diff --git a/plugins/image_gen/openrouter/__init__.py b/plugins/image_gen/openrouter/__init__.py
index d15aaabd53b..65bd001915f 100644
--- a/plugins/image_gen/openrouter/__init__.py
+++ b/plugins/image_gen/openrouter/__init__.py
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # image model first, then fall back to Gemini 3 Pro Image if the OpenAI model
 # is access-gated / unavailable / times out on this endpoint.
 #
-# Explicit override (OPENROUTER_IMAGE_MODEL or image_gen.<provider>.model):
-# use exactly that model (no auto fallback), so power users keep full control.
+# Explicit override (OPENROUTER_IMAGE_MODEL, image_gen.<provider>.model, or
+# image_gen.model from ``hermes tools``): use exactly that model (no auto
+# fallback), so power users keep full control.
 DEFAULT_MODEL = "openai/gpt-5.4-image-2"
 _FALLBACK_MODEL = "google/gemini-3-pro-image"
 _DEFAULT_MODEL_CHAIN = (DEFAULT_MODEL, _FALLBACK_MODEL)
@@ -243,16 +244,18 @@ class OpenRouterCompatImageProvider(ImageGenProvider):
     def get_setup_schema(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         return dict(self._setup_schema)
 
-    def _resolve_model(self) -> str:
+    def _resolve_model(self, explicit: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
         """Pick the image model: env override → config → :data:`DEFAULT_MODEL`."""
-        return self._resolve_model_chain()[0]
+        return self._resolve_model_chain(explicit)[0]
 
-    def _resolve_model_chain(self) -> list[str]:
+    def _resolve_model_chain(self, explicit: Optional[str] = None) -> list[str]:
         """Ordered model attempts for this request.
 
         Explicit user/model config means "use this exact model", so no fallback.
         Without overrides we run the quality-first default chain.
         """
+        if isinstance(explicit, str) and explicit.strip():
+            return [explicit.strip()]
         env_override = os.environ.get(self._model_env_var, "").strip()
         if env_override:
             return [env_override]
@@ -262,6 +265,9 @@ class OpenRouterCompatImageProvider(ImageGenProvider):
             value = scoped.get("model")
             if isinstance(value, str) and value.strip():
                 return [value.strip()]
+        top = cfg.get("model")
+        if isinstance(top, str) and top.strip():
+            return [top.strip()]
         return _dedupe_models(list(_DEFAULT_MODEL_CHAIN))
 
     def generate(
@@ -297,7 +303,7 @@ class OpenRouterCompatImageProvider(ImageGenProvider):
                 aspect_ratio=aspect_ratio,
             )
 
-        model_chain = self._resolve_model_chain()
+        model_chain = self._resolve_model_chain(kwargs.get("model"))
         aspect = resolve_aspect_ratio(aspect_ratio)
         or_aspect = _ASPECT_RATIOS.get(aspect, "1:1")