diff --git a/codex-rs/app-server/tests/suite/v2/plugin_read.rs b/codex-rs/app-server/tests/suite/v2/plugin_read.rs
index f5681e9d4..e79a72a92 100644
--- a/codex-rs/app-server/tests/suite/v2/plugin_read.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/app-server/tests/suite/v2/plugin_read.rs
@@ -511,6 +511,76 @@ async fn plugin_read_accepts_legacy_string_default_prompt() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn plugin_read_describes_uninstalled_git_source_without_cloning() -> Result<()> {
+    let codex_home = TempDir::new()?;
+    let repo_root = TempDir::new()?;
+    let missing_remote_repo = repo_root.path().join("missing-remote-plugin-repo");
+    let missing_remote_repo_url = url::Url::from_directory_path(&missing_remote_repo)
+        .unwrap()
+        .to_string();
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(repo_root.path().join(".git"))?;
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(repo_root.path().join(".agents/plugins"))?;
+    std::fs::write(
+        repo_root.path().join(".agents/plugins/marketplace.json"),
+        format!(
+            r#"{{
+  "name": "debug",
+  "plugins": [
+    {{
+      "name": "toolkit",
+      "source": {{
+        "source": "git-subdir",
+        "url": "{missing_remote_repo_url}",
+        "path": "plugins/toolkit"
+      }}
+    }}
+  ]
+}}"#
+        ),
+    )?;
+    write_plugins_enabled_config(&codex_home)?;
+
+    let mut mcp = McpProcess::new(codex_home.path()).await?;
+    timeout(DEFAULT_TIMEOUT, mcp.initialize()).await??;
+
+    let request_id = mcp
+        .send_plugin_read_request(PluginReadParams {
+            marketplace_path: Some(AbsolutePathBuf::try_from(
+                repo_root.path().join(".agents/plugins/marketplace.json"),
+            )?),
+            remote_marketplace_name: None,
+            plugin_name: "toolkit".to_string(),
+        })
+        .await?;
+
+    let response: JSONRPCResponse = timeout(
+        DEFAULT_TIMEOUT,
+        mcp.read_stream_until_response_message(RequestId::Integer(request_id)),
+    )
+    .await??;
+    let response: PluginReadResponse = to_response(response)?;
+
+    let expected_description = format!(
+        "This is a cross-repo plugin. Install it to view more detailed information. The source of the plugin is {missing_remote_repo_url}, path `plugins/toolkit`."
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        response.plugin.description.as_deref(),
+        Some(expected_description.as_str())
+    );
+    assert!(!response.plugin.summary.installed);
+    assert!(response.plugin.skills.is_empty());
+    assert!(response.plugin.apps.is_empty());
+    assert!(response.plugin.mcp_servers.is_empty());
+    assert!(
+        !codex_home
+            .path()
+            .join("plugins/.marketplace-plugin-source-staging")
+            .exists()
+    );
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn plugin_read_returns_invalid_request_when_plugin_is_missing() -> Result<()> {
     let codex_home = TempDir::new()?;
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager.rs
index 2be36210e..794d1f243 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager.rs
@@ -1058,10 +1058,11 @@ impl PluginsManager {
             })?;
         let plugin_key = plugin_id.as_key();
         if matches!(plugin.source, MarketplacePluginSource::Git { .. }) && !plugin.installed {
+            let description = remote_plugin_install_required_description(&plugin.source);
             return Ok(PluginDetail {
                 id: plugin_key,
                 name: plugin.name,
-                description: None,
+                description: Some(description),
                 source: plugin.source,
                 policy: plugin.policy,
                 interface: plugin.interface,
@@ -1495,6 +1496,34 @@ impl PluginsManager {
     }
 }
 
+fn remote_plugin_install_required_description(source: &MarketplacePluginSource) -> String {
+    let source_description = match source {
+        MarketplacePluginSource::Git {
+            url,
+            path,
+            ref_name,
+            sha,
+        } => {
+            let mut parts = vec![url.clone()];
+            if let Some(path) = path {
+                parts.push(format!("path `{path}`"));
+            }
+            if let Some(ref_name) = ref_name {
+                parts.push(format!("ref `{ref_name}`"));
+            }
+            if let Some(sha) = sha {
+                parts.push(format!("sha `{sha}`"));
+            }
+            parts.join(", ")
+        }
+        MarketplacePluginSource::Local { path } => path.as_path().display().to_string(),
+    };
+
+    format!(
+        "This is a cross-repo plugin. Install it to view more detailed information. The source of the plugin is {source_description}."
+    )
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
 pub enum PluginInstallError {
     #[error("{0}")]
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager_tests.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager_tests.rs
index 4f327637b..e43490803 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager_tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/plugins/manager_tests.rs
@@ -1623,7 +1623,13 @@ plugins = true
         Some(PluginDetailsUnavailableReason::InstallRequiredForRemoteSource)
     );
     assert!(!outcome.plugin.installed);
-    assert!(outcome.plugin.description.is_none());
+    let expected_description = format!(
+        "This is a cross-repo plugin. Install it to view more detailed information. The source of the plugin is {missing_remote_repo_url}, path `plugins/toolkit`."
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        outcome.plugin.description.as_deref(),
+        Some(expected_description.as_str())
+    );
     assert!(outcome.plugin.skills.is_empty());
     assert!(outcome.plugin.apps.is_empty());
     assert!(outcome.plugin.mcp_server_names.is_empty());