diff --git a/hermes_cli/cli_agent_setup_mixin.py b/hermes_cli/cli_agent_setup_mixin.py
index 3fedeb9be7..8ef87db4f3 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/cli_agent_setup_mixin.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/cli_agent_setup_mixin.py
@@ -183,9 +183,13 @@ class CLIAgentSetupMixin:
         _primary_exc = None
         runtime = None
         try:
+            # target_model: the ladder's model-keyed rungs (OpenCode free tier, Zen/Go api_mode,
+            # Copilot/Nous api_mode) must see the model this CLI will actually send, not
+            # config's `default` -- otherwise `hermes -m mimo-v2.5 --provider opencode-go` with a
+            # *-free default is routed to the keyless Zen relay (#112600).
             runtime = resolve_runtime_provider(
                 requested=self.requested_provider, explicit_api_key=self._explicit_api_key,
-                explicit_base_url=self._explicit_base_url)
+                explicit_base_url=self._explicit_base_url, target_model=self.model or None)
         except Exception as exc:
             _primary_exc = exc
         if _primary_exc is not None:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py
index fefd8c0b3b..fb206c77a2 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py
@@ -261,6 +261,32 @@ def test_runtime_resolution_failure_is_not_sticky(monkeypatch):
     assert shell.agent is not None
 
 
+def test_ensure_runtime_credentials_passes_cli_model_as_target_model(monkeypatch):
+    """`hermes -m mimo-v2.5 --provider opencode-go` must resolve credentials for the model the
+    CLI will send: the OpenCode free-tier rung keys off the effective model, and without
+    target_model a `*-free` config default routes an explicit paid model to the keyless Zen
+    relay (#112600)."""
+    cli = _import_cli()
+    seen = {}
+
+    def _runtime_resolve(**kwargs):
+        seen.update(kwargs)
+        return {
+            "provider": "opencode-go",
+            "api_mode": "chat_completions",
+            "base_url": "https://opencode.ai/zen/go/v1",
+            "api_key": "test-key",
+            "source": "env",
+        }
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.runtime_provider.resolve_runtime_provider", _runtime_resolve)
+    shell = cli.HermesCLI(model="mimo-v2.5", provider="opencode-go", compact=True, max_turns=1)
+
+    assert shell._ensure_runtime_credentials() is True
+    assert seen["requested"] == "opencode-go"
+    assert seen["target_model"] == "mimo-v2.5"
+
+
 
 
 def test_cli_turn_routing_uses_primary_when_disabled(monkeypatch):