diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 117afbd..8917f70 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "analysis-workflow",
-  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "version": "0.4.1",
   "description": "Conventions for analysis repos where humans (notebooks) and coding agents (scripts) work side by side: one task per session, worktree and directory; worktree-safe output paths; additive write-back to AnnData zarr working objects. Ships a skill, guard hooks and the analysis_workflow Python package.",
   "author": {
     "name": "quadbio"
diff --git a/hooks/session_start.py b/hooks/session_start.py
index ab1d6ea..4627851 100644
--- a/hooks/session_start.py
+++ b/hooks/session_start.py
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ def main() -> int:
         print(f"\nEvery Bash command runs on `{variables['CONDA_PREFIX']}`: run `python …` directly.")
     else:
         print(f"\nNo environment is active: run `pixi run --manifest-path {main_checkout}/pixi.toml --as-is …`.")
-    if deliverables := os.environ.get("CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_DELIVERABLES", "").strip():
+    manifest = json.loads((Path(__file__).parents[1] / ".claude-plugin" / "plugin.json").read_text())
+    default = manifest["userConfig"]["deliverables"]["default"]  # Claude Code sets the variable only once it is saved
+    if deliverables := os.environ.get("CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_DELIVERABLES", default).strip():
         print(f"Default deliverables, from the plugin settings: {deliverables}.")
     return 0
 
diff --git a/tests/test_hooks.py b/tests/test_hooks.py
index 932fbf6..c466fc3 100644
--- a/tests/test_hooks.py
+++ b/tests/test_hooks.py
@@ -291,7 +291,9 @@ def test_guards_ignore_repos_that_have_not_adopted_the_plugin(unadopted_repo):
 
 def session_start(cwd: Path, **env: str) -> str:
     payload = json.dumps({"hook_event_name": "SessionStart", "cwd": str(cwd)})
-    environ = {k: v for k, v in os.environ.items() if k != "CLAUDE_ENV_FILE"} | env
+    environ = {
+        k: v for k, v in os.environ.items() if k != "CLAUDE_ENV_FILE" and not k.startswith("CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_")
+    } | env
     return subprocess.run(
         [sys.executable, HOOKS / "session_start.py"],
         input=payload,
@@ -310,10 +312,13 @@ def test_session_start_prints_the_rules_only_in_an_adopted_repo(repo, unadopted_
     assert session_start(unadopted_repo[0]) == session_start(tmp_path) == ""
 
 
-def test_session_start_lists_the_default_deliverables_when_set(repo):
+def test_session_start_lists_the_default_deliverables(repo):
     main, _ = repo
-    line = "Default deliverables, from the plugin settings: a figure."
-    assert line in session_start(main, CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_DELIVERABLES="a figure")
+    manifest = json.loads((HOOKS.parent / ".claude-plugin" / "plugin.json").read_text())
+    default = manifest["userConfig"]["deliverables"]["default"]
+    assert f"Default deliverables, from the plugin settings: {default}." in session_start(main)
+    line = "Default deliverables, from the plugin settings: a report."
+    assert line in session_start(main, CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_DELIVERABLES="a report")
     assert "Default deliverables" not in session_start(main, CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_DELIVERABLES="")