diff --git a/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model.go b/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model.go
index 4815dd0b0e..28d252be85 100644
--- a/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model.go
+++ b/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model.go
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ func applyStartModelPolicy(
 	if policy.Model == "" {
 		return ModelSelectionDecision{Outcome: ModelSelectionOutcomeNone}, nil
 	}
+	if policy.AutoFallback {
+		policy.FallbackModel = ""
+	}
 
 	decision := ModelSelectionDecision{
 		RequestedModel: policy.Model,
diff --git a/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model_executor_authority_test.go b/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model_executor_authority_test.go
index 73bcba7f63..7faf00a833 100644
--- a/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model_executor_authority_test.go
+++ b/apps/backend/internal/agent/runtime/lifecycle/start_model_executor_authority_test.go
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ func TestApplyStartModelPolicyExecutorAuthority(t *testing.T) {
 			wantReason:  ModelSelectionReasonRequestedNotAdvertised,
 			wantWarning: true,
 		},
+		{
+			name:        "auto fallback ignores configured fallback model",
+			state:       modelState("executor-default", "fallback"),
+			policy:      StartModelPolicy{Model: "host-only-model", FallbackModel: "fallback", AutoFallback: true},
+			wantOutcome: ModelSelectionOutcomeProviderDefault,
+			wantReason:  ModelSelectionReasonRequestedNotAdvertised,
+			wantWarning: true,
+		},
 		{
 			name:          "advertised apply error is explicit",
 			state:         modelState("requested"),
@@ -139,6 +147,9 @@ func TestApplyStartModelPolicyExecutorAuthority(t *testing.T) {
 			if decision.Warning != tt.wantWarning {
 				t.Errorf("warning = %v, want %v", decision.Warning, tt.wantWarning)
 			}
+			if tt.policy.AutoFallback && decision.FallbackModel != "" {
+				t.Errorf("auto-fallback fallback model = %q, want empty", decision.FallbackModel)
+			}
 		})
 	}
 }