diff --git a/src/ax/dsp/generate.ts b/src/ax/dsp/generate.ts
index 2fc36e67d..f972abd18 100644
--- a/src/ax/dsp/generate.ts
+++ b/src/ax/dsp/generate.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ export class AxGen<IN = any, OUT extends AxGenOut = any>
     this.promptTemplate.setInstruction(instruction);
   }
 
+  public getInstruction(): string {
+    return this.promptTemplate.getInstruction();
+  }
+
   private getSignatureName(): string {
     return this.signature.getDescription() || 'unknown_signature';
   }
diff --git a/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.test.ts b/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b762ff859
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { AxGEPA } from './gepa.js';
+import { ax } from '../template.js';
+import type { AxAIService } from '../../ai/types.js';
+import { vi, describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+
+describe('AxGEPA Optimizer', () => {
+  it('should use the instruction from the program', async () => {
+    const ai: AxAIService = {
+      name: 'mockAI',
+      chat: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        results: [{ content: JSON.stringify({ answer: '4' }) }],
+      }),
+      getOptions: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({}),
+      getLogger: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined),
+      clone: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+    };
+
+    const program = ax('question:string -> answer:string');
+    const customInstruction = 'This is a custom instruction.';
+    program.setInstruction(customInstruction);
+
+    const examples = [
+      { question: 'What is 2+2?', answer: '4' },
+      { question: 'What is 3+3?', answer: '6' },
+    ];
+
+    const metricFn = () => 1;
+
+    const optimizer = new AxGEPA({
+      studentAI: ai,
+      teacherAI: ai,
+      numTrials: 1, // Run only one trial for a predictable test
+    });
+
+    // Spy on getBaseInstruction to confirm it's called and what it returns.
+    const getBaseInstructionSpy = vi.spyOn(
+      optimizer,
+      'getBaseInstruction' as any
+    );
+
+    // Mock the reflectInstruction to prevent it from running and making real AI calls
+    const reflectSpy = vi
+      .spyOn(optimizer, 'reflectInstruction' as any)
+      .mockResolvedValue('a new evolved instruction');
+
+    await optimizer.compile(program, examples, metricFn, {
+      maxMetricCalls: 10,
+    });
+
+    // 1. Verify that our patched getBaseInstruction is working
+    expect(getBaseInstructionSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    const baseInstruction = await getBaseInstructionSpy.mock.results[0].value;
+    expect(baseInstruction).toBe(customInstruction);
+
+    // 2. Verify that this base instruction is passed to the first reflection call
+    expect(reflectSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(reflectSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      customInstruction,
+      expect.anything(),
+      expect.anything(),
+      expect.anything(),
+      expect.anything()
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.ts b/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.ts
index 59efcd964..543a0b06b 100644
--- a/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.ts
+++ b/src/ax/dsp/optimizers/gepa.ts
@@ -836,17 +836,10 @@ export class AxGEPA extends AxBaseOptimizer {
   private async getBaseInstruction<IN, OUT extends AxGenOut>(
     program: Readonly<AxGen<IN, OUT>>
   ): Promise<string> {
-    try {
-      // If program exposes instruction via signature, prefer it
-      const sig: any = program.getSignature?.();
-      if (
-        sig &&
-        typeof sig.instruction === 'string' &&
-        sig.instruction.length > 0
-      ) {
-        return sig.instruction as string;
-      }
-    } catch {}
+    const instruction = program.getInstruction();
+    if (instruction && instruction.length > 0) {
+      return instruction;
+    }
     return 'Follow the task precisely. Be concise, correct, and consistent.';
   }
 
diff --git a/src/ax/dsp/prompt.ts b/src/ax/dsp/prompt.ts
index 9b2072fa3..e663e1f5e 100644
--- a/src/ax/dsp/prompt.ts
+++ b/src/ax/dsp/prompt.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ export class AxPromptTemplate {
   public setInstruction(instruction: string): void {
     this.task = { type: 'text', text: instruction };
   }
+
+  public getInstruction(): string {
+    return this.task.text;
+  }
   private readonly thoughtFieldName: string;
   private readonly functions?: Readonly<AxInputFunctionType>;
   private readonly cacheSystemPrompt?: boolean;