diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts
index 276938503b0..a960ac90458 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,14 @@ export function resolveModel(
   const resolvedAgentDir = agentDir ?? resolveOpenClawAgentDir();
   const authStorage = discoverAuthStorage(resolvedAgentDir);
   const modelRegistry = discoverModels(authStorage, resolvedAgentDir);
-  const model = modelRegistry.find(provider, modelId) as Model<Api> | null;
+  let model = modelRegistry.find(provider, modelId) as Model<Api> | null;
+
+  // Fallback: OpenRouter's "auto" model is stored with full id "openrouter/auto"
+  // but parseModelRef splits it into provider="openrouter", modelId="auto"
+  if (!model && provider === "openrouter" && modelId === "auto") {
+    model = modelRegistry.find(provider, "openrouter/auto") as Model<Api> | null;
+  }
+
   if (!model) {
     const providers = cfg?.models?.providers ?? {};
     const inlineModels = buildInlineProviderModels(providers);