diff --git a/hermes_cli/skin_engine.py b/hermes_cli/skin_engine.py
index b992ada06f..160e7c119c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/skin_engine.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/skin_engine.py
@@ -708,7 +708,9 @@ def init_skin_from_config(config: dict) -> None:
 
     Call this once during CLI init with the loaded config dict.
     """
-    display = config.get("display", {})
+    display = config.get("display") or {}
+    if not isinstance(display, dict):
+        display = {}
     skin_name = display.get("skin", "default")
     if isinstance(skin_name, str) and skin_name.strip():
         set_active_skin(skin_name.strip())
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_skin_engine.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_skin_engine.py
index aadcde3a6f..3ce185b82a 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_skin_engine.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_skin_engine.py
@@ -152,6 +152,24 @@ class TestSkinManagement:
         init_skin_from_config({})
         assert get_active_skin_name() == "default"
 
+    def test_init_skin_from_null_display(self):
+        """display: null should fall back to default, not crash."""
+        from hermes_cli.skin_engine import init_skin_from_config, get_active_skin_name
+        init_skin_from_config({"display": None})
+        assert get_active_skin_name() == "default"
+
+    def test_init_skin_from_non_dict_display(self):
+        """display: <non-dict> should fall back to default."""
+        from hermes_cli.skin_engine import init_skin_from_config, get_active_skin_name
+        init_skin_from_config({"display": "invalid"})
+        assert get_active_skin_name() == "default"
+
+        init_skin_from_config({"display": 42})
+        assert get_active_skin_name() == "default"
+
+        init_skin_from_config({"display": []})
+        assert get_active_skin_name() == "default"
+
 
 class TestUserSkins:
     def test_load_user_skin_from_yaml(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):