diff --git a/docs/clawd.md b/docs/clawd.md
index 9b2e699cd..893a70ebb 100644
--- a/docs/clawd.md
+++ b/docs/clawd.md
@@ -117,8 +117,7 @@ Example:
 {
   logging: { level: "info" },
   agent: {
-    provider: "anthropic",
-    model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+    model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
     workspace: "~/clawd",
     thinkingDefault: "high",
     timeoutSeconds: 1800,
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 57c14dc95..4b407feca 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ Controls inbound/outbound prefixes and timestamps.
 
 ### `agent`
 
-Controls the embedded agent runtime (provider/model/thinking/verbose/timeouts).
+Controls the embedded agent runtime (model/thinking/verbose/timeouts).
 `allowedModels` lets `/model` list/filter and enforce a per-session allowlist
 (omit to show the full catalog).
 
@@ -141,8 +141,9 @@ Controls the embedded agent runtime (provider/model/thinking/verbose/timeouts).
 }
 ```
 
-`agent.model` can be set as `provider/model` (e.g. `anthropic/claude-opus-4-5`).
-When present, it overrides `agent.provider` (which becomes optional).
+`agent.model` should be set as `provider/model` (e.g. `anthropic/claude-opus-4-5`).
+If you omit the provider, CLAWDIS currently assumes `anthropic` as a temporary
+deprecation fallback.
 
 `agent.bash` configures background bash defaults:
 - `backgroundMs`: time before auto-background (ms, default 20000)
@@ -165,11 +166,11 @@ When `models.providers` is present, Clawdis writes/merges a `models.json` into
 - default behavior: **merge** (keeps existing providers, overrides on name)
 - set `models.mode: "replace"` to overwrite the file contents
 
-Select the model via `agent.provider` + `agent.model`.
+Select the model via `agent.model` (provider/model).
 
 ```json5
 {
-  agent: { provider: "custom-proxy", model: "llama-3.1-8b" },
+  agent: { model: "custom-proxy/llama-3.1-8b" },
   models: {
     mode: "merge",
     providers: {
diff --git a/docs/onboarding.md b/docs/onboarding.md
index 9b536e0eb..958a953f3 100644
--- a/docs/onboarding.md
+++ b/docs/onboarding.md
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ Offer an “API key” option, but for now it is **instructions only**:
 
 Note: environment variables are often confusing when the Gateway is launched by a GUI app (launchd environment != your shell).
 
-### Provider/model safety rule
+### Model safety rule
 
-Clawdis should **always pass** `--provider` and `--model` when invoking the embedded agent (don’t rely on defaults).
+Clawdis should **always pass** `--model` when invoking the embedded agent (don’t rely on defaults).
 
 Example (CLI):
 
 ```bash
-clawdis agent --mode rpc --provider anthropic --model claude-opus-4-5 "<message>"
+clawdis agent --mode rpc --model anthropic/claude-opus-4-5 "<message>"
 ```
 
 If the user skips auth, onboarding should be clear: the agent likely won’t respond until auth is configured.
diff --git a/src/agents/model-selection.test.ts b/src/agents/model-selection.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..385a7de65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/agents/model-selection.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ClawdisConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { DEFAULT_MODEL, DEFAULT_PROVIDER } from "./defaults.js";
+import { resolveConfiguredModelRef } from "./model-selection.js";
+
+describe("resolveConfiguredModelRef", () => {
+  it("parses provider/model from agent.model", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      agent: { model: "openai/gpt-4.1-mini" },
+    } satisfies ClawdisConfig;
+
+    const resolved = resolveConfiguredModelRef({
+      cfg,
+      defaultProvider: DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
+      defaultModel: DEFAULT_MODEL,
+    });
+
+    expect(resolved).toEqual({ provider: "openai", model: "gpt-4.1-mini" });
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to default provider when agent.model omits it", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      agent: { model: "claude-opus-4-5" },
+    } satisfies ClawdisConfig;
+
+    const resolved = resolveConfiguredModelRef({
+      cfg,
+      defaultProvider: DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
+      defaultModel: DEFAULT_MODEL,
+    });
+
+    expect(resolved).toEqual({
+      provider: DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
+      model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to defaults when agent.model is missing", () => {
+    const cfg = {} satisfies ClawdisConfig;
+
+    const resolved = resolveConfiguredModelRef({
+      cfg,
+      defaultProvider: DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
+      defaultModel: DEFAULT_MODEL,
+    });
+
+    expect(resolved).toEqual({
+      provider: DEFAULT_PROVIDER,
+      model: DEFAULT_MODEL,
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/agents/model-selection.ts b/src/agents/model-selection.ts
index d86a5c236..92f2392b9 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-selection.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-selection.ts
@@ -31,15 +31,17 @@ export function resolveConfiguredModelRef(params: {
   defaultProvider: string;
   defaultModel: string;
 }): ModelRef {
-  const rawProvider = params.cfg.agent?.provider?.trim() || "";
   const rawModel = params.cfg.agent?.model?.trim() || "";
-  const providerFallback = rawProvider || params.defaultProvider;
   if (rawModel) {
-    const parsed = parseModelRef(rawModel, providerFallback);
-    if (parsed) return parsed;
-    return { provider: providerFallback, model: rawModel };
+    const trimmed = rawModel.trim();
+    if (trimmed.includes("/")) {
+      const parsed = parseModelRef(trimmed, params.defaultProvider);
+      if (parsed) return parsed;
+    }
+    // TODO(steipete): drop this fallback once provider-less agent.model is fully deprecated.
+    return { provider: params.defaultProvider, model: trimmed };
   }
-  return { provider: providerFallback, model: params.defaultModel };
+  return { provider: params.defaultProvider, model: params.defaultModel };
 }
 
 export function buildAllowedModelSet(params: {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply.directive.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply.directive.test.ts
index faf1a0493..f8f43cde9 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply.directive.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply.directive.test.ts
@@ -102,8 +102,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           routing: {
@@ -130,8 +129,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           session: { store: path.join(home, "sessions.json") },
@@ -183,8 +181,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           routing: {
@@ -245,8 +242,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           routing: {
@@ -274,8 +270,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
             allowedModels: ["anthropic/claude-opus-4-5", "openai/gpt-4.1-mini"],
           },
@@ -301,8 +296,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
             allowedModels: ["openai/gpt-4.1-mini"],
           },
@@ -340,8 +334,7 @@ describe("directive parsing", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
             allowedModels: ["openai/gpt-4.1-mini"],
           },
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply.triggers.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply.triggers.test.ts
index 97d6c4bd0..07d1a7a58 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply.triggers.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply.triggers.test.ts
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ async function withTempHome<T>(fn: (home: string) => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
 function makeCfg(home: string) {
   return {
     agent: {
-      provider: "anthropic",
-      model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+      model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
       workspace: join(home, "clawd"),
     },
     routing: {
@@ -168,8 +167,7 @@ describe("trigger handling", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           routing: {
@@ -210,8 +208,7 @@ describe("trigger handling", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           routing: {
@@ -250,8 +247,7 @@ describe("trigger handling", () => {
         {},
         {
           agent: {
-            provider: "anthropic",
-            model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+            model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
             workspace: join(home, "clawd"),
           },
           routing: {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply.ts
index 84dc83098..7e5ba7bf3 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply.ts
@@ -730,7 +730,6 @@ export async function getReplyFromConfig(
     const heartbeatSeconds = resolveHeartbeatSeconds(cfg, undefined);
     const statusText = buildStatusMessage({
       agent: {
-        provider,
         model,
         contextTokens,
         thinkingDefault: agentCfg?.thinkingDefault,
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/status.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/status.test.ts
index 9873b5b6c..0ca8852ef 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/status.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/status.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ afterEach(() => {
 describe("buildStatusMessage", () => {
   it("summarizes agent readiness and context usage", () => {
     const text = buildStatusMessage({
-      agent: { provider: "anthropic", model: "pi:opus", contextTokens: 32_000 },
+      agent: {
+        model: "anthropic/pi:opus",
+        contextTokens: 32_000,
+      },
       sessionEntry: {
         sessionId: "abc",
         updatedAt: 0,
@@ -112,8 +115,7 @@ describe("buildStatusMessage", () => {
 
       const text = buildStatusMessageDynamic({
         agent: {
-          provider: "anthropic",
-          model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+          model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
           contextTokens: 32_000,
         },
         sessionEntry: {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/status.ts b/src/auto-reply/status.ts
index 479e94ffd..dd12f3479 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/status.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/status.ts
@@ -202,11 +202,9 @@ export function buildStatusMessage(args: StatusArgs): string {
 
   const optionsLine = `Options: thinking=${thinkLevel} | verbose=${verboseLevel} (set with /think <level>, /verbose on|off, /model <id>)`;
 
-  const modelLabel = args.agent?.provider?.trim()
-    ? `${args.agent.provider}/${args.agent?.model ?? model}`
-    : model
-      ? model
-      : "unknown";
+  const modelLabel = model
+    ? `${resolved.provider}/${model}`
+    : "unknown";
 
   const agentLine = `Agent: embedded pi • ${modelLabel}`;
 
diff --git a/src/commands/agent.test.ts b/src/commands/agent.test.ts
index 96bb9bc64..974c9e8b2 100644
--- a/src/commands/agent.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/agent.test.ts
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ function mockConfig(
 ) {
   configSpy.mockReturnValue({
     agent: {
-      provider: "anthropic",
-      model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+      model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
       workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
       ...agentOverrides,
     },
@@ -143,19 +142,18 @@ describe("agentCommand", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("resolves provider from agent.model when prefixed", async () => {
+  it("uses provider/model from agent.model", async () => {
     await withTempHome(async (home) => {
       const store = path.join(home, "sessions.json");
       mockConfig(home, store, undefined, {
-        provider: "openai",
-        model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
+        model: "openai/gpt-4.1-mini",
       });
 
       await agentCommand({ message: "hi", to: "+1555" }, runtime);
 
       const callArgs = vi.mocked(runEmbeddedPiAgent).mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0];
-      expect(callArgs?.provider).toBe("anthropic");
-      expect(callArgs?.model).toBe("claude-opus-4-5");
+      expect(callArgs?.provider).toBe("openai");
+      expect(callArgs?.model).toBe("gpt-4.1-mini");
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/config/config.ts b/src/config/config.ts
index 56735a3ad..1e16035c6 100644
--- a/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.ts
@@ -306,8 +306,7 @@ export type ClawdisConfig = {
   models?: ModelsConfig;
   agent?: {
     /** Provider id, e.g. "anthropic" or "openai" (pi-ai catalog). */
-    provider?: string;
-    /** Model id within provider, e.g. "claude-opus-4-5". */
+    /** Model id (provider/model), e.g. "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5". */
     model?: string;
     /** Agent working directory (preferred). Used as the default cwd for agent runs. */
     workspace?: string;
@@ -565,7 +564,6 @@ const ClawdisSchema = z.object({
   models: ModelsConfigSchema,
   agent: z
     .object({
-      provider: z.string().optional(),
       model: z.string().optional(),
       workspace: z.string().optional(),
       allowedModels: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
diff --git a/src/cron/isolated-agent.test.ts b/src/cron/isolated-agent.test.ts
index 9b8751d49..f4bf2f36f 100644
--- a/src/cron/isolated-agent.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/isolated-agent.test.ts
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ async function writeSessionStore(home: string) {
 function makeCfg(home: string, storePath: string): ClawdisConfig {
   return {
     agent: {
-      provider: "anthropic",
-      model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+      model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
       workspace: path.join(home, "clawd"),
     },
     session: { store: storePath, mainKey: "main" },
diff --git a/src/gateway/server.test.ts b/src/gateway/server.test.ts
index 58b0462b2..92fd22fe1 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.test.ts
@@ -191,8 +191,7 @@ vi.mock("../config/config.js", () => {
     CONFIG_PATH_CLAWDIS: resolveConfigPath(),
     loadConfig: () => ({
       agent: {
-        provider: "anthropic",
-        model: "claude-opus-4-5",
+        model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5",
         workspace: path.join(os.tmpdir(), "clawd-gateway-test"),
       },
       routing: {