diff --git a/hermes_cli/profile_cmd.py b/hermes_cli/profile_cmd.py
index e67cf556fe..68d9a438b9 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profile_cmd.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profile_cmd.py
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@ def _profile_create(args):
             print(f"Full copy from {source_label} (excluding session history, cron jobs, backups, and snapshots).")
         else:
             print(f"Cloned config, .env, SOUL.md, and skills from {source_label}.")
-            if sync_imports:
-                print(f"Import sources carried over — `hermes -p {name} import-agent --sync` "
-                      "keeps pulling the same Claude Code / Codex trees.")
+        if sync_imports:
+            print(f"Import sources carried over — `hermes -p {name} import-agent --sync` "
+                  "keeps pulling the same Claude Code / Codex trees.")
         _print_channel_clone_notice(name, source_label, clone_channels, "--clone-all" if clone_all else "--clone")
         # Auto-clone Honcho config for the new profile (only with clone operations)
         try:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/profiles.py b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
index 9284e3c032..d685e9b5ff 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profiles.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 from agent.skill_utils import is_excluded_skill_path
-from hermes_cli.agent_import_sync import SYNC_MANIFEST_NAME
 from hermes_cli.archive_safe import archive_root_dirs, make_targz, normalize_archive_parts, safe_extract_targz
 from hermes_constants import clear_named_profile_deleted, mark_named_profile_deleted, named_profile_is_deleted
 
@@ -887,6 +886,7 @@ def _bootstrap_profile_dir(profile_dir: Path, source_dir: Optional[Path],
     for relpath in _CLONE_SUBDIR_FILES:
         _clone_file(source_dir, profile_dir, relpath)
     if sync_imports:
+        from hermes_cli.agent_import_sync import SYNC_MANIFEST_NAME  # lazy: keeps yaml/utils off the hot startup path
         _clone_file(source_dir, profile_dir, SYNC_MANIFEST_NAME)