diff --git a/crates/vfs_cli_app/src/plugin_payload.rs b/crates/vfs_cli_app/src/plugin_payload.rs
index 74c07915..adde434a 100644
--- a/crates/vfs_cli_app/src/plugin_payload.rs
+++ b/crates/vfs_cli_app/src/plugin_payload.rs
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ pub const CLAUDE_PLUGIN_FILES: &[PayloadFile] = &[
 ];
 
 pub const HERMES_PLUGIN_FILES: &[PayloadFile] = &[
+    PayloadFile {
+        path: "__init__.py",
+        content: include_str!("../../../plugins/hermes/__init__.py"),
+        executable: false,
+    },
     PayloadFile {
         path: "plugin.yaml",
         content: include_str!("../../../plugins/hermes/plugin.yaml"),
diff --git a/plugins/hermes/__init__.py b/plugins/hermes/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..55cd1671
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/hermes/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+"""Where: plugins/hermes/__init__.py
+What: Hermes plugin entrypoint shim for the Kinic adapter package.
+Why: Hermes loads register(ctx) from the plugin root __init__.py.
+"""
+
+from .kinic_hermes import register
+
+__all__ = ["register"]
diff --git a/plugins/hermes/kinic_hermes/__init__.py b/plugins/hermes/kinic_hermes/__init__.py
index ee1bbcf6..10d2e09e 100644
--- a/plugins/hermes/kinic_hermes/__init__.py
+++ b/plugins/hermes/kinic_hermes/__init__.py
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ def post_tool_call(self, tool_name: str, args: Any = None, result: Any = None, d
             if skill_id:
                 self.buffer.skill_candidates.add(skill_id)
 
-    def transform_llm_output(self, output: str, **_: Any) -> str:
+    def transform_llm_output(self, response_text: str = "", **kwargs: Any) -> str:
+        output = response_text or str(kwargs.get("output", ""))
         self.buffer.final_response = output
         return output
 
diff --git a/plugins/hermes/tests/test_plugin.py b/plugins/hermes/tests/test_plugin.py
index 1954f420..91ca6f76 100644
--- a/plugins/hermes/tests/test_plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/hermes/tests/test_plugin.py
@@ -272,6 +272,13 @@ def test_skill_view_and_usage_diff_record_one_run(self) -> None:
                 self.assertEqual(records[0][1]["agent_outcome"], "unknown")
                 plugin.client.create_ready_jobs.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_transform_llm_output_accepts_hermes_response_text_keyword(self) -> None:
+        import kinic_hermes as plugin_module
+
+        plugin = plugin_module.KinicPlugin()
+        self.assertEqual(plugin.transform_llm_output(response_text="done"), "done")
+        self.assertEqual(plugin.buffer.final_response, "done")
+
     def test_register_tool_uses_hermes_keyword_api(self) -> None:
         import kinic_hermes as plugin_module