diff --git a/src/specify_cli/presets/_commands.py b/src/specify_cli/presets/_commands.py
index b7e5ad06e5..17b846d68a 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/presets/_commands.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/presets/_commands.py
@@ -757,11 +757,16 @@ def preset_catalog_add(
     # Load existing config
     if config_path.exists():
         try:
-            config = yaml.safe_load(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) or {}
+            config = yaml.safe_load(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
         except Exception as e:
             config_label = _display_project_path(project_root, config_path)
             console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] Failed to read {_escape_markup(str(config_label))}: {_escape_markup(str(e))}")
             raise typer.Exit(1)
+        if config is None:
+            config = {}
+        elif not isinstance(config, dict):
+            console.print("[red]Error:[/red] Invalid catalog config: expected a mapping.")
+            raise typer.Exit(1)
     else:
         config = {}
 
@@ -817,10 +822,15 @@ def preset_catalog_remove(
         raise typer.Exit(1)
 
     try:
-        config = yaml.safe_load(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) or {}
+        config = yaml.safe_load(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
     except Exception as e:
         console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] Failed to read preset catalog config: {e}")
         raise typer.Exit(1)
+    if config is None:
+        config = {}
+    elif not isinstance(config, dict):
+        console.print("[red]Error:[/red] Invalid catalog config: expected a mapping.")
+        raise typer.Exit(1)
 
     catalogs = config.get("catalogs", [])
     if not isinstance(catalogs, list):
diff --git a/tests/test_presets.py b/tests/test_presets.py
index 317a1b437c..08ae8e9fb5 100644
--- a/tests/test_presets.py
+++ b/tests/test_presets.py
@@ -3274,6 +3274,38 @@ def test_catalog_remove_escapes_markup_in_not_found_error(self, project_dir):
         assert result.exit_code == 1
         assert "[/red]absent" in result.output
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "args",
+        [
+            [
+                "preset",
+                "catalog",
+                "add",
+                "https://example.com/catalog.json",
+                "--name",
+                "example",
+            ],
+            ["preset", "catalog", "remove", "example"],
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_catalog_mutation_rejects_non_mapping_config_root(
+        self, project_dir, args
+    ):
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from unittest.mock import patch
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        config_path = project_dir / ".specify" / "preset-catalogs.yml"
+        original = "[]\n"
+        config_path.write_text(original, encoding="utf-8")
+
+        with patch.object(Path, "cwd", return_value=project_dir):
+            result = CliRunner().invoke(app, args)
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 1
+        assert "expected a mapping" in result.output
+        assert config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == original
+
     def test_env_var_overrides_catalogs(self, project_dir, monkeypatch):
         """Test that SPECKIT_PRESET_CATALOG_URL env var overrides defaults."""
         monkeypatch.setenv(