diff --git a/hermes_cli/model_switch.py b/hermes_cli/model_switch.py
index 22721f9a4..5b26f5b8b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/model_switch.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/model_switch.py
@@ -678,6 +678,7 @@ def switch_model(
         _da = DIRECT_ALIASES.get(resolved_alias)
         if _da is not None and _da.base_url:
             base_url = _da.base_url
+            api_mode = ""  # clear so determine_api_mode re-detects from URL
             if not api_key:
                 api_key = "no-key-required"
 
diff --git a/hermes_cli/providers.py b/hermes_cli/providers.py
index 1764474aa..00c3f64bc 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/providers.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/providers.py
@@ -427,6 +427,16 @@ def determine_api_mode(provider: str, base_url: str = "") -> str:
     """
     pdef = get_provider(provider)
     if pdef is not None:
+        # Even for known providers, check URL heuristics for special endpoints
+        # (e.g. kimi /coding endpoint needs anthropic_messages even on 'custom')
+        if base_url:
+            url_lower = base_url.rstrip("/").lower()
+            if "api.kimi.com/coding" in url_lower:
+                return "anthropic_messages"
+            if url_lower.endswith("/anthropic") or "api.anthropic.com" in url_lower:
+                return "anthropic_messages"
+            if "api.openai.com" in url_lower:
+                return "codex_responses"
         return TRANSPORT_TO_API_MODE.get(pdef.transport, "chat_completions")
 
     # Direct provider checks for providers not in HERMES_OVERLAYS
@@ -439,6 +449,8 @@ def determine_api_mode(provider: str, base_url: str = "") -> str:
         hostname = base_url_hostname(base_url)
         if url_lower.endswith("/anthropic") or hostname == "api.anthropic.com":
             return "anthropic_messages"
+        if hostname == "api.kimi.com" and "/coding" in url_lower:
+            return "anthropic_messages"
         if hostname == "api.openai.com":
             return "codex_responses"
         if hostname.startswith("bedrock-runtime.") and base_url_host_matches(base_url, "amazonaws.com"):
diff --git a/run_agent.py b/run_agent.py
index c5966a173..4f431bb6a 100644
--- a/run_agent.py
+++ b/run_agent.py
@@ -1175,7 +1175,7 @@ class AIAgent:
                     client_kwargs["default_headers"] = copilot_default_headers()
                 elif base_url_host_matches(effective_base, "api.kimi.com"):
                     client_kwargs["default_headers"] = {
-                        "User-Agent": "KimiCLI/1.30.0",
+                        "User-Agent": "claude-code/0.1.0",
                     }
                 elif base_url_host_matches(effective_base, "portal.qwen.ai"):
                     client_kwargs["default_headers"] = _qwen_portal_headers()
@@ -5049,7 +5049,7 @@ class AIAgent:
 
             self._client_kwargs["default_headers"] = copilot_default_headers()
         elif base_url_host_matches(base_url, "api.kimi.com"):
-            self._client_kwargs["default_headers"] = {"User-Agent": "KimiCLI/1.30.0"}
+            self._client_kwargs["default_headers"] = {"User-Agent": "claude-code/0.1.0"}
         elif base_url_host_matches(base_url, "portal.qwen.ai"):
             self._client_kwargs["default_headers"] = _qwen_portal_headers()
         elif base_url_host_matches(base_url, "chatgpt.com"):