diff --git a/skills/skill-creator/scripts/quick_validate.py b/skills/skill-creator/scripts/quick_validate.py
index e7022fd0746..3e0130bee18 100644
--- a/skills/skill-creator/scripts/quick_validate.py
+++ b/skills/skill-creator/scripts/quick_validate.py
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 
-import yaml
+try:
+    import yaml
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    yaml = None
 
 MAX_SKILL_NAME_LENGTH = 64
 
@@ -23,6 +26,31 @@ def _extract_frontmatter(content: str) -> Optional[str]:
     return None
 
 
+def _parse_simple_frontmatter(frontmatter_text: str) -> Optional[dict[str, str]]:
+    """
+    Minimal fallback parser used when PyYAML is unavailable.
+    Supports simple `key: value` mappings used by SKILL.md frontmatter.
+    """
+    parsed: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for raw_line in frontmatter_text.splitlines():
+        line = raw_line.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith("#"):
+            continue
+        if ":" not in line:
+            return None
+        key, value = line.split(":", 1)
+        key = key.strip()
+        value = value.strip()
+        if not key:
+            return None
+        if (value.startswith('"') and value.endswith('"')) or (
+            value.startswith("'") and value.endswith("'")
+        ):
+            value = value[1:-1]
+        parsed[key] = value
+    return parsed
+
+
 def validate_skill(skill_path):
     """Basic validation of a skill"""
     skill_path = Path(skill_path)
@@ -39,12 +67,20 @@ def validate_skill(skill_path):
     frontmatter_text = _extract_frontmatter(content)
     if frontmatter_text is None:
         return False, "Invalid frontmatter format"
-    try:
-        frontmatter = yaml.safe_load(frontmatter_text)
-        if not isinstance(frontmatter, dict):
-            return False, "Frontmatter must be a YAML dictionary"
-    except yaml.YAMLError as e:
-        return False, f"Invalid YAML in frontmatter: {e}"
+    if yaml is not None:
+        try:
+            frontmatter = yaml.safe_load(frontmatter_text)
+            if not isinstance(frontmatter, dict):
+                return False, "Frontmatter must be a YAML dictionary"
+        except yaml.YAMLError as e:
+            return False, f"Invalid YAML in frontmatter: {e}"
+    else:
+        frontmatter = _parse_simple_frontmatter(frontmatter_text)
+        if frontmatter is None:
+            return (
+                False,
+                "Invalid YAML in frontmatter: unsupported syntax without PyYAML installed",
+            )
 
     allowed_properties = {"name", "description", "license", "allowed-tools", "metadata"}