Set up and verify AgentGuards in Gemini CLI. Use when the user asks to configure AgentGuards, set their API key, or check that the guardrails are wired up correctly.
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Added September 19, 2026
ai-agentsshellbashrailsapi
Works with
cli
api
mcp
Security analysis
D50/100
criticalModifies startup scripts or system services for persistence
criticalModifies startup scripts or system services for persistence
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---
name: setup
description: Set up and verify AgentGuards in Gemini CLI. Use when the user asks to configure AgentGuards, set their API key, or check that the guardrails are wired up correctly.
---
# AgentGuards setup
Guide the user through finishing AgentGuards setup after installing the
extension. The extension already bundles the MCP server and the enforcing
hooks — the only thing the user must supply is their API key.
## Steps
1. **Check for the API key.** Look for the `AGENTGUARDS_API_KEY` environment
variable. If it is missing or does not start with `ag_`, tell the user to:
- Get a key from the dashboard at https://agentguards.co/dashboard/keys
- Export it so both the MCP server and the hooks can read it. For the current
shell and future sessions, add to their shell profile
(`~/.bashrc`, `~/.zshrc`, etc.):
```
export AGENTGUARDS_API_KEY=ag_your_token_here
```
- Restart Gemini CLI (or start a new session) so the MCP server and hooks
pick up the key from the environment.
2. **Confirm the URL (optional).** AgentGuards defaults to
`https://prod.agentguards.co`. Only set `AGENTGUARDS_URL` if the user runs a
self-hosted instance.
3. **Fail-open vs fail-closed.** The hooks fail **closed** by default — if the
AgentGuards service is unreachable, actions are blocked. A user who prefers
availability over strict enforcement can set `AGENTGUARDS_FAIL_OPEN=true`.
Mention this only if they ask or report unexpected blocks.
4. **Verify.** Call the AgentGuards `health_check` tool from the `agentguards`
MCP server. Report whether the service is reachable and which key prefix is
active. If it fails, the most common cause is `AGENTGUARDS_API_KEY` not being
exported in the environment Gemini CLI was launched from.
5. **Summarize what is now active:** `BeforeAgent` input scanning, `BeforeTool`
shell-command authorization, `AfterTool` web-content scanning, and the
`check_input` / `authorize_action` MCP tools.