diff --git a/pipeline/publisher.py b/pipeline/publisher.py
index a6b68cf..e61dcd3 100644
--- a/pipeline/publisher.py
+++ b/pipeline/publisher.py
@@ -52,6 +52,18 @@ def publish_skill(review_result, config):
         subprocess.run(["git", "config", "user.email", "hermes@agent.local"], cwd=repo_dir)
         subprocess.run(["git", "config", "user.name", "Hermes Pipeline"], cwd=repo_dir)
 
+        # Check for duplicates in skills/ directory
+        skills_dir = os.path.join(repo_dir, "skills")
+        existing_skills = []
+        if os.path.isdir(skills_dir):
+            existing_skills = [d for d in os.listdir(skills_dir) if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(skills_dir, d))]
+
+        if skill_name in existing_skills:
+            return {
+                "status": "SKIP",
+                "reason": f"Skill '{skill_name}' already exists in skills/ directory",
+            }
+
         # Create skill directory
         skill_dir = os.path.join(repo_dir, "skills", skill_name)
         os.makedirs(skill_dir, exist_ok=True)
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index 077b3cb..1e69f54 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ def main():
         if publish_output.get("status") == "PUBLISHED":
             print(f"    ✓ Published! PR: {publish_output.get('pr_url', '')}")
             results["published"] += 1
+        elif publish_output.get("status") == "SKIP":
+            print(f"    ⏸ Skipped: {publish_output.get('reason', '')}")
         else:
             print(f"    ! {publish_output.get('status', '?')}: {publish_output.get('message', publish_output.get('error', ''))[:100]}")