diff --git a/run_agent.py b/run_agent.py
index c87bd3515..010648809 100644
--- a/run_agent.py
+++ b/run_agent.py
@@ -1306,31 +1306,6 @@ class AIAgent:
             try:
                 _mem_provider_name = mem_config.get("provider", "") if mem_config else ""
 
-                # Auto-migrate: if Honcho was actively configured (enabled +
-                # credentials) but memory.provider is not set, activate the
-                # honcho plugin automatically.  Just having the config file
-                # is not enough — the user may have disabled Honcho or the
-                # file may be from a different tool.
-                if not _mem_provider_name:
-                    try:
-                        from plugins.memory.honcho.client import HonchoClientConfig as _HCC
-                        _hcfg = _HCC.from_global_config()
-                        if _hcfg.enabled and (_hcfg.api_key or _hcfg.base_url):
-                            _mem_provider_name = "honcho"
-                            # Persist so this only auto-migrates once
-                            try:
-                                from hermes_cli.config import load_config as _lc, save_config as _sc
-                                _cfg = _lc()
-                                _cfg.setdefault("memory", {})["provider"] = "honcho"
-                                _sc(_cfg)
-                            except Exception:
-                                pass
-                            if not self.quiet_mode:
-                                print("  ✓ Auto-migrated Honcho to memory provider plugin.")
-                                print("    Your config and data are preserved.\n")
-                    except Exception:
-                        pass
-
                 if _mem_provider_name:
                     from agent.memory_manager import MemoryManager as _MemoryManager
                     from plugins.memory import load_memory_provider as _load_mem
diff --git a/tests/run_agent/test_memory_provider_init.py b/tests/run_agent/test_memory_provider_init.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..89431db85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run_agent/test_memory_provider_init.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""Regression tests for memory provider selection during AIAgent init."""
+
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+
+def test_blank_memory_provider_does_not_auto_enable_honcho():
+    """Blank memory.provider should remain opt-out even if Honcho fallback looks configured."""
+    cfg = {"memory": {"provider": ""}, "agent": {}}
+    honcho_cfg = SimpleNamespace(enabled=True, api_key="stale-key", base_url=None)
+
+    with (
+        patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config", return_value=cfg),
+        patch("hermes_cli.config.save_config") as save_config,
+        patch(
+            "plugins.memory.honcho.client.HonchoClientConfig.from_global_config",
+            return_value=honcho_cfg,
+        ) as from_global_config,
+        patch("plugins.memory.load_memory_provider") as load_memory_provider,
+        patch("agent.model_metadata.get_model_context_length", return_value=204_800),
+        patch("run_agent.get_tool_definitions", return_value=[]),
+        patch("run_agent.check_toolset_requirements", return_value={}),
+        patch("run_agent.OpenAI"),
+    ):
+        from run_agent import AIAgent
+
+        agent = AIAgent(
+            api_key="test-key-1234567890",
+            base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+            quiet_mode=True,
+            skip_context_files=True,
+            skip_memory=False,
+        )
+
+    assert agent._memory_manager is None
+    from_global_config.assert_not_called()
+    load_memory_provider.assert_not_called()
+    save_config.assert_not_called()
+