diff --git a/cron/scheduler.py b/cron/scheduler.py
index 64badee9c3..23cf5cd615 100644
--- a/cron/scheduler.py
+++ b/cron/scheduler.py
@@ -34,8 +34,11 @@ sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent))
 
 from cron.jobs import get_due_jobs, mark_job_run, save_job_output
 
+# Resolve Hermes home directory (respects HERMES_HOME override)
+_hermes_home = Path(os.getenv("HERMES_HOME", Path.home() / ".hermes"))
+
 # File-based lock prevents concurrent ticks from gateway + daemon + systemd timer
-_LOCK_DIR = Path.home() / ".hermes" / "cron"
+_LOCK_DIR = _hermes_home / "cron"
 _LOCK_FILE = _LOCK_DIR / ".tick.lock"
 
 
@@ -165,9 +168,9 @@ def run_job(job: dict) -> tuple[bool, str, str, Optional[str]]:
         # changes take effect without a gateway restart.
         from dotenv import load_dotenv
         try:
-            load_dotenv(os.path.expanduser("~/.hermes/.env"), override=True, encoding="utf-8")
+            load_dotenv(str(_hermes_home / ".env"), override=True, encoding="utf-8")
         except UnicodeDecodeError:
-            load_dotenv(os.path.expanduser("~/.hermes/.env"), override=True, encoding="latin-1")
+            load_dotenv(str(_hermes_home / ".env"), override=True, encoding="latin-1")
 
         model = os.getenv("HERMES_MODEL", "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6")
         # Custom endpoint (OPENAI_*) takes precedence, matching CLI behavior
@@ -176,7 +179,7 @@ def run_job(job: dict) -> tuple[bool, str, str, Optional[str]]:
 
         try:
             import yaml
-            _cfg_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.hermes/config.yaml")
+            _cfg_path = str(_hermes_home / "config.yaml")
             if os.path.exists(_cfg_path):
                 with open(_cfg_path) as _f:
                     _cfg = yaml.safe_load(_f) or {}
diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index e332991deb..030c109875 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ from typing import Dict, Optional, Any, List
 # Add parent directory to path
 sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent))
 
+# Resolve Hermes home directory (respects HERMES_HOME override)
+_hermes_home = Path(os.getenv("HERMES_HOME", Path.home() / ".hermes"))
+
 # Load environment variables from ~/.hermes/.env first
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
-_env_path = Path.home() / '.hermes' / '.env'
+_env_path = _hermes_home / '.env'
 if _env_path.exists():
     try:
         load_dotenv(_env_path, encoding="utf-8")
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ load_dotenv()
 
 # Bridge config.yaml values into the environment so os.getenv() picks them up.
 # Values already set in the environment (from .env or shell) take precedence.
-_config_path = Path.home() / '.hermes' / 'config.yaml'
+_config_path = _hermes_home / 'config.yaml'
 if _config_path.exists():
     try:
         import yaml as _yaml
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         if not file_path:
             try:
                 import yaml as _y
-                cfg_path = Path.home() / ".hermes" / "config.yaml"
+                cfg_path = _hermes_home / "config.yaml"
                 if cfg_path.exists():
                     with open(cfg_path) as _f:
                         cfg = _y.safe_load(_f) or {}
@@ -152,7 +155,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
             return []
         path = Path(file_path).expanduser()
         if not path.is_absolute():
-            path = Path.home() / ".hermes" / path
+            path = _hermes_home / path
         if not path.exists():
             logger.warning("Prefill messages file not found: %s", path)
             return []
@@ -179,7 +182,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
             return prompt
         try:
             import yaml as _y
-            cfg_path = Path.home() / ".hermes" / "config.yaml"
+            cfg_path = _hermes_home / "config.yaml"
             if cfg_path.exists():
                 with open(cfg_path) as _f:
                     cfg = _y.safe_load(_f) or {}
@@ -200,7 +203,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         if not effort:
             try:
                 import yaml as _y
-                cfg_path = Path.home() / ".hermes" / "config.yaml"
+                cfg_path = _hermes_home / "config.yaml"
                 if cfg_path.exists():
                     with open(cfg_path) as _f:
                         cfg = _y.safe_load(_f) or {}
@@ -884,7 +887,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         
         try:
             import yaml
-            config_path = Path.home() / '.hermes' / 'config.yaml'
+            config_path = _hermes_home / 'config.yaml'
             if config_path.exists():
                 with open(config_path, 'r') as f:
                     config = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
@@ -981,7 +984,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         # Save to config.yaml
         try:
             import yaml
-            config_path = Path.home() / '.hermes' / 'config.yaml'
+            config_path = _hermes_home / 'config.yaml'
             user_config = {}
             if config_path.exists():
                 with open(config_path) as f:
@@ -1243,7 +1246,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         # Try to load platform_toolsets from config
         platform_toolsets_config = {}
         try:
-            config_path = Path.home() / '.hermes' / 'config.yaml'
+            config_path = _hermes_home / 'config.yaml'
             if config_path.exists():
                 import yaml
                 with open(config_path, 'r') as f:
@@ -1405,7 +1408,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
 
             try:
                 import yaml as _y
-                _cfg_path = Path.home() / ".hermes" / "config.yaml"
+                _cfg_path = _hermes_home / "config.yaml"
                 if _cfg_path.exists():
                     with open(_cfg_path) as _f:
                         _cfg = _y.safe_load(_f) or {}
@@ -1697,7 +1700,7 @@ async def start_gateway(config: Optional[GatewayConfig] = None) -> bool:
     A False return causes a non-zero exit code so systemd can auto-restart.
     """
     # Configure rotating file log so gateway output is persisted for debugging
-    log_dir = Path.home() / '.hermes' / 'logs'
+    log_dir = _hermes_home / 'logs'
     log_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     file_handler = RotatingFileHandler(
         log_dir / 'gateway.log',