diff --git a/src/hawk/memory_tools.py b/src/hawk/memory_tools.py
index f5491b7..be8c539 100644
--- a/src/hawk/memory_tools.py
+++ b/src/hawk/memory_tools.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """Memory-as-voluntary-tools for agent-driven memory management.
 
 Lets agents strategically decide what to remember/recall rather than
-auto-ingesting everything. Wraps yaad's memory API as tool functions.
+auto-ingesting everything. Wraps any MemoryBackend-compatible client
+as tool functions.
 
 Usage:
     from hawk.memory_tools import MemoryTools
@@ -12,11 +13,28 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Protocol, runtime_checkable
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Sequence
 
 from .tools import Tool
 
 
+@runtime_checkable
+class MemoryBackend(Protocol):
+    """Structural interface for persistent memory backends.
+
+    Any object with ``remember`` and ``recall`` methods satisfying these
+    signatures is accepted — no import or inheritance required.
+    """
+
+    def remember(self, content: str, *, session_id: str | None = None) -> Any: ...
+    def recall(
+        self, query: str, *, limit: int = 5, session_id: str | None = None
+    ) -> Sequence[str]: ...
+
+
 class MemoryTools:
     """Provides record/retrieve memory operations as agent tools.
 
@@ -30,6 +48,9 @@ def __init__(self, client: Any, *, session_id: str | None = None) -> None:
         self._client = client
         self._session_id = session_id
         self._local_memories: list[dict[str, str]] = []
+        self._backend: MemoryBackend | None = (
+            client if hasattr(client, "remember") and hasattr(client, "recall") else None
+        )
 
     def record_memory(
         self, content: str, category: str = "general", importance: str = "normal"
@@ -42,15 +63,14 @@ def record_memory(
         }
         self._local_memories.append(memory)
 
-        # If client supports yaad memory API, persist
-        try:
-            if hasattr(self._client, "remember"):
-                self._client.remember(content, session_id=self._session_id)
+        if self._backend is not None:
+            try:
+                self._backend.remember(content, session_id=self._session_id)
                 return f"Recorded to persistent memory: '{content[:100]}...'"
-        except Exception as exc:
-            import logging
+            except Exception as exc:
+                import logging
 
-            logging.getLogger(__name__).debug("Failed to persist memory via yaad: %s", exc)
+                logging.getLogger(__name__).debug("Failed to persist memory: %s", exc)
 
         return f"Recorded to session memory: '{content[:100]}...'"
 
@@ -58,18 +78,17 @@ def retrieve_memories(self, query: str, limit: int = 5) -> str:
         """Retrieve relevant memories for the current context."""
         results = []
 
-        # Try yaad recall
-        try:
-            if hasattr(self._client, "recall"):
-                recalled = self._client.recall(query, limit=limit, session_id=self._session_id)
+        if self._backend is not None:
+            try:
+                recalled = self._backend.recall(query, limit=limit, session_id=self._session_id)
                 if recalled:
                     return f"Recalled {len(recalled)} memories:\n" + "\n".join(
                         f"- {m}" for m in recalled
                     )
-        except Exception as exc:
-            import logging
+            except Exception as exc:
+                import logging
 
-            logging.getLogger(__name__).debug("Failed to recall memories via yaad: %s", exc)
+                logging.getLogger(__name__).debug("Failed to recall memories: %s", exc)
 
         # Fallback to local fuzzy match
         query_lower = query.lower()