diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1e2d8a7..0234bfa 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.0.4] - 2026-05-07
+
+### Changed
+
+- GitHub API authentication now reads `GH_TOKEN` in addition to `GITHUB_TOKEN`,
+  matching the `gh` CLI convention. `GH_TOKEN` takes precedence when both are
+  set. (#67)
+
 ## [1.0.0] - 2026-03-24
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index cfe8d34..608eee8 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1516,7 +1516,7 @@ checksum = "0fda2ff0d084019ba4d7c6f371c95d8fd75ce3524c3cb8fb653a3023f6323e64"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "skillshub"
-version = "1.0.3"
+version = "1.0.4"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index b25e452..4249c42 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "skillshub"
-version = "1.0.3"
+version = "1.0.4"
 edition = "2021"
 rust-version = "1.74.0"
 description = "A package manager for AI coding agent skills - like homebrew for skills"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index daf759b..db64556 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ skillshub star-list https://github.com/stars/username/lists/skills
 skillshub star-list https://github.com/stars/username/lists/skills --install
 ```
 
-This requires a `GITHUB_TOKEN` (the GraphQL API requires authentication).
+This requires `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN` (the GraphQL API requires
+authentication). `GH_TOKEN` takes precedence when both are set, matching the
+`gh` CLI convention.
 
 ### Agent Linking
 
@@ -222,9 +224,12 @@ The GitHub API is only used for:
 - **Gist skills** (`skillshub add https://gist.github.com/...`)
 - **Star list imports** (`skillshub star-list ...`)
 
-For these operations, set a `GITHUB_TOKEN` to avoid rate limiting:
+For these operations, set `GH_TOKEN` (preferred) or `GITHUB_TOKEN` to avoid
+rate limiting. When both are set, `GH_TOKEN` wins, matching the `gh` CLI:
 
 ```bash
+export GH_TOKEN=your_token_here
+# or
 export GITHUB_TOKEN=your_token_here
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/cli-reference.md b/docs/cli-reference.md
index 5a88c20..b7cb2fb 100644
--- a/docs/cli-reference.md
+++ b/docs/cli-reference.md
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ skillshub star-list <url>                   # Add all repos from a star list as
 skillshub star-list <url> --install         # Also install all skills from each tap
 ```
 
-Requires `GITHUB_TOKEN` (GraphQL API requires authentication).
+Requires `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN` (GraphQL API requires authentication).
+`GH_TOKEN` is checked first, matching the `gh` CLI.
 
 ## Tap Management
 
diff --git a/src/registry/github.rs b/src/registry/github.rs
index ed16efd..b7d5856 100644
--- a/src/registry/github.rs
+++ b/src/registry/github.rs
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ fn print_rate_limit_wait(reason: &str, wait_secs: u64, attempt: u32) {
         "  {} Waiting {}s before retrying (attempt {}/{})...",
         reason, wait_secs, attempt, MAX_RETRIES
     );
-    if std::env::var("GITHUB_TOKEN").is_err() {
-        eprint!("\n  Tip: Set GITHUB_TOKEN for higher rate limits (5000/hour vs 60/hour).");
+    if github_token().is_none() {
+        eprint!("\n  Tip: Set GH_TOKEN or GITHUB_TOKEN for higher rate limits (5000/hour vs 60/hour).");
     }
     eprintln!();
 }
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ where
                         if let Some(wait) = rate_info.wait_duration() {
                             if wait.as_secs() > MAX_RATE_LIMIT_WAIT_SECS {
                                 anyhow::bail!(
-                                    "Rate limit reset is {}s away (>{} max). Set GITHUB_TOKEN for higher limits.",
+                                    "Rate limit reset is {}s away (>{} max). Set GH_TOKEN or GITHUB_TOKEN for higher limits.",
                                     wait.as_secs(),
                                     MAX_RATE_LIMIT_WAIT_SECS
                                 );
@@ -267,9 +267,24 @@ fn build_client() -> Result<Client> {
     })
 }
 
-/// Add GitHub token authentication to a request if GITHUB_TOKEN is set
+/// Read the GitHub auth token from the environment.
+///
+/// Checks `GH_TOKEN` first (matching the `gh` CLI convention), then falls
+/// back to `GITHUB_TOKEN`. Empty values are treated as unset.
+fn github_token() -> Option<String> {
+    for var in ["GH_TOKEN", "GITHUB_TOKEN"] {
+        if let Ok(token) = std::env::var(var) {
+            if !token.is_empty() {
+                return Some(token);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
+
+/// Add GitHub token authentication to a request if a token env var is set.
 fn with_auth(request: RequestBuilder) -> RequestBuilder {
-    if let Ok(token) = std::env::var("GITHUB_TOKEN") {
+    if let Some(token) = github_token() {
         request.bearer_auth(token)
     } else {
         request
@@ -337,7 +352,7 @@ pub fn get_default_branch(owner: &str, repo: &str) -> Result<String> {
                 "Repository not found on GitHub: {}/{}\n\
                  Please check that:\n\
                  - The repository exists and is spelled correctly\n\
-                 - The repository is public (or GITHUB_TOKEN is set for private repos)",
+                 - The repository is public (or GH_TOKEN/GITHUB_TOKEN is set for private repos)",
                 owner,
                 repo
             );
@@ -457,7 +472,7 @@ fn is_valid_repo_id(s: &str) -> bool {
 ///
 /// Uses the GitHub Tree API to recursively find all SKILL.md files in the repo,
 /// then fetches each one to extract metadata.
-/// Set GITHUB_TOKEN environment variable to avoid rate limiting.
+/// Set `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN` environment variable to avoid rate limiting.
 pub fn discover_skills_from_repo(github_url: &GitHubUrl, tap_name: &str) -> Result<TapRegistry> {
     let client = build_client()?;
 
@@ -632,7 +647,7 @@ pub fn fetch_gist(gist_id: &str) -> Result<GistResponse> {
             anyhow::bail!(
                 "Gist not found: {}\n\
                  Please check that the gist ID is correct and the gist is public \
-                 (or GITHUB_TOKEN is set for secret gists)",
+                 (or GH_TOKEN/GITHUB_TOKEN is set for secret gists)",
                 gist_id
             );
         }
@@ -733,11 +748,11 @@ pub fn parse_star_list_url(url: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
 ///
 /// Returns a list of "owner/repo" identifiers.
 pub fn fetch_star_list_repos(username: &str, list_name: &str) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
-    let token = std::env::var("GITHUB_TOKEN").with_context(|| {
-        "GITHUB_TOKEN is required for star list operations.\n\
+    let token = github_token().context(
+        "GH_TOKEN or GITHUB_TOKEN is required for star list operations.\n\
          The GraphQL API does not support unauthenticated requests.\n\
-         Set GITHUB_TOKEN with a personal access token."
-    })?;
+         Set GH_TOKEN (preferred) or GITHUB_TOKEN with a personal access token.",
+    )?;
     let client = build_client()?;
     let gql_url = graphql_url();
 
@@ -768,7 +783,7 @@ pub fn fetch_star_list_repos(username: &str, list_name: &str) -> Result<Vec<Stri
     if !resp.status().is_success() {
         anyhow::bail!(
             "Failed to query GitHub GraphQL API: HTTP {}\n\
-             Make sure GITHUB_TOKEN is set and valid.",
+             Make sure GH_TOKEN or GITHUB_TOKEN is set and valid.",
             resp.status()
         );
     }
@@ -887,6 +902,56 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.is_ok(), "build_client should succeed in normal conditions");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_github_token_prefers_gh_token() {
+        std::env::set_var("GH_TOKEN", "gh-value");
+        std::env::set_var("GITHUB_TOKEN", "github-value");
+        let token = github_token();
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
+        std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
+        assert_eq!(token.as_deref(), Some("gh-value"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_github_token_falls_back_to_github_token() {
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
+        std::env::set_var("GITHUB_TOKEN", "github-value");
+        let token = github_token();
+        std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
+        assert_eq!(token.as_deref(), Some("github-value"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_github_token_none_when_unset() {
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
+        std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
+        assert!(github_token().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_github_token_treats_empty_as_unset() {
+        std::env::set_var("GH_TOKEN", "");
+        std::env::set_var("GITHUB_TOKEN", "github-value");
+        let token = github_token();
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
+        std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
+        assert_eq!(token.as_deref(), Some("github-value"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn test_github_token_treats_empty_github_token_as_unset() {
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
+        std::env::set_var("GITHUB_TOKEN", "");
+        let token = github_token();
+        std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
+        assert!(token.is_none());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_parse_skill_md_content() {
         let content = r#"---
@@ -1844,13 +1909,16 @@ name: minimal-skill
         // Point GraphQL URL to mock server
         let gql_url = format!("{}/graphql", server.uri());
         std::env::set_var("SKILLSHUB_GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL", &gql_url);
-        // Set a dummy token so GITHUB_TOKEN check succeeds
+        // Clear GH_TOKEN so a dev's real token doesn't get sent to the mock,
+        // then set a dummy GITHUB_TOKEN so the auth check succeeds.
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
         std::env::set_var("GITHUB_TOKEN", "test-token");
 
         let result = fetch_star_list_repos("testuser", "skills");
 
         // Clean up env vars
         std::env::remove_var("SKILLSHUB_GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL");
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
         std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
 
         assert!(result.is_ok(), "fetch should succeed: {:?}", result.err());
@@ -1891,11 +1959,13 @@ name: minimal-skill
 
         let gql_url = format!("{}/graphql", server.uri());
         std::env::set_var("SKILLSHUB_GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL", &gql_url);
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
         std::env::set_var("GITHUB_TOKEN", "test-token");
 
         let result = fetch_star_list_repos("testuser", "nonexistent");
 
         std::env::remove_var("SKILLSHUB_GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL");
+        std::env::remove_var("GH_TOKEN");
         std::env::remove_var("GITHUB_TOKEN");
 
         assert!(result.is_err());