diff --git a/src/cmdforge/tool.py b/src/cmdforge/tool.py
index 5018079..5a426db 100644
--- a/src/cmdforge/tool.py
+++ b/src/cmdforge/tool.py
@@ -220,6 +220,16 @@ class Tool:
         if "source" in data:
             source = ToolSource.from_dict(data["source"])
 
+        # Normalize dependencies - can be strings or dicts with name/version
+        raw_deps = data.get("dependencies", [])
+        dependencies = []
+        for dep in raw_deps:
+            if isinstance(dep, str):
+                dependencies.append(dep)
+            elif isinstance(dep, dict) and "name" in dep:
+                dependencies.append(dep["name"])
+            # Skip invalid entries
+
         return cls(
             name=data["name"],
             description=data.get("description", ""),
@@ -227,7 +237,7 @@ class Tool:
             arguments=arguments,
             steps=steps,
             output=data.get("output", "{input}"),
-            dependencies=data.get("dependencies", []),
+            dependencies=dependencies,
             source=source,
             version=data.get("version", ""),
         )