diff --git a/hermes_cli/auth.py b/hermes_cli/auth.py
index 0c5037019..940a15564 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/auth.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/auth.py
@@ -2310,21 +2310,20 @@ def _login_nous(args, pconfig: ProviderConfig) -> None:
                 raise AuthError("No runtime API key available to fetch models",
                                 provider="nous", code="invalid_token")
 
-            model_ids = fetch_nous_models(
-                inference_base_url=runtime_base_url,
-                api_key=runtime_key,
-                timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
-                verify=verify,
-            )
+            # Use curated model list (same as OpenRouter defaults) instead
+            # of the full /models dump which returns hundreds of models.
+            from hermes_cli.models import _PROVIDER_MODELS
+            model_ids = _PROVIDER_MODELS.get("nous", [])
 
             print()
             if model_ids:
+                print(f"Showing {len(model_ids)} curated models — use \"Enter custom model name\" for others.")
                 selected_model = _prompt_model_selection(model_ids)
                 if selected_model:
                     _save_model_choice(selected_model)
                     print(f"Default model set to: {selected_model}")
             else:
-                print("No models were returned by the inference API.")
+                print("No curated models available for Nous Portal.")
         except Exception as exc:
             message = format_auth_error(exc) if isinstance(exc, AuthError) else str(exc)
             print()
diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index cf445d845..39d233ad4 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -1084,14 +1084,20 @@ def _model_flow_nous(config, current_model=""):
         # login_nous already handles model selection + config update
         return
 
-    # Already logged in — fetch models and select
-    print("Fetching models from Nous Portal...")
+    # Already logged in — use curated model list (same as OpenRouter defaults).
+    # The live /models endpoint returns hundreds of models; the curated list
+    # shows only agentic models users recognize from OpenRouter.
+    from hermes_cli.models import _PROVIDER_MODELS
+    model_ids = _PROVIDER_MODELS.get("nous", [])
+    if not model_ids:
+        print("No curated models available for Nous Portal.")
+        return
+
+    print(f"Showing {len(model_ids)} curated models — use \"Enter custom model name\" for others.")
+
+    # Verify credentials are still valid (catches expired sessions early)
     try:
         creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60)
-        model_ids = fetch_nous_models(
-            inference_base_url=creds.get("base_url", ""),
-            api_key=creds.get("api_key", ""),
-        )
     except Exception as exc:
         relogin = isinstance(exc, AuthError) and exc.relogin_required
         msg = format_auth_error(exc) if isinstance(exc, AuthError) else str(exc)
@@ -1108,11 +1114,7 @@ def _model_flow_nous(config, current_model=""):
             except Exception as login_exc:
                 print(f"Re-login failed: {login_exc}")
             return
-        print(f"Could not fetch models: {msg}")
-        return
-
-    if not model_ids:
-        print("No models returned by the inference API.")
+        print(f"Could not verify credentials: {msg}")
         return
 
     selected = _prompt_model_selection(model_ids, current_model=current_model)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/setup.py b/hermes_cli/setup.py
index e00aaa4b9..63e85a662 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/setup.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/setup.py
@@ -1002,10 +1002,9 @@ def setup_model_provider(config: dict):
                     min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60,
                     timeout_seconds=15.0,
                 )
-                nous_models = fetch_nous_models(
-                    inference_base_url=creds.get("base_url", ""),
-                    api_key=creds.get("api_key", ""),
-                )
+                # Use curated model list instead of full /models dump
+                from hermes_cli.models import _PROVIDER_MODELS
+                nous_models = _PROVIDER_MODELS.get("nous", [])
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.debug("Could not fetch Nous models after login: %s", e)