diff --git a/agent/conversation_compression.py b/agent/conversation_compression.py
index 90c637ee4fa..bc70623997d 100644
--- a/agent/conversation_compression.py
+++ b/agent/conversation_compression.py
@@ -80,11 +80,20 @@ def check_compression_model_feasibility(agent: Any) -> None:
         except Exception:
             _aux_cfg_provider = ""
         if client is None or not aux_model:
-            msg = (
-                "⚠ No auxiliary LLM provider configured — context "
-                "compression will drop middle turns without a summary. "
-                "Run `hermes setup` or set OPENROUTER_API_KEY."
-            )
+            if _aux_cfg_provider and _aux_cfg_provider != "auto":
+                msg = (
+                    "⚠ Configured auxiliary compression provider "
+                    f"'{_aux_cfg_provider}' is unavailable — context "
+                    "compression will drop middle turns without a summary. "
+                    "Check auxiliary.compression in config.yaml and "
+                    "reauthenticate that provider."
+                )
+            else:
+                msg = (
+                    "⚠ No auxiliary LLM provider configured — context "
+                    "compression will drop middle turns without a summary. "
+                    "Run `hermes setup` or set OPENROUTER_API_KEY."
+                )
             agent._compression_warning = msg
             agent._emit_status(msg)
             logger.warning(