Novak, taking on the scoring mantle of the rested Jordan Rhodes, delicately glanced a header into the bottom corner on the stroke of half-time from Jack Hunt's chip, taking his season tally to 17.
The Terriers nearly went 2-0 up in first-half stoppage time when Kallum Higginbotham forced Glovers goalkeeper Sam Walker to tip over from another Hunt set-up.
Yeovil responded from the restart, with substitute Gavin Williams going close before home keeper Ian Bennett made a brilliant double save. He denied striker Andy Williams and was up quickly to turn Kieran Agard's follow-up around the post.
But any chance Yeovil had was snuffed out when Danny Ward added a second goal for Hudderfield from a solo run past two defenders with 18 minutes remaining.
Ward, whose corner after an hour led to Luke Ayling heading Sean Morrison's effort off the line, placed a neat finish into the bottom right corner.
