diff --git a/litellm/llms/litellm_proxy/skills/handler.py b/litellm/llms/litellm_proxy/skills/handler.py
index b7d6989e8b6..0825690edf8 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/litellm_proxy/skills/handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/litellm_proxy/skills/handler.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ class LiteLLMSkillsHandler:
             "display_title": data.display_title,
             "description": data.description,
             "instructions": data.instructions,
+            "source": "custom",
             "created_by": user_id,
             "updated_by": user_id,
         }
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/anthropic_endpoints/skills_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/anthropic_endpoints/skills_endpoints.py
index da7bb11afca..f6033d1bf79 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/anthropic_endpoints/skills_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/anthropic_endpoints/skills_endpoints.py
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ def get_skills_mode() -> Literal["litellm", "passthrough"]:
     from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import general_settings
 
     # Check general_settings for skills_mode
-    skills_mode = general_settings.get("skills_mode", "passthrough")
+    skills_mode = general_settings.get("skills_mode")
+
+    if skills_mode is None:
+        return "passthrough"
 
     if skills_mode not in ("litellm", "passthrough"):
         verbose_proxy_logger.warning(