diff --git a/src/cmdforge/cli/__init__.py b/src/cmdforge/cli/__init__.py
index 5b5d393..5d17ef6 100644
--- a/src/cmdforge/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cmdforge/cli/__init__.py
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def main():
 
     # registry update-readme
     p_reg_update_readme = registry_sub.add_parser("update-readme", help="Update README for a published tool")
-    p_reg_update_readme.add_argument("tool", help="Tool name (local name, will resolve owner)")
+    p_reg_update_readme.add_argument("tool", nargs="?", default="", help="Tool name (local name, will resolve owner)")
     p_reg_update_readme.add_argument("--all", action="store_true", dest="update_all", help="Update README for all published tools that have a local README.md")
     p_reg_update_readme.set_defaults(func=cmd_registry)
 
diff --git a/src/cmdforge/cli/registry_commands.py b/src/cmdforge/cli/registry_commands.py
index 0feb048..1204d0e 100644
--- a/src/cmdforge/cli/registry_commands.py
+++ b/src/cmdforge/cli/registry_commands.py
@@ -688,6 +688,9 @@ def _cmd_registry_update_readme(args):
 
     # Single tool mode
     tool_name = args.tool
+    if not tool_name:
+        print("Error: tool name required (or use --all)", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
     tool_dir = TOOLS_DIR / tool_name
     config_path = tool_dir / "config.yaml"
     readme_path = tool_dir / "README.md"
diff --git a/src/cmdforge/registry/app.py b/src/cmdforge/registry/app.py
index ce1402d..8cd49f9 100644
--- a/src/cmdforge/registry/app.py
+++ b/src/cmdforge/registry/app.py
@@ -2819,7 +2819,8 @@ def create_app() -> Flask:
     @require_token
     def update_tool_readme(owner: str, name: str) -> Response:
         """Update the README for an existing tool without affecting config or hash."""
-        if g.current_publisher["slug"] != owner:
+        is_admin = g.current_publisher.get("role") == "admin"
+        if g.current_publisher["slug"] != owner and not is_admin:
             return error_response("FORBIDDEN", "You can only update your own tools", 403)
 
         data = request.get_json() or {}