diff --git a/tests/tools/test_delegate.py b/tests/tools/test_delegate.py
index 2a80f3a815..b9b95062bd 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_delegate.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_delegate.py
@@ -1065,6 +1065,80 @@ class TestChildCredentialPoolResolution(unittest.TestCase):
         parent._credential_pool = _pool(azure)
         self.assertIs(_resolve_child_credential_pool("openai", parent, azure), parent._credential_pool)
 
+    def test_same_provider_without_parent_pool_keeps_fixed_credential(self):
+        parent = _make_mock_parent()
+        parent.provider = "anthropic"
+        parent._credential_pool = None
+
+        with patch("agent.credential_pool.load_pool") as load_mock:
+            result = _resolve_child_credential_pool(
+                "anthropic", parent, "http://localhost:8080/anthropic"
+            )
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        load_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_fixed_proxy_child_does_not_lease_provider_default_pool(self):
+        parent = _make_mock_parent()
+        parent.provider = "anthropic"
+        parent.api_mode = "anthropic_messages"
+        parent.base_url = "https://api.anthropic.com"
+        parent.api_key = ""
+        parent._client_kwargs = {
+            "api_key": "proxy-credential",
+            "base_url": "http://localhost:8080/anthropic",
+        }
+        parent._credential_pool = None
+
+        provider_pool = MagicMock(name="provider_default_pool")
+        provider_pool.has_credentials.return_value = True
+        provider_pool.acquire_lease.return_value = "anthropic-default"
+        provider_pool.current.return_value = MagicMock(id="anthropic-default")
+
+        with (
+            patch("run_agent.AIAgent") as MockAgent,
+            patch("agent.credential_pool.load_pool", return_value=provider_pool),
+        ):
+            child = MagicMock()
+            child._credential_pool = None
+            child.run_conversation.return_value = {
+                "final_response": "done",
+                "completed": True,
+                "interrupted": False,
+                "api_calls": 1,
+                "messages": [],
+            }
+            MockAgent.return_value = child
+
+            built_child = _build_child_agent(
+                task_index=0,
+                goal="Use the parent's fixed proxy route",
+                context=None,
+                toolsets=["terminal"],
+                model=None,
+                max_iterations=10,
+                parent_agent=parent,
+                task_count=1,
+            )
+
+            from tools.delegate_tool import _run_single_child
+
+            result = _run_single_child(
+                task_index=0,
+                goal="Use the parent's fixed proxy route",
+                child=built_child,
+                parent_agent=parent,
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(result["status"], "completed")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            MockAgent.call_args.kwargs["base_url"],
+            "http://localhost:8080/anthropic",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(MockAgent.call_args.kwargs["api_key"], "proxy-credential")
+        provider_pool.acquire_lease.assert_not_called()
+        child._swap_credential.assert_not_called()
+
     # --- Custom-endpoint identity resolution (issue #7833) ---
 
     def test_named_custom_child_pool_follows_requested_provider_not_endpoint_order(self):
diff --git a/tools/delegate_tool_config.py b/tools/delegate_tool_config.py
index e7b9db5aa7..7a5a51b555 100644
--- a/tools/delegate_tool_config.py
+++ b/tools/delegate_tool_config.py
@@ -268,7 +268,12 @@ def _resolve_child_credential_pool(
             if parent_pool is not None and parent_provider == "custom" and parent_key is not None and parent_key == child_key:
                 return parent_pool
             return _loaded_pool(child_key)
-        if parent_pool is not None and effective_provider == parent_provider:
+        if effective_provider == parent_provider:
+            # A same-provider parent with no pool is using a fixed credential.
+            # Loading a separate provider pool here can replace the inherited
+            # endpoint and key when the child acquires its startup lease (#71424).
+            if parent_pool is None:
+                return None
             if not effective_base_url or _pool_serves_endpoint(parent_pool, effective_provider, effective_base_url):
                 return parent_pool
             logger.debug("Parent %s pool has no entry for child endpoint %s; not sharing it",