diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2b6966bfa..d5a0971e3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Gateway: strip inbound envelope headers from chat history messages to keep clients clean.
 - UI: prevent double-scroll in Control UI chat by locking chat layout to the viewport. (#1283) — thanks @bradleypriest.
 
+### Fixes
+- Config: allow Perplexity as a web_search provider in config validation. (#1230)
+
 ## 2026.1.19-2
 
 ### Changes
diff --git a/src/config/config.web-search-provider.test.ts b/src/config/config.web-search-provider.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a91c0f438
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/config.web-search-provider.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { validateConfigObject } from "./config.js";
+
+describe("web search provider config", () => {
+  it("accepts perplexity provider and config", () => {
+    const res = validateConfigObject({
+      tools: {
+        web: {
+          search: {
+            enabled: true,
+            provider: "perplexity",
+            perplexity: {
+              apiKey: "test-key",
+              baseUrl: "https://api.perplexity.ai",
+              model: "perplexity/sonar-pro",
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/config/schema.ts b/src/config/schema.ts
index 52d5200fb..9a3eff29e 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema.ts
@@ -349,12 +349,18 @@ const FIELD_HELP: Record<string, string> = {
   "tools.message.crossContext.marker.suffix":
     'Text suffix for cross-context markers (supports "{channel}").',
   "tools.message.broadcast.enabled": "Enable broadcast action (default: true).",
-  "tools.web.search.enabled": "Enable the web_search tool (requires Brave API key).",
-  "tools.web.search.provider": 'Search provider (only "brave" supported today).',
+  "tools.web.search.enabled": "Enable the web_search tool (requires a provider API key).",
+  "tools.web.search.provider": 'Search provider ("brave" or "perplexity").',
   "tools.web.search.apiKey": "Brave Search API key (fallback: BRAVE_API_KEY env var).",
   "tools.web.search.maxResults": "Default number of results to return (1-10).",
   "tools.web.search.timeoutSeconds": "Timeout in seconds for web_search requests.",
   "tools.web.search.cacheTtlMinutes": "Cache TTL in minutes for web_search results.",
+  "tools.web.search.perplexity.apiKey":
+    "Perplexity or OpenRouter API key (fallback: PERPLEXITY_API_KEY or OPENROUTER_API_KEY env var).",
+  "tools.web.search.perplexity.baseUrl":
+    "Perplexity base URL override (default: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1 or https://api.perplexity.ai).",
+  "tools.web.search.perplexity.model":
+    'Perplexity model override (default: "perplexity/sonar-pro").',
   "tools.web.fetch.enabled": "Enable the web_fetch tool (lightweight HTTP fetch).",
   "tools.web.fetch.maxChars": "Max characters returned by web_fetch (truncated).",
   "tools.web.fetch.timeoutSeconds": "Timeout in seconds for web_fetch requests.",
diff --git a/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts b/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts
index 2c81510b8..537129acc 100644
--- a/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts
@@ -124,11 +124,19 @@ export const ToolPolicySchema = z
 export const ToolsWebSearchSchema = z
   .object({
     enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
-    provider: z.union([z.literal("brave")]).optional(),
+    provider: z.union([z.literal("brave"), z.literal("perplexity")]).optional(),
     apiKey: z.string().optional(),
     maxResults: z.number().int().positive().optional(),
     timeoutSeconds: z.number().int().positive().optional(),
     cacheTtlMinutes: z.number().nonnegative().optional(),
+    perplexity: z
+      .object({
+        apiKey: z.string().optional(),
+        baseUrl: z.string().optional(),
+        model: z.string().optional(),
+      })
+      .strict()
+      .optional(),
   })
   .strict()
   .optional();