diff --git a/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json b/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
index 882df19c5ed..e9edf4ae7a4 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
+++ b/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
@@ -3465,6 +3465,7 @@
 	"settings.context.skills.empty.description": "Add a skill by hand or upload a SKILL.md file. Agents in the scope of the skill can then use it.",
 	"settings.context.skills.modal.scope.label": "Where can this skill be added?",
 	"settings.context.skills.modal.scope.tooltip": "A global skill can be added to any agent. A project skill can be added to the agents of that project. An agent skill belongs to one agent.",
+	"settings.context.skills.modal.scope.noDelete": "You need permission to delete this skill to move it, because moving removes it from where it is now.",
 	"settings.context.skills.modal.scope.inUse": "Used by {count} agent. Remove the skill from it to change where it is available. | Used by {count} agents. Remove the skill from them to change where it is available.",
 	"settings.context.skills.delete.inUse": "Used by {count} agent. Remove the skill from the agent first. | Used by {count} agents. Remove the skill from each agent first.",
 	"settings.context.skills.delete.confirm.title": "Delete skill?",
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.test.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.test.ts
index f90f6b4ae4a..3180690a9d3 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.test.ts
@@ -335,6 +335,22 @@ describe('SettingsSkillsView', () => {
 			);
 		});
 
+		it('locks the scope when the user may edit but not delete the skill', async () => {
+			skillsStore.skills = [skill()];
+			skillsStore.count = 1;
+			skillsStore.fetchSkill.mockResolvedValue(detail({ canEdit: true, canDelete: false }));
+			const { getByText } = renderView();
+			await new Promise(process.nextTick);
+
+			await userEvent.click(getByText('research-search'));
+			await new Promise(process.nextTick);
+
+			expect(lastModalData().readOnly).toBe(false);
+			expect(lastModalData().scopeLockedReason).toBe(
+				'You need permission to delete this skill to move it, because moving removes it from where it is now.',
+			);
+		});
+
 		it('moves an unused skill to the scope the user picks', async () => {
 			skillsStore.skills = [skill()];
 			skillsStore.count = 1;
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.vue b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.vue
index 26c1c94d7b2..73a53fbc232 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.vue
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/context/views/SettingsSkillsView.vue
@@ -245,6 +245,28 @@ function scopeValueOf(skill: Pick<SkillListItem, 'scope' | 'projectId'>): string
 	return skill.scope;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Why the scope of a saved skill cannot change, if it cannot. The backend refuses a move
+ * while an agent uses the skill, and a move needs the delete permission where the skill is,
+ * because it takes the skill out of that scope.
+ */
+function scopeLock(
+	detail: Pick<SkillListItem, 'usedByAgents' | 'canDelete'>,
+): Pick<AgentSkillModalData, 'scopeLockedReason'> {
+	if (detail.usedByAgents > 0) {
+		return {
+			scopeLockedReason: i18n.baseText('settings.context.skills.modal.scope.inUse', {
+				interpolate: { count: detail.usedByAgents },
+				adjustToNumber: detail.usedByAgents,
+			}),
+		};
+	}
+	if (!detail.canDelete) {
+		return { scopeLockedReason: i18n.baseText('settings.context.skills.modal.scope.noDelete') };
+	}
+	return {};
+}
+
 async function openEditModal(item: Pick<SkillListItem, 'id'>) {
 	try {
 		const detail = await skillsStore.fetchSkill(item.id);
@@ -254,22 +276,13 @@ async function openEditModal(item: Pick<SkillListItem, 'id'>) {
 		const options = scopeOptions.value.some((option) => option.value === currentValue)
 			? scopeOptions.value
 			: [{ value: currentValue, ...scopeDisplay(detail) }, ...scopeOptions.value];
-		// The backend refuses to move a skill while an agent uses it.
-		const inUse = detail.usedByAgents > 0;
 		openModal({
 			skill: detail.skill,
 			skillId: detail.id,
 			readOnly: !detail.canEdit,
 			scopeOptions: options,
 			initialScope: currentValue,
-			...(inUse
-				? {
-						scopeLockedReason: i18n.baseText('settings.context.skills.modal.scope.inUse', {
-							interpolate: { count: detail.usedByAgents },
-							adjustToNumber: detail.usedByAgents,
-						}),
-					}
-				: {}),
+			...scopeLock(detail),
 			existingSkillNames: [],
 			onConfirm: async ({ skill, scope }) =>
 				await onSave(