diff --git a/hermes_cli/doctor.py b/hermes_cli/doctor.py
index a279306a94f..619d00df8ab 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/doctor.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/doctor.py
@@ -2040,7 +2040,15 @@ def run_doctor(args):
             _honcho_cfg_path = resolve_config_path()
 
             if not _honcho_cfg_path.exists():
-                check_warn("Honcho config not found", "run: hermes memory setup")
+                # Config file missing — but env var fallback may have resolved it.
+                # Only warn if the config didn't actually resolve from env vars.
+                if hcfg.api_key or hcfg.base_url:
+                    check_ok(
+                        "Honcho configured via environment variables",
+                        f"config file {_honcho_cfg_path} not found, using HONCHO_API_KEY env var",
+                    )
+                else:
+                    check_warn("Honcho config not found", "run: hermes memory setup")
             elif not hcfg.enabled:
                 check_info(f"Honcho disabled (set enabled: true in {_honcho_cfg_path} to activate)")
             elif not (hcfg.api_key or hcfg.base_url):
diff --git a/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py b/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py
index ce2af8a08b2..16f81ef88e9 100644
--- a/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py
+++ b/plugins/memory/honcho/cli.py
@@ -878,9 +878,21 @@ def cmd_status(args) -> None:
     write_path = _local_config_path()
 
     if not cfg:
-        print(f"  No Honcho config found at {active_path}")
-        print("  Run 'hermes honcho setup' to configure.\n")
-        return
+        # Config file missing — try env var fallback before giving up.
+        try:
+            from plugins.memory.honcho.client import HonchoClientConfig
+            _env_cfg = HonchoClientConfig.from_global_config(host=_host_key())
+            if _env_cfg.api_key or _env_cfg.base_url:
+                # Env var fallback worked — use that config instead.
+                cfg = {"apiKey": _env_cfg.api_key, "enabled": _env_cfg.enabled}
+            else:
+                print(f"  No Honcho config found at {active_path}")
+                print("  Run 'hermes honcho setup' to configure.\n")
+                return
+        except Exception:
+            print(f"  No Honcho config found at {active_path}")
+            print("  Run 'hermes honcho setup' to configure.\n")
+            return
 
     try:
         from plugins.memory.honcho.client import HonchoClientConfig, get_honcho_client