diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index e01bc660a5..4c5f8f320e 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -1269,7 +1269,7 @@ def _model_flow_custom(config):
             cfg["model"] = model
         model["provider"] = "custom"
         model["base_url"] = effective_url
-        model["api_mode"] = "chat_completions"
+        model.pop("api_mode", None)  # let runtime auto-detect from URL
         save_config(cfg)
         deactivate_provider()
 
@@ -2051,7 +2051,7 @@ def _model_flow_kimi(config, current_model=""):
             cfg["model"] = model
         model["provider"] = provider_id
         model["base_url"] = effective_base
-        model["api_mode"] = "chat_completions"
+        model.pop("api_mode", None)  # let runtime auto-detect from URL
         save_config(cfg)
         deactivate_provider()
 
@@ -2158,7 +2158,7 @@ def _model_flow_api_key_provider(config, provider_id, current_model=""):
             cfg["model"] = model
         model["provider"] = provider_id
         model["base_url"] = effective_base
-        model["api_mode"] = "chat_completions"
+        model.pop("api_mode", None)  # let runtime auto-detect from URL
         save_config(cfg)
         deactivate_provider()