diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 151ae4615..0469d09b4 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -2163,6 +2163,12 @@ class HermesCLI:
     def show_banner(self):
         """Display the welcome banner in Claude Code style."""
         self.console.clear()
+
+        # Get context length for display before branching so it remains
+        # available to the low-context warning logic in compact mode too.
+        ctx_len = None
+        if hasattr(self, 'agent') and self.agent and hasattr(self.agent, 'context_compressor'):
+            ctx_len = self.agent.context_compressor.context_length
         
         # Auto-compact for narrow terminals — the full banner with caduceus
         # + tool list needs ~80 columns minimum to render without wrapping.
@@ -2179,11 +2185,6 @@ class HermesCLI:
             # Get terminal working directory (where commands will execute)
             cwd = os.getenv("TERMINAL_CWD", os.getcwd())
             
-            # Get context length for display
-            ctx_len = None
-            if hasattr(self, 'agent') and self.agent and hasattr(self.agent, 'context_compressor'):
-                ctx_len = self.agent.context_compressor.context_length
-            
             # Build and display the banner
             build_welcome_banner(
                 console=self.console,
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_context_warning.py b/tests/test_cli_context_warning.py
index fa0305a27..abf9c1349 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_context_warning.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_context_warning.py
@@ -145,3 +145,15 @@ class TestLowContextWarning:
         calls = [str(c) for c in cli_obj.console.print.call_args_list]
         warning_calls = [c for c in calls if "too low" in c]
         assert len(warning_calls) == 0
+
+    def test_compact_banner_does_not_crash_on_narrow_terminal(self, cli_obj):
+        """Compact mode should still have ctx_len defined for warning logic."""
+        cli_obj.agent.context_compressor.context_length = 4096
+
+        with patch("shutil.get_terminal_size", return_value=os.terminal_size((70, 40))), \
+             patch("cli._build_compact_banner", return_value="compact banner"):
+            cli_obj.show_banner()
+
+        calls = [str(c) for c in cli_obj.console.print.call_args_list]
+        warning_calls = [c for c in calls if "too low" in c]
+        assert len(warning_calls) == 1