diff --git a/src/specify_cli/workflows/catalog.py b/src/specify_cli/workflows/catalog.py
index 203fb6753..0ab5d81c5 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/workflows/catalog.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/workflows/catalog.py
@@ -92,8 +92,10 @@ class WorkflowRegistry:
         """Add or update an installed workflow entry."""
         from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-        existing = self.data["workflows"].get(workflow_id, {})
+        raw_existing = self.data["workflows"].get(workflow_id)
         had_entry = workflow_id in self.data["workflows"]
+        # Corrupted-but-parseable registries may hold non-dict entries.
+        existing = raw_existing if isinstance(raw_existing, dict) else {}
         metadata["installed_at"] = existing.get(
             "installed_at", datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
         )
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ class WorkflowRegistry:
             # Roll back the in-memory mutation so a later successful save
             # cannot persist metadata for a write that failed.
             if had_entry:
-                self.data["workflows"][workflow_id] = existing
+                self.data["workflows"][workflow_id] = raw_existing
             else:
                 del self.data["workflows"][workflow_id]
             raise
diff --git a/tests/test_workflows.py b/tests/test_workflows.py
index 8514017c6..e773f3b60 100644
--- a/tests/test_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/test_workflows.py
@@ -7555,8 +7555,16 @@ steps:
             registry.add("other-wf", {"version": "1.0.0", "source": "catalog"})
         assert registry.get("other-wf") is None
 
+    def test_registry_add_survives_non_dict_existing_entry(self, project_dir):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.catalog import WorkflowRegistry
+
+        registry = WorkflowRegistry(project_dir)
+        registry.data["workflows"]["align-wf"] = "corrupted"
+        registry.add("align-wf", {"version": "1.0.0", "source": "catalog"})
+        assert registry.get("align-wf")["version"] == "1.0.0"
+
     def test_run_refuses_falsy_non_bool_enabled(self, project_dir, monkeypatch):
-        """"enabled": 0 shows as disabled in list — run must agree."""
+        """A falsy non-bool "enabled" (0) shows as disabled in list — run must agree."""
         import json as json_mod
 
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
@@ -8127,7 +8135,7 @@ steps:
         assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
 
     def test_disable_blocks_run_via_path_equivalent_id(self, project_dir, monkeypatch):
-        """"align-wf/" must not run a disabled workflow by dodging the registry lookup."""
+        """Path spelling "align-wf/" must not run a disabled workflow by dodging the registry lookup."""
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
         from specify_cli import app