diff --git a/hermes_cli/skills_hub.py b/hermes_cli/skills_hub.py
index 32a0bab1b..8b72fe4f4 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/skills_hub.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/skills_hub.py
@@ -408,10 +408,11 @@ def do_inspect(identifier: str, console: Optional[Console] = None) -> None:
 
 def do_list(source_filter: str = "all", console: Optional[Console] = None) -> None:
     """List installed skills, distinguishing builtins from hub-installed."""
-    from tools.skills_hub import HubLockFile, SKILLS_DIR
+    from tools.skills_hub import HubLockFile, ensure_hub_dirs
     from tools.skills_tool import _find_all_skills
 
     c = console or _console
+    ensure_hub_dirs()
     lock = HubLockFile()
     hub_installed = {e["name"]: e for e in lock.list_installed()}
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_skills_hub.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_skills_hub.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7b1165bec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_skills_hub.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+from io import StringIO
+
+from rich.console import Console
+
+from hermes_cli.skills_hub import do_list
+
+
+def test_do_list_initializes_hub_dir(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    import tools.skills_hub as hub
+    import tools.skills_tool as skills_tool
+
+    hub_dir = tmp_path / "skills" / ".hub"
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "SKILLS_DIR", tmp_path / "skills")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "HUB_DIR", hub_dir)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "LOCK_FILE", hub_dir / "lock.json")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "QUARANTINE_DIR", hub_dir / "quarantine")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "AUDIT_LOG", hub_dir / "audit.log")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "TAPS_FILE", hub_dir / "taps.json")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hub, "INDEX_CACHE_DIR", hub_dir / "index-cache")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(skills_tool, "_find_all_skills", lambda: [])
+
+    console = Console(file=StringIO(), force_terminal=False, color_system=None)
+
+    assert not hub_dir.exists()
+
+    do_list(console=console)
+
+    assert hub_dir.exists()
+    assert (hub_dir / "lock.json").exists()
+    assert (hub_dir / "quarantine").is_dir()
+    assert (hub_dir / "index-cache").is_dir()