diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 7ab71f21..5f9cb2aa 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "seo",
   "displayName": "seo",
   "description": "Local-first SEO and AI-search diagnostics. Bundles the seo MCP server plus one SEO skill that gives an agent 50+ audit and report tools without filling its context window.",
-  "version": "0.2.36",
+  "version": "0.2.37",
   "author": {
     "name": "Ian Nuttall"
   },
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9b8249c2..b1ebb743 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "seo",
-  "version": "0.2.36",
+  "version": "0.2.37",
   "description": "The SEO command for AI agents. Audit sites and research search opportunities with local, evidence-backed reports.",
   "type": "module",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
diff --git a/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.test.ts b/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.test.ts
index a7419442..684f1d49 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.test.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ function command(
   input: {
     dependencies?: Record<string, string>
     installedIntegrity?: string
+    maintainers?: Array<string | { name: string }>
     metadataIntegrities?: string[]
-    npmUser?: string | { name: string }
+    npmUser?: string | { name: string } | null
     registerSecondProvider?: boolean
     unpackedSize?: number
     version?: string
@@ -61,7 +62,9 @@ function command(
             type: 'git',
             url: 'git+https://github.com/example/fixture.git',
           },
-          _npmUser: input.npmUser ?? 'example',
+          _npmUser:
+            input.npmUser === null ? undefined : (input.npmUser ?? 'example'),
+          maintainers: input.maintainers,
           dependencies: input.dependencies,
           dist: {
             integrity,
@@ -188,6 +191,19 @@ test('direct install accepts an exact version and rejects ranges or URLs', async
   assert.equal(fake.calls.length, 1)
 })
 
+test('package inspection accepts string maintainers from npm metadata', async () => {
+  const fake = command({
+    maintainers: ['Ian Nuttall <npm@example.com>'],
+    npmUser: null,
+  })
+  const release = await inspectProviderPackage('@example/fixture', {
+    packagesDir,
+    run: fake.run,
+  })
+
+  assert.equal(release.publisher, 'Ian Nuttall <npm@example.com>')
+})
+
 test('package inspection rejects dependency trees before installation', async () => {
   const fake = command({ dependencies: { surprise: '^1.0.0' } })
   await assert.rejects(
diff --git a/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.ts b/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.ts
index 3d5ecf6c..f36387e7 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/provider-extensions/installer.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,12 @@ const npmPackageMetadataSchema = z
       ])
       .nullish(),
     maintainers: z
-      .array(z.object({ name: z.string().trim().max(200) }).passthrough())
+      .array(
+        z.union([
+          z.string().trim().max(200),
+          z.object({ name: z.string().trim().max(200) }).passthrough(),
+        ]),
+      )
       .max(100)
       .nullish(),
     _npmUser: z
@@ -233,7 +238,8 @@ function publisher(
   if (metadata._npmUser?.name) return metadata._npmUser.name
   if (typeof metadata.author === 'string') return metadata.author
   if (metadata.author?.name) return metadata.author.name
-  return metadata.maintainers?.[0]?.name
+  const maintainer = metadata.maintainers?.[0]
+  return typeof maintainer === 'string' ? maintainer : maintainer?.name
 }
 
 async function packageMetadata(