diff --git a/hermes_cli/doctor.py b/hermes_cli/doctor.py
index 446f576a61..21e6cd05ce 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/doctor.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/doctor.py
@@ -1264,9 +1264,23 @@ def run_doctor(args):
         check_warn("Skills Hub directory not initialized", "(run: hermes skills list)")
 
     from hermes_cli.config import get_env_value
+
+    def _gh_authenticated() -> bool:
+        """Check if gh CLI is authenticated via token file or device flow."""
+        try:
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                ["gh", "auth", "status", "--json", "authenticated"],
+                capture_output=True, timeout=10,
+            )
+            return result.returncode == 0
+        except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired):
+            return False
+
     github_token = get_env_value("GITHUB_TOKEN") or get_env_value("GH_TOKEN")
     if github_token:
         check_ok("GitHub token configured (authenticated API access)")
+    elif _gh_authenticated():
+        check_ok("GitHub authenticated via gh CLI", "(full API access — no GITHUB_TOKEN needed)")
     else:
         check_warn("No GITHUB_TOKEN", f"(60 req/hr rate limit — set in {_DHH}/.env for better rates)")
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py
index de80e240d1..0f48606141 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py
@@ -663,3 +663,79 @@ def test_run_doctor_opencode_go_skips_invalid_models_probe(monkeypatch, tmp_path
     )
     assert not any(url == "https://opencode.ai/zen/go/v1/models" for url, _, _ in calls)
     assert not any("opencode" in url.lower() and "models" in url.lower() for url, _, _ in calls)
+
+
+class TestGitHubTokenCheck:
+    """Tests for GitHub token / gh auth detection in doctor."""
+
+    def test_no_token_and_not_gh_authenticated_shows_warn(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+        home.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(home))
+        monkeypatch.setenv("PATH", "/nonexistent")  # gh not found
+
+        from hermes_cli.doctor import run_doctor, _DHH
+        import io, contextlib
+
+        buf = io.StringIO()
+        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(buf):
+            run_doctor(Namespace(fix=False))
+        out = buf.getvalue()
+
+        assert "No GITHUB_TOKEN" in out
+        assert "60 req/hr" in out
+
+    def test_token_env_present_shows_ok(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+        home.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(home))
+        monkeypatch.setenv("GITHUB_TOKEN", "ghp_test123")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("PATH", "/nonexistent")  # gh not found
+
+        from hermes_cli.doctor import run_doctor
+        import io, contextlib
+
+        buf = io.StringIO()
+        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(buf):
+            run_doctor(Namespace(fix=False))
+        out = buf.getvalue()
+
+        assert "GitHub token configured" in out
+
+    def test_gh_authenticated_without_env_token_shows_ok(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+        home.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(home))
+        # No GITHUB_TOKEN or GH_TOKEN
+        monkeypatch.delenv("GITHUB_TOKEN", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("GH_TOKEN", raising=False)
+
+        # Mock gh to return success
+        import shutil
+        real_which = shutil.which
+        def mock_which(cmd):
+            return "/usr/local/bin/gh" if cmd == "gh" else real_which(cmd)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(shutil, "which", mock_which)
+
+        call_log = []
+        def mock_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+            call_log.append(cmd)
+            if cmd[:2] == ["gh", "auth"]:
+                result = types.SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+            else:
+                result = types.SimpleNamespace(returncode=1, stdout="", stderr="")
+            return result
+
+        import subprocess
+        monkeypatch.setattr(subprocess, "run", mock_run)
+
+        from hermes_cli.doctor import run_doctor
+        import io, contextlib
+
+        buf = io.StringIO()
+        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(buf):
+            run_doctor(Namespace(fix=False))
+        out = buf.getvalue()
+
+        assert "gh auth" in str(call_log) or any(c[0] == "gh" for c in call_log), f"gh not called: {call_log}"
+        assert "GitHub authenticated via gh CLI" in out or "token configured" in out