diff --git a/hermes_cli/mcp_catalog.py b/hermes_cli/mcp_catalog.py
index 3b0e5d25fbe92..dd1d2c07c4b79 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/mcp_catalog.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/mcp_catalog.py
@@ -230,6 +230,21 @@ def _parse_manifest(path: Path) -> CatalogEntry:
         scopes=list(auth_raw.get("scopes") or []),
         env_var=auth_raw.get("env_var"),
     )
+    if t_type == "http" and a_type == "api_key":
+        # _build_server_config emits an Authorization header referencing
+        # ${MCP_<NAME>_API_KEY} (via _bearer_auth_headers), but install_entry
+        # only persists the env vars DECLARED in auth.env. Enforce the naming
+        # contract at parse time, or a manifest declaring e.g. N8N_API_KEY
+        # would install cleanly yet send a literal-placeholder header (401)
+        # at connect time.
+        from hermes_cli.mcp_config import _env_key_for_server
+
+        _required_key = _env_key_for_server(name)
+        if not any(spec.name == _required_key for spec in env_list):
+            raise CatalogError(
+                f"{path}: http + api_key auth requires auth.env to declare "
+                f"'{_required_key}' (the key the Authorization header references)"
+            )
 
     tools_raw = data.get("tools") or {}
     if not isinstance(tools_raw, dict):
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_mcp_catalog.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_mcp_catalog.py
index 1e3a78850b8f3..29e510b29e6b8 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_mcp_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_mcp_catalog.py
@@ -158,6 +158,26 @@ class TestManifestParsing:
         assert cfg["url"] == "https://mcp.example.com/sse"
         assert cfg["headers"] == {"Authorization": "Bearer ${MCP_DEMO_API_KEY}"}
 
+    def test_http_api_key_requires_matching_env_declaration(self, catalog_dir):
+        """http+api_key manifests must declare the env key the header references.
+
+        install_entry only persists auth.env-declared vars; a manifest naming
+        its key e.g. N8N_API_KEY would install cleanly but send a literal
+        ${MCP_DEMO_API_KEY} placeholder at connect time (silent 401).
+        """
+        body = _basic_manifest(
+            transport={"type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.example.com/sse"},
+            auth={
+                "type": "api_key",
+                "env": [{"name": "DEMO_API_KEY", "prompt": "key", "secret": True}],
+            },
+        )
+        path = _write_manifest(catalog_dir, "demo", body)
+        from hermes_cli.mcp_catalog import CatalogError, _parse_manifest
+
+        with pytest.raises(CatalogError, match="MCP_DEMO_API_KEY"):
+            _parse_manifest(path)
+
 
 
 
@@ -230,6 +250,13 @@ class TestInstall:
         server = load_config()["mcp_servers"]["demo"]
         assert server["url"] == "https://mcp.example.com/sse"
         assert server["headers"] == {"Authorization": "Bearer secret-val"}
+        # The raw file must carry the ${...} template, never the secret —
+        # load_config resolves it; config.yaml itself stays secret-free.
+        from hermes_cli.config import get_config_path
+
+        raw = get_config_path().read_text()
+        assert "${MCP_DEMO_API_KEY}" in raw
+        assert "secret-val" not in raw