diff --git a/agent/auxiliary_client.py b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
index de7b6db2b1d..1a966a03129 100644
--- a/agent/auxiliary_client.py
+++ b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
@@ -1407,6 +1407,7 @@ def _try_openrouter(explicit_api_key: str = None) -> Tuple[Optional[OpenAI], Opt
     if pool_present:
         or_key = explicit_api_key or _pool_runtime_api_key(entry)
         if not or_key:
+            _mark_provider_unhealthy("openrouter", ttl=60)
             return None, None
         base_url = _pool_runtime_base_url(entry, OPENROUTER_BASE_URL) or OPENROUTER_BASE_URL
         logger.debug("Auxiliary client: OpenRouter via pool")
@@ -1415,6 +1416,7 @@ def _try_openrouter(explicit_api_key: str = None) -> Tuple[Optional[OpenAI], Opt
 
     or_key = explicit_api_key or os.getenv("OPENROUTER_API_KEY")
     if not or_key:
+        _mark_provider_unhealthy("openrouter", ttl=60)
         return None, None
     logger.debug("Auxiliary client: OpenRouter")
     return OpenAI(api_key=or_key, base_url=OPENROUTER_BASE_URL,
@@ -1446,6 +1448,7 @@ def _try_nous(vision: bool = False) -> Tuple[Optional[OpenAI], Optional[str]]:
                 "Auxiliary: skipping Nous Portal (rate-limited, resets in %.0fs)",
                 _remaining,
             )
+            _mark_provider_unhealthy("nous", ttl=_remaining)
             return None, None
     except Exception:
         pass
@@ -1453,6 +1456,7 @@ def _try_nous(vision: bool = False) -> Tuple[Optional[OpenAI], Optional[str]]:
     nous = _read_nous_auth()
     runtime = _resolve_nous_runtime_api(force_refresh=False)
     if runtime is None and not nous:
+        _mark_provider_unhealthy("nous", ttl=60)
         return None, None
     global auxiliary_is_nous
     auxiliary_is_nous = True