diff --git a/hermes_cli/models.py b/hermes_cli/models.py
index 60825da6d..cbcfc405f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/models.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/models.py
@@ -177,23 +177,6 @@ def validate_requested_model(
             "message": "Model names cannot contain spaces.",
         }
 
-    # OpenRouter requires provider/model format
-    if normalized == "openrouter":
-        if "/" not in requested or requested.startswith("/") or requested.endswith("/"):
-            known_models = provider_model_ids(normalized)
-            suggestion = get_close_matches(requested, known_models, n=1, cutoff=0.6)
-            suggestion_text = f" Did you mean `{suggestion[0]}`?" if suggestion else ""
-            return {
-                "accepted": False,
-                "persist": False,
-                "recognized": False,
-                "message": (
-                    "OpenRouter model IDs should use the `provider/model` format "
-                    "(for example `anthropic/claude-opus-4.6`)."
-                    f"{suggestion_text}"
-                ),
-            }
-
     # Probe the live API to check if the model actually exists
     api_models = fetch_api_models(api_key, base_url)
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py
index b85f317bc..d473a411c 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py
@@ -103,18 +103,16 @@ class TestValidateFormatChecks:
         assert result["accepted"] is False
         assert "spaces" in result["message"].lower()
 
-    def test_openrouter_requires_slash(self):
-        result = _validate("claude-opus-4.6")
-        assert result["accepted"] is False
-        assert "provider/model" in result["message"]
+    def test_no_slash_model_still_probes_api(self):
+        """Models without '/' should still be checked via API (not all providers need it)."""
+        result = _validate("gpt-5.4", api_models=["gpt-5.4", "gpt-5.4-pro"])
+        assert result["accepted"] is True
+        assert result["persist"] is True
 
-    def test_openrouter_rejects_leading_slash(self):
-        result = _validate("/claude-opus-4.6")
-        assert result["accepted"] is False
-
-    def test_openrouter_rejects_trailing_slash(self):
-        result = _validate("anthropic/")
+    def test_no_slash_model_rejected_if_not_in_api(self):
+        result = _validate("gpt-5.4", api_models=["openai/gpt-5.4"])
         assert result["accepted"] is False
+        assert "not a valid model" in result["message"]
 
 
 # -- validate_requested_model — API probe found model ------------------------
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_model_command.py b/tests/test_cli_model_command.py
index 41757de1e..a43b96379 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_model_command.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_model_command.py
@@ -62,18 +62,20 @@ class TestModelCommand:
         assert cli_obj.agent is None
         save_mock.assert_not_called()
 
-    def test_bad_format_rejected_without_api_call(self, capsys):
+    def test_no_slash_model_probes_api_and_rejects(self, capsys):
+        """Model without '/' is still probed via API — not rejected on format alone."""
         cli_obj = self._make_cli()
 
         with patch("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_provider", return_value="openrouter"), \
-             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models") as fetch_mock, \
+             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
+                   return_value=["openai/gpt-5.4"]) as fetch_mock, \
              patch("cli.save_config_value") as save_mock:
-            cli_obj.process_command("/model invalid-no-slash")
+            cli_obj.process_command("/model gpt-5.4")
 
         output = capsys.readouterr().out
-        assert "provider/model" in output
+        assert "not a valid model" in output
         assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"  # unchanged
-        fetch_mock.assert_not_called()  # no API call for format errors
+        fetch_mock.assert_called_once()  # API was probed
         save_mock.assert_not_called()
 
     def test_validation_crash_falls_back_to_save(self, capsys):