diff --git a/hermes_cli/memory_setup.py b/hermes_cli/memory_setup.py
index 8b076da2884..86e5e1cd6de 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/memory_setup.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/memory_setup.py
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ def _print_cancelled_setup() -> None:
     print("\n  Cancelled. No changes saved.\n")
 
 
+def _clear_interactive_transition() -> None:
+    """Clear stale curses content before entering a follow-up setup screen."""
+    if not sys.stdout.isatty():
+        return
+    sys.stdout.write("\033[2J\033[H")
+    sys.stdout.flush()
+
+
 def _prompt(label: str, default: str | None = None, secret: bool = False) -> str:
     """Prompt for a value with optional default and secret masking."""
     suffix = f" [{default}]" if default else ""
@@ -276,6 +284,8 @@ def cmd_setup(args) -> None:
 
     name, _, provider = providers[selected]
 
+    _clear_interactive_transition()
+
     # Install pip dependencies if declared in plugin.yaml
     _install_dependencies(name)
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_memory_setup.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_memory_setup.py
index b458a1d2d6a..689dc670cb4 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_memory_setup.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_memory_setup.py
@@ -76,6 +76,25 @@ def test_cmd_setup_builtin_selection_still_saves_builtin(monkeypatch):
     save_config.assert_called_once_with(config)
 
 
+def test_cmd_setup_clears_interactive_picker_before_provider_post_setup(monkeypatch):
+    events = []
+
+    class PostSetupProvider:
+        def post_setup(self, hermes_home, config):
+            events.append("post_setup")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(memory_setup, "_get_available_providers", lambda: [("openviking", "local", PostSetupProvider())])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(memory_setup, "_curses_select", lambda *args, **kwargs: events.append("select") or 0)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(memory_setup, "_clear_interactive_transition", lambda: events.append("clear"), raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(memory_setup, "_install_dependencies", lambda name: events.append("install"))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(memory_setup, "get_hermes_home", lambda: "/tmp/hermes-test")
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.config.load_config", lambda: {"memory": {}})
+
+    memory_setup.cmd_setup(SimpleNamespace())
+
+    assert events == ["select", "clear", "install", "post_setup"]
+
+
 def test_cmd_setup_generic_choice_cancel_writes_nothing(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     class ChoiceProvider:
         def __init__(self):