diff --git a/agent/skill_utils.py b/agent/skill_utils.py
index d4d94f7e2..b26bf8298 100644
--- a/agent/skill_utils.py
+++ b/agent/skill_utils.py
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ def get_external_skills_dirs() -> List[Path]:
     if not isinstance(raw_dirs, list):
         return []
 
+    from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
+
+    hermes_home = get_hermes_home()
     local_skills = get_skills_dir().resolve()
     seen: Set[Path] = set()
     result: List[Path] = []
@@ -210,7 +213,12 @@ def get_external_skills_dirs() -> List[Path]:
             continue
         # Expand ~ and environment variables
         expanded = os.path.expanduser(os.path.expandvars(entry))
-        p = Path(expanded).resolve()
+        p = Path(expanded)
+        # Resolve relative paths against HERMES_HOME, not cwd
+        if not p.is_absolute():
+            p = (hermes_home / p).resolve()
+        else:
+            p = p.resolve()
         if p == local_skills:
             continue
         if p in seen: