diff --git a/agent/auxiliary_client.py b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
index 4cc5016702..a67264fe1f 100644
--- a/agent/auxiliary_client.py
+++ b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
@@ -2943,7 +2943,6 @@ def _try_openrouter(explicit_api_key: str = None, model: str = None) -> Tuple[Op
             "auxiliary.free_only.",
             or_model,
         )
-        _mark_provider_unhealthy("openrouter", ttl=60)
         return None, None
     if not _is_free_model(or_model):
         _warn_paid_lane_once(or_model)
@@ -2969,8 +2968,15 @@ def _try_openrouter(explicit_api_key: str = None, model: str = None) -> Tuple[Op
                    default_headers=build_or_headers()), or_model
 
 
-def _describe_openrouter_unavailable() -> str:
-    """Return a more precise OpenRouter auth failure reason for logs."""
+def _describe_openrouter_unavailable(model: str = None) -> str:
+    """Return the policy or credential reason OpenRouter was unavailable."""
+    free_only, cfg_model = _aux_openrouter_settings()
+    or_model = model or cfg_model
+    if free_only and not _is_free_model(or_model):
+        return (
+            f"auxiliary.free_only rejected non-free model {or_model!r}; "
+            "the request was skipped before provider availability checks"
+        )
     pool_present, entry = _select_pool_entry("openrouter")
     if pool_present:
         if entry is None:
@@ -6489,11 +6495,14 @@ def resolve_provider_client(
 
     # ── OpenRouter ───────────────────────────────────────────
     if provider == "openrouter":
-        client, default = _try_openrouter(explicit_api_key=explicit_api_key)
+        client, default = _try_openrouter(
+            explicit_api_key=explicit_api_key,
+            model=model,
+        )
         if client is None:
             logger.warning(
                 "resolve_provider_client: openrouter requested but %s",
-                _describe_openrouter_unavailable(),
+                _describe_openrouter_unavailable(model=model),
             )
             return None, None
         final_model = _normalize_resolved_model(model or default, provider)
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py b/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py
index 1d784efa1e..a345cac3ee 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py
@@ -1042,6 +1042,51 @@ class TestOpenRouterPaidLaneGuard:
         assert model is None
         mock_openai.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_resolver_forwards_explicit_free_model_to_gate(self, monkeypatch):
+        """The concrete OpenRouter route gates the caller's model, not its default."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("OPENROUTER_API_KEY", "or-key")
+        with patch("agent.auxiliary_client._select_pool_entry", return_value=(False, None)), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config_readonly",
+                   return_value={"auxiliary": {"free_only": True}}), \
+             patch("agent.auxiliary_client.OpenAI") as mock_openai:
+            mock_client = MagicMock(name="openrouter_client")
+            mock_openai.return_value = mock_client
+            client, model = resolve_provider_client(
+                "openrouter", model="nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b:free"
+            )
+
+        assert client is mock_client
+        assert model == "nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b:free"
+
+    def test_free_only_gate_does_not_mark_openrouter_unhealthy(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("OPENROUTER_API_KEY", "or-key")
+        with patch("agent.auxiliary_client._select_pool_entry", return_value=(False, None)), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config_readonly",
+                   return_value={"auxiliary": {"free_only": True}}), \
+             patch("agent.auxiliary_client._mark_provider_unhealthy") as mark_unhealthy:
+            client, model = resolve_provider_client(
+                "openrouter", model="google/gemini-3.6-flash"
+            )
+
+        assert client is None
+        assert model is None
+        mark_unhealthy.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_free_only_gate_reports_policy_not_credentials(self, monkeypatch, caplog):
+        import logging
+
+        monkeypatch.setenv("OPENROUTER_API_KEY", "or-key")
+        with patch("agent.auxiliary_client._select_pool_entry", return_value=(False, None)), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config_readonly",
+                   return_value={"auxiliary": {"free_only": True}}), \
+             caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="agent.auxiliary_client"):
+            resolve_provider_client("openrouter", model="google/gemini-3.6-flash")
+
+        messages = [record.getMessage() for record in caplog.records]
+        assert any("free_only" in message and "google/gemini-3.6-flash" in message
+                   for message in messages)
+        assert not any("credentials" in message for message in messages)
+
     def test_paid_lane_warns_once(self, monkeypatch, caplog):
         """Engaging the default paid model logs a WARNING (once per model)."""
         import logging