diff --git a/gateway/platforms/base.py b/gateway/platforms/base.py
index 4d611fdaa5..8b34f461aa 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/base.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/base.py
@@ -2675,10 +2675,11 @@ class BasePlatformAdapter(ABC):
         mode = os.getenv("HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MODE", "off").lower()
         if mode == "off":
             return 0.0
-        min_ms = int(os.getenv("HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MIN_MS", "800"))
-        max_ms = int(os.getenv("HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MAX_MS", "2500"))
         if mode == "natural":
             min_ms, max_ms = 800, 2500
+            return random.uniform(min_ms / 1000.0, max_ms / 1000.0)
+        min_ms = int(os.getenv("HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MIN_MS", "800"))
+        max_ms = int(os.getenv("HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MAX_MS", "2500"))
         return random.uniform(min_ms / 1000.0, max_ms / 1000.0)
 
     async def _process_message_background(self, event: MessageEvent, session_key: str) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_platform_base.py b/tests/gateway/test_platform_base.py
index a6e0d51d60..dd6ffaf951 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_platform_base.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_platform_base.py
@@ -492,6 +492,16 @@ class TestGetHumanDelay:
             delay = BasePlatformAdapter._get_human_delay()
             assert 0.8 <= delay <= 2.5
 
+    def test_natural_mode_ignores_malformed_custom_env_vars(self):
+        env = {
+            "HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MODE": "natural",
+            "HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MIN_MS": "oops",
+            "HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MAX_MS": "still-bad",
+        }
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, env):
+            delay = BasePlatformAdapter._get_human_delay()
+            assert 0.8 <= delay <= 2.5
+
     def test_custom_mode_uses_env_vars(self):
         env = {
             "HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_MODE": "custom",