diff --git a/core/wren/src/wren/context.py b/core/wren/src/wren/context.py
index 7ad8a2917c..d57dc28032 100644
--- a/core/wren/src/wren/context.py
+++ b/core/wren/src/wren/context.py
@@ -696,7 +696,14 @@ def load_relationships(project_path: Path) -> list[dict]:
     if not rel_file.exists():
         return []
     data = yaml.safe_load(rel_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) or {}
-    return data.get("relationships", []) if isinstance(data, dict) else []
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        return []
+    raw = data.get("relationships", [])
+    if not isinstance(raw, list):
+        return []
+    # Annotation is list[dict]; drop non-objects so every consumer trusts the contract
+    # (validate_project / build_manifest / MCP) without re-filtering at each callsite.
+    return [item for item in raw if isinstance(item, dict)]
 
 
 def load_instructions(project_path: Path) -> str | None:
diff --git a/core/wren/tests/unit/test_context.py b/core/wren/tests/unit/test_context.py
index 3bef80df56..2bf24873c7 100644
--- a/core/wren/tests/unit/test_context.py
+++ b/core/wren/tests/unit/test_context.py
@@ -285,6 +285,30 @@ def test_load_relationships(tmp_path):
 # ── load_instructions ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
+def test_load_relationships_skips_non_dict_items(tmp_path):
+    """YAML list may contain scalars; loader must honor list[dict]."""
+    _make_v2_project(tmp_path)
+    (tmp_path / "relationships.yml").write_text(
+        "relationships:\n"
+        "  - not-a-mapping\n"
+        "  - name: orders_customers\n"
+        "    models: [orders, customers]\n"
+        "    join_type: MANY_TO_ONE\n"
+        "    condition: orders.customer_id = customers.customer_id\n"
+        "  - 42\n"
+    )
+    rels = load_relationships(tmp_path)
+    assert len(rels) == 1
+    assert rels[0]["name"] == "orders_customers"
+
+
+def test_load_relationships_non_list_relationships_key(tmp_path):
+    _make_v2_project(tmp_path)
+    (tmp_path / "relationships.yml").write_text("relationships: not-a-list\n")
+    assert load_relationships(tmp_path) == []
+
+
+
 def test_load_instructions(tmp_path):
     _make_v2_project(tmp_path)
     (tmp_path / "instructions.md").write_text("## Rule 1\nAlways use snake_case.\n")