diff --git a/tests/test_model_registry.py b/tests/test_model_registry.py
index fba575ad..73c83ddf 100644
--- a/tests/test_model_registry.py
+++ b/tests/test_model_registry.py
@@ -331,7 +331,11 @@ class TestLoadModelRegistry:
                 api_key="dummy",
                 model="local-model",
             )
-        assert reg.count == 2  # "openai" + "default"
+        # The CLI ``"default"`` shim is suppressed once ``[models.*]``
+        # populates configs — only the explicit alias survives.
+        assert reg.count == 1
+        assert reg.has_alias("openai")
+        assert not reg.has_alias("default")
         assert reg.default == "openai"
         _, model, _ = reg.resolve()
         assert model == "gpt-4o"
@@ -562,7 +566,12 @@ class TestLoadModelRegistryWithDB:
         assert cfg.source == "config"
 
     def test_db_only_models_coexist(self) -> None:
-        """DB models coexist alongside config.toml models."""
+        """DB models coexist alongside config.toml models.
+
+        The CLI ``"default"`` shim is suppressed when DB / config models
+        already populate the registry — see
+        ``test_cli_default_shim_skipped_when_db_models_present``.
+        """
         storage = _MockStorage(
             [
                 {
@@ -586,7 +595,7 @@ class TestLoadModelRegistryWithDB:
             reg = load_model_registry("http://x/v1", "x", "x", storage=storage)
         assert reg.has_alias("db-only")
         assert reg.has_alias("config-only")
-        assert reg.has_alias("default")
+        assert not reg.has_alias("default")
         assert reg.get_config("db-only").source == "db"
         assert reg.get_config("config-only").source == "config"
 
@@ -606,10 +615,12 @@ class TestLoadModelRegistryWithDB:
                 }
             ]
         )
+        # The CLI default shim is suppressed when the DB row populates
+        # configs, so only the DB-sourced alias exists here.
         with patch("turnstone.core.model_registry.load_config", return_value={}):
             reg = load_model_registry("http://x/v1", "x", "x", storage=storage)
         assert reg.get_config("from-db").source == "db"
-        assert reg.get_config("default").source == ""
+        assert not reg.has_alias("default")
 
     def test_disabled_db_models_excluded(self) -> None:
         """Disabled DB models are not loaded."""
@@ -1675,6 +1686,58 @@ class TestLoadModelRegistryDBOnly:
             reg = load_model_registry(model="", storage=storage)
         assert not reg.has_alias("default")
 
+    def test_cli_default_shim_skipped_when_db_models_present(self) -> None:
+        """An auto-detected ``--model`` does NOT synthesise a ``default``
+        alias when the DB already contributes models.
+
+        Regression for the silent bypass of ``model.task_alias`` /
+        ``model.plan_alias``: a synthesised ``default`` aliased to whatever
+        ``--base-url`` was at boot leaks into the LLM-visible alias list,
+        and the LLM picks it for ``task_agent(model="default")`` — which
+        then routes around the operator-configured per-role default.
+        """
+        storage = _MockStorage(
+            [
+                {
+                    "alias": "gh200",
+                    "model": "deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4-Flash",
+                    "provider": "openai",
+                    "base_url": "http://gh200:8000/v1",
+                    "api_key": "sk-gh200",
+                    "context_window": 1048576,
+                    "capabilities": "{}",
+                    "enabled": True,
+                }
+            ]
+        )
+        with patch("turnstone.core.model_registry.load_config", return_value={}):
+            reg = load_model_registry(
+                base_url="http://flatspark:8000/v1",
+                api_key="sk-flatspark",
+                model="qwen3.6-35B-A3B",  # populated by ``detect_model``
+                storage=storage,
+            )
+        assert reg.has_alias("gh200")
+        assert not reg.has_alias("default")
+
+    def test_cli_default_shim_skipped_when_config_models_present(self) -> None:
+        """Same shim suppression when only ``[models.*]`` populates configs."""
+        fake_cfg: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "models": {"local": {"model": "qwen3-32b"}},
+        }
+        with patch("turnstone.core.model_registry.load_config", return_value=fake_cfg):
+            reg = load_model_registry("http://x/v1", "x", "fallback-model")
+        assert reg.has_alias("local")
+        assert not reg.has_alias("default")
+
+    def test_cli_default_shim_still_fires_when_registry_empty(self) -> None:
+        """Single-model CLI mode (no DB, no config.toml [models.*]) keeps
+        the back-compat ``default`` alias."""
+        with patch("turnstone.core.model_registry.load_config", return_value={}):
+            reg = load_model_registry("http://x/v1", "x", "lone-model")
+        assert reg.has_alias("default")
+        assert reg.get_config("default").model == "lone-model"
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # server._effective_routing / _apply_routing_overrides
diff --git a/tests/test_session.py b/tests/test_session.py
index 9819ecc2..0afa8789 100644
--- a/tests/test_session.py
+++ b/tests/test_session.py
@@ -504,9 +504,51 @@ class TestAgentModelOverride:
         assert item.get("needs_approval") is False
         assert "error" in item
         assert "unknown model alias 'bogus'" in item["error"]
-        # The error guidance must list the available aliases so the LLM can retry.
-        for alias in ("default", "smart", "fast"):
+        # Error guidance lists the aliases the LLM may retry, intentionally
+        # excluding ``default`` — that alias is operator-only (see
+        # ``test_prepare_plan_default_model_rejected``).  Surfacing it here
+        # would re-enable the per-role-override bypass even though the
+        # tool description hides it.
+        for alias in ("smart", "fast"):
             assert alias in item["error"]
+        assert "default" not in item["error"]
+
+    def test_prepare_plan_default_model_rejected(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """``model="default"`` is rejected even when the alias exists in
+        the registry — bypasses the operator-configured ``plan_alias``."""
+        session = _make_session(registry=self._registry(), model_alias="default")
+        item = session._prepare_plan("c1", {"goal": "do x", "model": "default"})
+        assert item.get("needs_approval") is False
+        assert "error" in item
+        assert "'default' is not a selectable model alias" in item["error"]
+        assert "Omit `model=`" in item["error"]
+
+    def test_prepare_plan_default_model_rejected_with_whitespace(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """The ``default`` rejection runs after ``strip()`` so leading/
+        trailing whitespace can't sneak the alias past the carve-out."""
+        session = _make_session(registry=self._registry(), model_alias="default")
+        item = session._prepare_plan("c1", {"goal": "do x", "model": "  default  "})
+        assert item.get("needs_approval") is False
+        assert "'default' is not a selectable model alias" in item["error"]
+
+    def test_prepare_plan_unknown_model_with_only_default_in_registry(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """When the registry holds only the reserved ``default`` alias
+        (single-CLI-model back-compat), the unknown-alias error must say
+        '(no alternative aliases configured — omit `model=`)' — not the
+        misleading '(no registry configured)' that suggests routing isn't
+        wired up at all."""
+        from turnstone.core.model_registry import ModelConfig, ModelRegistry
+
+        reg = ModelRegistry(
+            models={"default": ModelConfig("default", "x", "x", "m")},
+            default="default",
+        )
+        session = _make_session(registry=reg, model_alias="default")
+        item = session._prepare_plan("c1", {"goal": "do x", "model": "bogus"})
+        assert item.get("needs_approval") is False
+        assert "unknown model alias 'bogus'" in item["error"]
+        assert "no alternative aliases configured" in item["error"]
+        assert "no registry configured" not in item["error"]
 
     # ---- _prepare_task ----
 
@@ -526,6 +568,15 @@ class TestAgentModelOverride:
         assert item.get("needs_approval") is False
         assert "error" in item
         assert "unknown model alias 'bogus'" in item["error"]
+        assert "default" not in item["error"]
+
+    def test_prepare_task_default_model_rejected(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """Symmetric carve-out for task_agent — see
+        ``test_prepare_plan_default_model_rejected``."""
+        session = _make_session(registry=self._registry(), model_alias="default")
+        item = session._prepare_task("c1", {"prompt": "do x", "model": "default"})
+        assert item.get("needs_approval") is False
+        assert "'default' is not a selectable model alias" in item["error"]
 
     # ---- tool description rendering ----
 
@@ -544,8 +595,11 @@ class TestAgentModelOverride:
             tool = self._agent_tool(session, name)
             assert tool is not None, f"{name} missing from session tools"
             desc = tool["function"]["parameters"]["properties"]["model"]["description"]
-            for alias in ("default", "smart", "fast"):
+            for alias in ("smart", "fast"):
                 assert f"`{alias}`" in desc, f"alias {alias} missing from {desc!r}"
+            # ``default`` is intentionally hidden — see
+            # ``test_render_omits_default_alias_from_description``.
+            assert "`default`" not in desc
 
     def test_render_no_op_without_registry(self, tmp_db) -> None:
         """No registry → leave the placeholder description untouched."""
@@ -576,6 +630,82 @@ class TestAgentModelOverride:
         desc = plan_tool["function"]["parameters"]["properties"]["model"]["description"]
         assert "`bigboi`" in desc
 
+    def test_render_omits_default_alias_from_description(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """The ``default`` alias is filtered from the LLM-facing alias list.
+
+        Reading "default" as English ("use the default") and passing it
+        explicitly bypasses the operator-configured per-role plan_alias /
+        task_alias.  The LLM should reach the per-role default by omitting
+        ``model=`` instead.
+        """
+        from turnstone.core.model_registry import ModelConfig, ModelRegistry
+
+        reg = ModelRegistry(
+            models={
+                "default": ModelConfig("default", "x", "x", "m"),
+                "gh200": ModelConfig("gh200", "x", "x", "m"),
+                "opus-4.7": ModelConfig("opus-4.7", "x", "x", "m"),
+            },
+            default="default",
+        )
+        session = _make_session(registry=reg, model_alias="default")
+        for name in ("plan_agent", "task_agent"):
+            tool = self._agent_tool(session, name)
+            assert tool is not None
+            desc = tool["function"]["parameters"]["properties"]["model"]["description"]
+            assert "`gh200`" in desc
+            assert "`opus-4.7`" in desc
+            assert "`default`" not in desc
+
+    def test_render_falls_back_to_base_when_only_default_alias(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """Single-CLI-model registries (only ``default`` in registry) leave
+        the base description untouched — the LLM sees ``"No alternative
+        aliases configured"`` rather than an empty alias list."""
+        from turnstone.core.model_registry import ModelConfig, ModelRegistry
+
+        reg = ModelRegistry(
+            models={"default": ModelConfig("default", "x", "x", "m")},
+            default="default",
+        )
+        session = _make_session(registry=reg, model_alias="default")
+        plan_tool = self._agent_tool(session, "plan_agent")
+        assert plan_tool is not None
+        desc = plan_tool["function"]["parameters"]["properties"]["model"]["description"]
+        assert "No alternative aliases configured" in desc
+
+    def test_refresh_into_only_default_resets_to_base(self, tmp_db) -> None:
+        """A reload that drops the registry to only ``default`` must clear
+        stale alias names from the previously-rendered tool descriptions —
+        not return early and leave them in place."""
+        from turnstone.core.model_registry import ModelConfig, ModelRegistry
+
+        reg = ModelRegistry(
+            models={
+                "default": ModelConfig("default", "x", "x", "m"),
+                "smart": ModelConfig("smart", "x", "x", "m"),
+                "fast": ModelConfig("fast", "x", "x", "m"),
+            },
+            default="default",
+        )
+        session = _make_session(registry=reg, model_alias="default")
+        # Sanity: initial render carries the non-default aliases.
+        plan_tool = self._agent_tool(session, "plan_agent")
+        assert plan_tool is not None
+        desc = plan_tool["function"]["parameters"]["properties"]["model"]["description"]
+        assert "`smart`" in desc and "`fast`" in desc
+
+        # Reload the registry down to only ``default`` (admin removed
+        # every other model definition).
+        reg.reload({"default": ModelConfig("default", "x", "x", "m")}, "default")
+        session.refresh_agent_tool_schemas()
+
+        plan_tool = self._agent_tool(session, "plan_agent")
+        assert plan_tool is not None
+        desc = plan_tool["function"]["parameters"]["properties"]["model"]["description"]
+        assert "`smart`" not in desc, f"stale alias survived reload: {desc!r}"
+        assert "`fast`" not in desc, f"stale alias survived reload: {desc!r}"
+        assert "No alternative aliases configured" in desc
+
     def test_module_level_constants_not_mutated(self, tmp_db) -> None:
         """Rendering must not pollute the module-level TOOLS list shared
         across all sessions."""
diff --git a/turnstone/core/model_registry.py b/turnstone/core/model_registry.py
index bf6f9308..cac9096e 100644
--- a/turnstone/core/model_registry.py
+++ b/turnstone/core/model_registry.py
@@ -500,10 +500,14 @@ def load_model_registry(
             server_compat=entry_server_compat,
         )
 
-    # 3. Ensure a "default" entry from CLI args (only if not already defined
-    # by config.toml or DB — those take precedence, and only when a CLI
-    # model was actually provided)
-    if "default" not in configs and model:
+    # 3. Back-compat shim: synthesize a "default" alias from CLI/auto-detected
+    # ``--base-url`` + ``--model`` only when no DB or config.toml models exist.
+    # Auto-creating "default" alongside DB models leaks a non-routing alias
+    # into the public list — the LLM picks it in plan_agent / task_agent
+    # ``model=`` and silently bypasses the operator's per-role
+    # plan_alias / task_alias overrides (the "default" alias points at
+    # whatever LLM_BASE_URL was at boot, not at the configured default).
+    if not configs and model:
         configs["default"] = ModelConfig(
             alias="default",
             base_url=base_url,
diff --git a/turnstone/core/session.py b/turnstone/core/session.py
index d06b70fe..bc4e2574 100644
--- a/turnstone/core/session.py
+++ b/turnstone/core/session.py
@@ -1516,9 +1516,13 @@ class ChatSession:
         """
         if self._registry is None:
             return
-        aliases = sorted(self._registry.list_aliases())
-        if not aliases:
-            return
+        # Hide ``default`` from the alias list — the LLM reads the English
+        # word and picks it explicitly, which routes to whichever model
+        # carries that alias rather than the operator-configured per-role
+        # default (plan_alias / task_alias).  Omitting ``model=`` already
+        # selects the per-role default; offering the literal name as an
+        # alternative invites the bypass.
+        aliases = sorted(a for a in self._registry.list_aliases() if a != "default")
         aliases_str = ", ".join(f"`{a}`" for a in aliases)
 
         new_tools: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
@@ -1532,11 +1536,22 @@ class ChatSession:
             new_tool = copy.deepcopy(tool)
             props = new_tool.get("function", {}).get("parameters", {}).get("properties", {})
             if "model" in props:
-                props["model"]["description"] = (
-                    f"Optional model alias to run this {name} on. "
-                    f"Omit to use the operator-configured {kind}. "
-                    f"Available aliases: {aliases_str}."
-                )
+                # Always rewrite — a reload that filters down to no
+                # alternatives (only ``default`` remains in the registry)
+                # must clear any stale alias names left over from a prior
+                # render, not return early and leave them in place.
+                if aliases:
+                    props["model"]["description"] = (
+                        f"Optional model alias to run this {name} on. "
+                        f"Omit to use the operator-configured {kind}. "
+                        f"Available aliases: {aliases_str}."
+                    )
+                else:
+                    props["model"]["description"] = (
+                        f"Optional model alias to run this {name} on. "
+                        "Omit to use the current session model. "
+                        "(No alternative aliases configured in this session.)"
+                    )
             new_tools.append(new_tool)
         self._tools = new_tools
 
@@ -6151,9 +6166,39 @@ class ChatSession:
         alias = str(raw).strip()
         if not alias:
             return None, None
+        # ``default`` is operator-only — the alias either back-compat-shims
+        # a single-CLI-model registry or aliases a hand-named DB row, and
+        # in both cases an LLM that explicitly routes here bypasses the
+        # operator-configured ``plan_alias`` / ``task_alias`` per-role
+        # default.  Symmetric with the description filter at
+        # ``_render_agent_tool_descriptions`` — closes the loophole where
+        # an LLM that learned the alias name out-of-band (training data,
+        # prior turn, prompt injection) can re-issue it directly.
+        if alias == "default":
+            return None, {
+                "call_id": call_id,
+                "func_name": func_name,
+                "header": f"\u2717 {func_name}: 'default' is not selectable",
+                "preview": "",
+                "needs_approval": False,
+                "error": (
+                    "Error: 'default' is not a selectable model alias for "
+                    f"{func_name}. Omit `model=` to use the operator-configured "
+                    "per-role default."
+                ),
+            }
         if self._registry is None or not self._registry.has_alias(alias):
-            available = sorted(self._registry.list_aliases()) if self._registry is not None else []
-            available_str = ", ".join(available) if available else "(no registry configured)"
+            # ``default`` excluded from the retry list so an LLM probing
+            # with a bogus alias can't enumerate it back from the error.
+            if self._registry is None:
+                available_str = "(no registry configured)"
+            else:
+                available = sorted(a for a in self._registry.list_aliases() if a != "default")
+                available_str = (
+                    ", ".join(available)
+                    if available
+                    else "(no alternative aliases configured — omit `model=`)"
+                )
             return None, {
                 "call_id": call_id,
                 "func_name": func_name,