], {
+      DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE: fromEnv,
+    })
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, run.stdout + run.stderr)
+    assert.match(
+      readFileSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers', 'SKILL.md'), 'utf8'),
+      /from-flag/,
+    )
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE is used when the flag is absent', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const fromEnv = makeSuperpowers(join(home, 'env-source'), 'from-env')
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills'], { DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE: fromEnv })
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, run.stdout + run.stderr)
+    assert.match(
+      readFileSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers', 'SKILL.md'), 'utf8'),
+      /from-env/,
+    )
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--skills fails when there is no source and nothing installed', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills'])
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 1, out)
+    assert.match(out, /FAIL: no superpowers source/)
+    assert.match(out, /git clone --depth 1 https:\/\/github\.com\/obra\/superpowers/)
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'role', 'SKILL.md')), 'local skills still installed')
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'sdd', 'SKILL.md')), 'local skills still installed')
+    assert.equal(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers')), false)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--skills keeps installed copies when the source is gone', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const installed = join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers', 'SKILL.md')
+    write(installed, '---\nname: using-superpowers\n---\ninstalled\n')
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills'])
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, out)
+    assert.match(out, /WARN: no superpowers source/)
+    assert.match(readFileSync(installed, 'utf8'), /installed/)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('empty DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE counts as unset', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills'], { DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE: '' })
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 1, out)
+    assert.match(out, /FAIL: no superpowers source/)
+    assert.doesNotMatch(out, /explicit superpowers source/)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('an invalid explicit source fails without touching the legacy cache', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    makeLegacyCache(home)
+    const empty = join(home, 'not-superpowers')
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills', '--superpowers-from', empty])
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 1, out)
+    assert.match(out, /FAIL: explicit superpowers source .* has no using-superpowers\/SKILL\.md/)
+    assert.equal(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'brainstorming')), false)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('the legacy plugin cache still works and warns', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    makeLegacyCache(home)
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--skills'])
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, out)
+    assert.match(out, /WARN: legacy superpowers source/)
+    assert.match(run.stdout, /copied 2 superpowers skills/)
+    assert.ok(existsSync(join(home, '.dsh', 'skills', 'using-superpowers', 'SKILL.md')))
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--check reports the pinned source', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const pinned = join(home, '.dsh', 'superpowers')
+    makeSuperpowers(pinned)
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--check'])
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 0, out)
+    assert.match(out, /ok: superpowers source \(.*superpowers\/skills\)/)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
+
+test('--check fails on an invalid explicit source', () => {
+  const home = tempDir()
+  try {
+    const empty = join(home, 'not-superpowers')
+    const run = runInstaller(home, ['--check'], { DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE: empty })
+    const out = run.stdout + run.stderr
+    assert.equal(run.status, 1, out)
+    assert.match(out, /FAIL: explicit superpowers source/)
+  } finally {
+    cleanup(home)
+  }
+})
diff --git a/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/design.md b/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/design.md
index 7c579a0..b5dde46 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/design.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/design.md
@@ -84,7 +84,10 @@ Issue: #49. Спека: `openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/specs/dsh-install/s
 
 `--check` — диагностика, а не установка: отсутствие superpowers-источника
 остаётся `WARN`, код возврата меняют только жёсткие `FAIL` (python3, git, node,
-хуки, бандл). Так же уже сделано для openspec (#42, R-4).
+хуки, бандл). Так же уже сделано для openspec (#42, R-4). Исключение —
+невалидный **явный** источник (`--superpowers-from`/`DSH_SUPERPOWERS_SOURCE`):
+это ошибка конфигурации пользователя, `--check` даёт `FAIL`, иначе опечатка
+выглядит как «источника нет».
 
 ## 3. Формулировки, которые попадут в установленный AGENTS.md
 
diff --git a/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/specs/dsh-install/spec.md b/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/specs/dsh-install/spec.md
index 3ebc627..57ad9a8 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/specs/dsh-install/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/dsh-install-source/specs/dsh-install/spec.md
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ SHALL оставаться fallback'ом для машин, где `--skills --r
   источник, но `--skills` печатает `WARN: legacy superpowers source` с
   подсказкой перейти на пиннинг/флаг.
 - `--check`: legacy-источник — `WARN`, явный/пиннинг — `ok`, отсутствие —
-  `WARN` с подсказкой.
+  `WARN` с подсказкой, невалидный явный источник — `FAIL` и код 1
+  (пользователь задал его сам, подсказка «нет источника» здесь неверна).
 - Runtime: bootstrap и резолвер ролей сохраняют порядок `~/.dsh` → `~/.claude`,
   но при выборе legacy-пути один раз за процесс пишут в лог предупреждение.
 - Удаление fallback'ов — отдельное изменение; в этом change они не удаляются.