diff --git a/README-FreeBSD.md b/README-FreeBSD.md
index 933f57bdc..60bd13a3c 100644
--- a/README-FreeBSD.md
+++ b/README-FreeBSD.md
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ The service stores config in `/var/db/hermes` (persistent) instead of
 
 ## Install
 
-
 ```sh
 sh scripts/install-freebsd.sh
 ```
diff --git a/packaging/freebsd/hermes_daemon.in b/packaging/freebsd/hermes_daemon.in
index bf5eacc60..92e341b78 100644
--- a/packaging/freebsd/hermes_daemon.in
+++ b/packaging/freebsd/hermes_daemon.in
@@ -84,11 +84,14 @@ hermes_daemon_prestart()
     export HERMES_HOME="${hermes_daemon_home}"
 
     # Verify Hermes is configured before starting. The gateway exits
-    # immediately if no provider/model is configured.
+    # immediately if no provider/model is configured, and daemon(8) -r would
+    # then respawn it in a tight crash loop. Abort the start instead so the
+    # operator sees a clear, actionable error.
     if [ ! -f "${hermes_daemon_home}/config.yaml" ]; then
-        echo "WARNING: Hermes config not found at ${hermes_daemon_home}/config.yaml"
+        echo "ERROR: Hermes config not found at ${hermes_daemon_home}/config.yaml"
         echo "  Run as operator: HERMES_HOME=${hermes_daemon_home} hermes setup"
         echo "  Then: HERMES_HOME=${hermes_daemon_home} hermes model"
+        return 1
     fi
 }