diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/CMakeLists.txt b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/CMakeLists.txt
index 38c4c4074..2a2b21cb6 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ set(SRCS
 
 # ESP-IDF v6+: headers must resolve via explicit REQUIRES (no implicit deps).
 set(REQUIRES
-    json
     esp_wifi
     esp_netif
     esp_event
@@ -59,6 +58,15 @@ if(IDF_VERSION_MAJOR GREATER_EQUAL 6)
     list(APPEND REQUIRES esp_driver_tsens)
 endif()
 
+# cJSON (config_api.c) ships as the bundled `json` component up to ESP-IDF 5.x
+# and was moved OUT to the component manager in v6, where requiring `json`
+# fails outright: "Failed to resolve component 'json' required by component
+# 'main': unknown name." Declaring it unconditionally broke the v6.0.2 lane
+# while the 5.4 lane stayed green -- one toolchain is not the build matrix.
+if(IDF_VERSION_MAJOR LESS 6)
+    list(APPEND REQUIRES json)
+endif()
+
 # ADR-061: Mock CSI generator for QEMU testing + ADR-081 mock radio binding
 if(CONFIG_CSI_MOCK_ENABLED)
     list(APPEND SRCS "mock_csi.c" "rv_radio_ops_mock.c")
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/idf_component.yml b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/idf_component.yml
index 4ec1d552a..af4a7bcc4 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/idf_component.yml
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/idf_component.yml
@@ -11,3 +11,14 @@ dependencies:
 
   ## Onboard WS2812 LED Disabling
   espressif/led_strip: "^3.0.0"
+
+  ## cJSON for config_api.c.
+  ## Bundled as the `json` component up to ESP-IDF 5.x and moved out to the
+  ## component manager in v6, so it is pulled ONLY on the v6+ lane -- on 5.4
+  ## `main/CMakeLists.txt` requires the built-in `json` instead. Taking it from
+  ## the registry on 5.x as well would mean two cJSON implementations in one
+  ## build.
+  espressif/cjson:
+    version: "^1.7.19"
+    rules:
+      - if: "idf_version >=6.0"