diff --git a/contributors/emails/kevinbanjo@gmail.com b/contributors/emails/kevinbanjo@gmail.com
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..03b2d0e7b192
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contributors/emails/kevinbanjo@gmail.com
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+vigilancetech-com
diff --git a/hermes_cli/model_switch.py b/hermes_cli/model_switch.py
index 3e239a593ed0..bc39fe8020c5 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/model_switch.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/model_switch.py
@@ -2370,7 +2370,8 @@ def list_authenticated_providers(
             entry_models: list = []
             if default_model:
                 entry_models.append(default_model)
-            for model_id in _declared_model_ids(ep_cfg.get("models", [])):
+            entry_declared_models = _declared_model_ids(ep_cfg.get("models", []))
+            for model_id in entry_declared_models:
                 if model_id not in entry_models:
                     entry_models.append(model_id)
 
@@ -2404,6 +2405,7 @@ def list_authenticated_providers(
                     "name": grp_display or display_name,
                     "api_url": api_url,
                     "models": [],
+                    "has_explicit_models": False,
                     "ep_cfg": ep_cfg,  # used below for discover_models / api_key
                     "raw_names": [],
                 }
@@ -2411,6 +2413,13 @@ def list_authenticated_providers(
             for _m in entry_models:
                 if _m and _m not in ep_groups[group_key]["models"]:
                     ep_groups[group_key]["models"].append(_m)
+            # Track explicit ``models:`` declarations separately from the
+            # merged list: a singular ``default_model``/``model`` is only the
+            # active selection and must not be mistaken for the user narrowing
+            # the endpoint to a curated subset (mirrors section 4's
+            # declaration-tracking; see #40542 / PR #61928).
+            if entry_declared_models:
+                ep_groups[group_key]["has_explicit_models"] = True
             ep_groups[group_key]["raw_names"].append(display_name)
 
         for grp in ep_groups.values():
@@ -2433,8 +2442,11 @@ def list_authenticated_providers(
             # unless the provider explicitly opts out via discover_models: false.
             # Policy mirrors Section 4's should_probe logic:
             # - With an api_key: always probe (user opted into the endpoint).
-            # - Without an api_key but with explicit models: skip — the user
-            #   is narrowing a public endpoint to a specific subset.
+            # - Without an api_key but with an explicit ``models:`` list:
+            #   skip — the user is narrowing a public endpoint to a specific
+            #   subset. A singular ``default_model``/``model`` does NOT count
+            #   as narrowing (it's just the active selection) and must not
+            #   suppress discovery — mirrors section 4 / #40542.
             # - Without an api_key AND no explicit models: probe anyway so
             #   bare-endpoint providers (local llama.cpp / Ollama servers)
             #   still show their full model catalog.
@@ -2445,7 +2457,7 @@ def list_authenticated_providers(
             discover = ep_cfg.get("discover_models", True)
             if isinstance(discover, str):
                 discover = discover.lower() not in {"false", "no", "0"}
-            has_explicit_models = bool(models_list)
+            has_explicit_models = bool(grp.get("has_explicit_models"))
             _ep_url_norm = str(api_url).strip().rstrip("/").lower()
             _ep_slug_norm = str(ep_name).strip().lower()
             _ep_custom_slug_norm = custom_provider_slug(display_name).lower()
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_user_providers_model_switch.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_user_providers_model_switch.py
index 8c743e71b900..877042977fa1 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_user_providers_model_switch.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_user_providers_model_switch.py
@@ -390,6 +390,9 @@ def test_list_authenticated_providers_user_openai_official_url_fallback(monkeypa
     """User providers: api.openai.com with no models list uses native curated fallback."""
     monkeypatch.setattr("agent.models_dev.fetch_models_dev", lambda: {})
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.providers.HERMES_OVERLAYS", {})
+    # No models: list → un-narrowed → section 3 probes; simulate the keyless
+    # probe failing (401) so the curated fallback is exercised hermetically.
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", lambda *a, **k: None)
 
     user_providers = {
         "openai-direct": {
@@ -413,6 +416,9 @@ def test_list_authenticated_providers_fallback_to_default_only(monkeypatch):
     """When no models array is provided, should fall back to default_model."""
     monkeypatch.setattr("agent.models_dev.fetch_models_dev", lambda: {})
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.providers.HERMES_OVERLAYS", {})
+    # default_model-only entries are un-narrowed, so section 3 probes the
+    # live endpoint; simulate it being unreachable to test the fallback.
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", lambda *a, **k: None)
     
     user_providers = {
         "simple-provider": {
@@ -554,6 +560,9 @@ def test_list_authenticated_providers_no_duplicate_labels_across_schemas(monkeyp
     """
     monkeypatch.setattr("agent.models_dev.fetch_models_dev", lambda: {})
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.providers.HERMES_OVERLAYS", {})
+    # Singular ``model:``-only entries are un-narrowed → section 3 now probes
+    # them; stub the probe so the test stays hermetic (endpoints are fake).
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", lambda *a, **k: None)
 
     shared_entries = [
         ("endpoint-a", "http://a.local/v1"),
@@ -1173,6 +1182,53 @@ def test_section3_probes_no_key_endpoint_without_explicit_models(monkeypatch):
     assert row["total_models"] == 3
 
 
+def test_section3_probes_no_key_endpoint_with_singular_default_model(monkeypatch):
+    """A providers: entry with no api_key and only a singular ``default_model``
+    (no explicit ``models:`` list) must still probe /v1/models — the singular
+    field is just the active selection, not the user narrowing the endpoint.
+
+    Regression for #40554 / PR #68984 (@vigilancetech-com): section 3 derived
+    ``has_explicit_models`` from the merged models list, so the lone
+    ``default_model`` entry suppressed live discovery and the /model picker
+    showed a one-line menu for local no-auth endpoints.
+    """
+    monkeypatch.setattr("agent.models_dev.fetch_models_dev", lambda: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.providers.HERMES_OVERLAYS", {})
+
+    probed = {}
+
+    def _fake_fetch(api_key, api_url, **kwargs):
+        probed["called"] = True
+        probed["api_key"] = api_key
+        return ["live-model-1", "live-model-2", "live-model-3"]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", _fake_fetch)
+
+    user_providers = {
+        "local-ollama": {
+            "name": "Local Ollama",
+            "api": "http://localhost:11434/v1",
+            "default_model": "llama3",
+            # No api_key, no models: list — singular default only.
+        }
+    }
+
+    providers = list_authenticated_providers(
+        current_provider="local-ollama",
+        user_providers=user_providers,
+        custom_providers=[],
+        max_models=50,
+    )
+
+    assert probed.get("called") is True, (
+        "singular default_model must not suppress live discovery"
+    )
+    assert probed["api_key"] == ""
+    row = next(p for p in providers if p["slug"] == "local-ollama")
+    assert row["models"] == ["live-model-1", "live-model-2", "live-model-3"]
+    assert row["total_models"] == 3
+
+
 def test_section3_skips_probe_when_no_key_but_explicit_models(monkeypatch):
     """A no-key endpoint WITH an explicit models: list is the user narrowing a
     public endpoint to a subset — skip live discovery and keep the list."""