diff --git a/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/run_manifest.rs b/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/run_manifest.rs
index aff59b0c5..65cc6d36e 100644
--- a/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/run_manifest.rs
+++ b/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/run_manifest.rs
@@ -35,12 +35,10 @@ use fabro_util::check_report::{CheckDetail, CheckReport, CheckResult, CheckSecti
 use fabro_validate::Severity;
 use fabro_workflow::Error as WorkflowError;
 use fabro_workflow::operations::{
-    CreateRunInput, ValidateInput, WorkflowInput, validate, validate_with_provider_fallback,
+    CreateRunInput, ValidateInput, WorkflowInput, validate, validate_with_ready_providers,
 };
 use fabro_workflow::pipeline::Validated;
-#[cfg(test)]
-use fabro_workflow::run_materialization::materialize_run;
-use fabro_workflow::run_materialization::materialize_run_with_provider_fallback;
+use fabro_workflow::run_materialization::materialize_run_with_ready_providers;
 use fabro_workflow::workflow_bundle::{BundledWorkflow, ParsedWorkflowConfig, WorkflowBundle};
 use futures_util::stream::{self, StreamExt};
 use tokio::process::Command;
@@ -199,14 +197,7 @@ pub(crate) fn validate_prepared_manifest_with_vars(
     catalog: Arc<Catalog>,
     vars: HashMap<String, String>,
 ) -> Result<Validated, WorkflowError> {
-    validate(ValidateInput {
-        workflow: WorkflowInput::Bundled(prepared.workflow_input.clone()),
-        settings: prepared.settings.clone(),
-        vars,
-        cwd: prepared.cwd.clone(),
-        custom_transforms: Vec::new(),
-        catalog,
-    })
+    validate(manifest_validate_input(prepared, catalog, vars))
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn validate_prepared_manifest_for_preflight(
@@ -215,21 +206,27 @@ pub(crate) fn validate_prepared_manifest_for_preflight(
     vars: HashMap<String, String>,
     ready_providers: &[ProviderId],
 ) -> Result<Validated, WorkflowError> {
-    let fallback_providers = catalog.all_provider_ids().into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>();
-    validate_with_provider_fallback(
-        ValidateInput {
-            workflow: WorkflowInput::Bundled(prepared.workflow_input.clone()),
-            settings: prepared.settings.clone(),
-            vars,
-            cwd: prepared.cwd.clone(),
-            custom_transforms: Vec::new(),
-            catalog,
-        },
+    validate_with_ready_providers(
+        manifest_validate_input(prepared, catalog, vars),
         ready_providers,
-        &fallback_providers,
     )
 }
 
+fn manifest_validate_input(
+    prepared: &PreparedManifest,
+    catalog: Arc<Catalog>,
+    vars: HashMap<String, String>,
+) -> ValidateInput {
+    ValidateInput {
+        workflow: WorkflowInput::Bundled(prepared.workflow_input.clone()),
+        settings: prepared.settings.clone(),
+        vars,
+        cwd: prepared.cwd.clone(),
+        custom_transforms: Vec::new(),
+        catalog,
+    }
+}
+
 pub(crate) fn create_run_input(
     prepared: PreparedManifest,
     configured_providers: Vec<ProviderId>,
@@ -262,11 +259,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn run_preflight(
     state: &AppState,
     prepared: &PreparedManifest,
     validated: &Validated,
-    preferred_providers: &[ProviderId],
     llm_result: Result<LlmClientResult>,
 ) -> Result<(types::PreflightResponse, bool)> {
     let (report, checks_ok) =
-        build_preflight_report(state, prepared, validated, preferred_providers, llm_result).await?;
+        build_preflight_report(state, prepared, validated, llm_result).await?;
     let preflight_ok = !validated.has_errors() && checks_ok;
     Ok((
         preflight_response(
@@ -485,7 +481,6 @@ async fn build_preflight_report(
     state: &AppState,
     prepared: &PreparedManifest,
     validated: &Validated,
-    preferred_providers: &[ProviderId],
     llm_result: Result<LlmClientResult>,
 ) -> Result<(CheckReport, bool)> {
     let graph = validated.graph();
@@ -504,15 +499,23 @@ async fn build_preflight_report(
     }
 
     let catalog = state.catalog();
-    let fallback_providers = catalog.all_provider_ids().into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>();
-    let materialized = materialize_run_with_provider_fallback(
+    let ready_providers = llm_result
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(LlmClientResult::provider_ids)
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let materialized = materialize_run_with_ready_providers(
         prepared.settings.clone(),
         graph,
         catalog.as_ref(),
-        preferred_providers,
-        &fallback_providers,
+        &ready_providers,
     )?;
     let resolved_run = materialized.run;
+    let (Some(run_model), Some(run_provider)) = (
+        resolved_run.model.name.as_deref(),
+        resolved_run.model.provider.as_deref(),
+    ) else {
+        bail!("materialized run is missing a resolved model or provider");
+    };
     let server_settings = state.server_settings();
     let github_integration = &server_settings.server.integrations.github;
     let sandbox_provider = effective_sandbox_provider(&resolved_run);
@@ -575,7 +578,8 @@ async fn build_preflight_report(
     let llm_ok = run_llm_check(
         &mut checks,
         graph,
-        &resolved_run,
+        run_model,
+        run_provider,
         catalog.as_ref(),
         llm_result,
     )
@@ -1051,25 +1055,11 @@ struct PendingModelProbe {
 async fn run_llm_check(
     checks: &mut Vec<CheckResult>,
     graph: &Graph,
-    settings: &RunNamespace,
+    model: &str,
+    default_provider: &str,
     catalog: &Catalog,
     llm_result: Result<LlmClientResult>,
 ) -> bool {
-    let (Some(model), Some(default_provider)) = (
-        settings.model.name.as_deref(),
-        settings.model.provider.as_deref(),
-    ) else {
-        checks.push(CheckResult {
-            name:        "LLM".into(),
-            status:      CheckStatus::Error,
-            summary:     "model resolution failed".into(),
-            details:     Vec::new(),
-            remediation: Some(
-                "Preflight did not produce a resolved run model and provider".to_string(),
-            ),
-        });
-        return false;
-    };
     let mut model_providers = std::collections::BTreeSet::new();
     let mut has_llm_nodes = false;
 
@@ -1388,6 +1378,7 @@ fn report_to_api(report: &CheckReport) -> types::PreflightCheckReport {
 mod tests {
     use fabro_model::ProviderId;
     use fabro_model::catalog::LlmCatalogSettings;
+    use fabro_workflow::run_materialization::materialize_run;
 
     use super::*;
 
@@ -1563,29 +1554,18 @@ digraph Demo {{
         )
         .unwrap();
 
-        run_preflight(
-            state.as_ref(),
-            &prepared,
-            &validated,
-            &ready_providers,
-            llm_result,
-        )
-        .await
-        .unwrap()
+        run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated, llm_result)
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
     }
 
-    async fn run_preflight_with_catalog_routes(
+    async fn resolve_and_run_preflight(
         state: &AppState,
         prepared: &PreparedManifest,
         validated: &Validated,
     ) -> Result<(types::PreflightResponse, bool)> {
         let llm_result = state.resolve_llm_client().await;
-        let preferred_providers = state
-            .catalog()
-            .all_provider_ids()
-            .into_iter()
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-        run_preflight(state, prepared, validated, &preferred_providers, llm_result).await
+        run_preflight(state, prepared, validated, llm_result).await
     }
 
     fn manifest_workflow() -> types::ManifestWorkflow {
@@ -2217,10 +2197,9 @@ name = "Control Plane"
 
         assert!(validated.has_errors());
 
-        let (response, ok) =
-            run_preflight_with_catalog_routes(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
-                .await
-                .unwrap();
+        let (response, ok) = resolve_and_run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
 
         assert!(!ok);
         assert_eq!(response.workflow.name, "Invalid");
@@ -2262,10 +2241,9 @@ issues = "read"
         let validated = validate_prepared_manifest(&prepared, test_catalog()).unwrap();
         assert!(!validated.has_errors());
 
-        let (response, _ok) =
-            run_preflight_with_catalog_routes(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
-                .await
-                .unwrap();
+        let (response, _ok) = resolve_and_run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
 
         assert!(
             response.checks.sections[0]
@@ -2314,10 +2292,9 @@ id = "local"
 
         assert!(!validated.has_errors());
 
-        let (response, ok) =
-            run_preflight_with_catalog_routes(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
-                .await
-                .unwrap();
+        let (response, ok) = resolve_and_run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
 
         assert!(ok);
         assert!(response.workflow.diagnostics.is_empty());
@@ -2422,10 +2399,9 @@ id = "daytona"
         .unwrap();
         let validated = validate_prepared_manifest(&prepared, test_catalog()).unwrap();
 
-        let (response, _ok) =
-            run_preflight_with_catalog_routes(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
-                .await
-                .unwrap();
+        let (response, _ok) = resolve_and_run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
 
         assert!(response.workflow.diagnostics.is_empty());
         assert!(
@@ -2491,10 +2467,9 @@ digraph Demo {
         .unwrap();
         let validated = validate_prepared_manifest(&prepared, test_catalog()).unwrap();
 
-        let (response, ok) =
-            run_preflight_with_catalog_routes(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
-                .await
-                .unwrap();
+        let (response, ok) = resolve_and_run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
 
         assert!(!ok);
         let llm_check = response.checks.sections[0]
@@ -2677,15 +2652,9 @@ digraph Demo {
         )
         .unwrap();
 
-        let (response, ok) = run_preflight(
-            state.as_ref(),
-            &prepared,
-            &validated,
-            &ready_providers,
-            llm_result,
-        )
-        .await
-        .unwrap();
+        let (response, ok) = run_preflight(state.as_ref(), &prepared, &validated, llm_result)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
 
         assert!(!ok);
         let llm_check = response.checks.sections[0]
diff --git a/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server.rs b/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server.rs
index fac2dd51a..47b57a462 100644
--- a/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server.rs
+++ b/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server.rs
@@ -1445,14 +1445,26 @@ impl AppState {
         self.llm_source.configured_providers(catalog.as_ref()).await
     }
 
-    pub(crate) async fn ready_llm_provider_ids(&self) -> Vec<ProviderId> {
-        match self.resolve_llm_client().await {
-            Ok(result) => result.provider_ids(),
-            Err(err) => {
-                warn!(error = ?err, "Failed to resolve LLM client while checking ready providers");
-                Vec::new()
-            }
+    /// Resolve the LLM client once and derive the ready provider IDs from it,
+    /// logging a warning when resolution fails. Callers that need both values
+    /// must use this instead of `ready_llm_provider_ids` so the client is not
+    /// resolved twice.
+    pub(crate) async fn resolve_llm_client_with_ready_ids(
+        &self,
+    ) -> (anyhow::Result<LlmClientResult>, Vec<ProviderId>) {
+        let llm_result = self.resolve_llm_client().await;
+        if let Err(err) = &llm_result {
+            warn!(error = ?err, "Failed to resolve LLM client while checking ready providers");
         }
+        let ready_provider_ids = llm_result
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(LlmClientResult::provider_ids)
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        (llm_result, ready_provider_ids)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) async fn ready_llm_provider_ids(&self) -> Vec<ProviderId> {
+        self.resolve_llm_client_with_ready_ids().await.1
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn decorate_run_summary(&self, run: fabro_types::Run) -> fabro_types::Run {
diff --git a/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server/handler/runs.rs b/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server/handler/runs.rs
index 20a4b3f9d..fdb9c1c3e 100644
--- a/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server/handler/runs.rs
+++ b/lib/apps/fabro-server/src/server/handler/runs.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ use crate::run_files::{list_run_commits, list_run_files};
 use crate::run_manifest;
 use crate::run_selector::{ResolveRunError, resolve_run_by_selector};
 use crate::run_title_generation::{self, GenerateTitleInput, TitlePromptInput, WorkflowSummary};
-use crate::server_secrets::LlmClientResult;
 #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-support"))]
 use crate::test_support as server_test_support;
 
@@ -591,17 +590,8 @@ pub(crate) async fn create_run_from_manifest(
     // and ask-fabro-readiness) and the LLM client itself (for the spawned
     // title-generation task). `ready_llm_provider_ids` would otherwise call
     // `resolve_llm_client` a second time and discard the client.
-    let llm_client_for_title = match state.resolve_llm_client().await {
-        Ok(result) => Some(result),
-        Err(err) => {
-            tracing::warn!(error = ?err, "Failed to resolve LLM client while creating run");
-            None
-        }
-    };
-    let ready_provider_ids = llm_client_for_title
-        .as_ref()
-        .map(LlmClientResult::provider_ids)
-        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let (llm_result, ready_provider_ids) = state.resolve_llm_client_with_ready_ids().await;
+    let llm_client_for_title = llm_result.ok();
     let run_materialization_provider_ids = {
         #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-support"))]
         {
@@ -835,17 +825,7 @@ async fn run_preflight(
         return ApiError::bad_request(format!("Run config variable interpolation failed: {err}"))
             .into_response();
     }
-    let llm_result = state.resolve_llm_client().await;
-    if let Err(error) = &llm_result {
-        tracing::warn!(
-            error = ?error,
-            "Failed to resolve LLM client while checking ready providers"
-        );
-    }
-    let ready_providers = llm_result
-        .as_ref()
-        .map(LlmClientResult::provider_ids)
-        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let (llm_result, ready_providers) = state.resolve_llm_client_with_ready_ids().await;
     let mut validated = match run_manifest::validate_prepared_manifest_for_preflight(
         &prepared,
         state.catalog(),
@@ -859,21 +839,14 @@ async fn run_preflight(
         Err(err) => return ApiError::bad_request(err.to_string()).into_response(),
     };
     validated.promote_template_undefined_variables_to_errors();
-    let response = match run_manifest::run_preflight(
-        &state,
-        &prepared,
-        &validated,
-        &ready_providers,
-        llm_result,
-    )
-    .await
-    {
-        Ok((response, _ok)) => response,
-        Err(err) => {
-            return ApiError::new(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, err.to_string())
-                .into_response();
-        }
-    };
+    let response =
+        match run_manifest::run_preflight(&state, &prepared, &validated, llm_result).await {
+            Ok((response, _ok)) => response,
+            Err(err) => {
+                return ApiError::new(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, err.to_string())
+                    .into_response();
+            }
+        };
     (StatusCode::OK, Json(response)).into_response()
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/create.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/create.rs
index 39bd097bf..2ec40d443 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/create.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/create.rs
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ fn create_from_source(
             .filter(|provider| !provider.is_empty())
             .map(ProviderId::new),
         &options.configured_providers,
-        None,
+        false,
         &options.catalog,
     )?;
 
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ pub(super) fn preprocess_and_validate(
     render_mode: RenderMode,
     default_provider: Option<ProviderId>,
     eligible_providers: &[ProviderId],
-    fallback_providers: Option<&[ProviderId]>,
+    catalog_fallback: bool,
     catalog: &Arc<Catalog>,
 ) -> Result<Validated, Error> {
     let mut parsed = pipeline::parse(dot_source)?;
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ pub(super) fn preprocess_and_validate(
         catalog: Arc::clone(catalog),
         default_provider,
         eligible_providers: eligible_providers.iter().cloned().collect(),
-        fallback_providers: fallback_providers.map(|providers| providers.iter().cloned().collect()),
+        catalog_fallback,
     })?;
     Ok(pipeline::validate(transformed, catalog.as_ref(), &[]))
 }
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ reasoning = false
             RenderMode::Structural,
             None,
             &test_provider_ids(),
-            None,
+            false,
             &test_catalog(),
         )
         .unwrap()
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ reasoning = false
             RenderMode::Strict,
             None,
             &test_provider_ids(),
-            None,
+            false,
             &test_catalog(),
         );
         let Err(err) = result else {
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ reasoning = false
             RenderMode::Strict,
             None,
             &test_provider_ids(),
-            None,
+            false,
             &test_catalog(),
         );
         let Err(err) = result else {
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/mod.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/mod.rs
index 9e5726515..38b7d9aaa 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/mod.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/mod.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ pub use rewind::{RewindInput, RewindOutcome, rewind};
 pub use source::WorkflowInput;
 pub use start::{StartServices, Started, start};
 pub use timeline::{ForkTarget, RunTimeline, TimelineEntry, build_timeline, timeline};
-pub use validate::{ValidateInput, validate, validate_with_provider_fallback};
+pub use validate::{ValidateInput, validate, validate_with_ready_providers};
 
 pub use crate::pipeline::{LlmSpec, SandboxEnvSpec};
 pub use crate::transforms::RenderMode;
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/start.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/start.rs
index 9c2e3ed8d..ba720b11f 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/start.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/start.rs
@@ -622,6 +622,7 @@ fn resolve_start_llm(
         &eligible,
         settings.model.name.as_deref(),
         settings.model.provider.as_deref(),
+        false,
     )?;
     let fallback_chain =
         resolve_fallback_chain(catalog, &provider_id, &model, &settings.model, &eligible)?;
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/validate.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/validate.rs
index 2fb7235b0..c2b990f5c 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/validate.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/operations/validate.rs
@@ -33,23 +33,23 @@ pub fn validate(input: ValidateInput) -> Result<Validated, Error> {
         .all_provider_ids()
         .into_iter()
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-    validate_with_provider_sets(input, &eligible_providers, None)
+    validate_with_eligible_providers(input, &eligible_providers, false)
 }
 
-/// Parse, transform, and validate while preferring one provider snapshot and
-/// falling back to another only for provider-readiness selection failures.
-pub fn validate_with_provider_fallback(
+/// Parse, transform, and validate, resolving models against the ready
+/// providers first and falling back to the full catalog only for
+/// provider-readiness selection failures.
+pub fn validate_with_ready_providers(
     input: ValidateInput,
-    preferred_providers: &[ProviderId],
-    fallback_providers: &[ProviderId],
+    ready_providers: &[ProviderId],
 ) -> Result<Validated, Error> {
-    validate_with_provider_sets(input, preferred_providers, Some(fallback_providers))
+    validate_with_eligible_providers(input, ready_providers, true)
 }
 
-fn validate_with_provider_sets(
+fn validate_with_eligible_providers(
     input: ValidateInput,
     eligible_providers: &[ProviderId],
-    fallback_providers: Option<&[ProviderId]>,
+    catalog_fallback: bool,
 ) -> Result<Validated, Error> {
     let resolved = resolve_workflow(ResolveWorkflowInput {
         workflow: input.workflow,
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ fn validate_with_provider_sets(
             .filter(|provider| !provider.is_empty())
             .map(fabro_model::ProviderId::new),
         eligible_providers,
-        fallback_providers,
+        catalog_fallback,
         &input.catalog,
     )
 }
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/transform.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/transform.rs
index cc3fe089d..b399d6637 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/transform.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/transform.rs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ pub fn transform(parsed: Parsed, options: &TransformOptions) -> Result<Transform
         options.eligible_providers.clone(),
     )
     .with_default_provider(options.default_provider.clone())
-    .with_fallback_providers(options.fallback_providers.clone())
+    .with_catalog_fallback(options.catalog_fallback)
     .apply(graph)?;
 
     // Custom transforms
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ mod tests {
             catalog:            test_catalog(),
             default_provider:   None,
             eligible_providers: Catalog::builtin().all_provider_ids(),
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback:   false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ mod tests {
             catalog:            test_catalog(),
             default_provider:   None,
             eligible_providers: Catalog::builtin().all_provider_ids(),
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback:   false,
         })
         .unwrap();
 
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ mod tests {
             catalog:            test_catalog(),
             default_provider:   None,
             eligible_providers: Catalog::builtin().all_provider_ids(),
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback:   false,
         })
         .unwrap();
 
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ mod tests {
             catalog:            test_catalog(),
             default_provider:   None,
             eligible_providers: Catalog::builtin().all_provider_ids(),
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback:   false,
         })
         .unwrap();
 
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/types.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/types.rs
index 2a57608c1..1776074a2 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/types.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/types.rs
@@ -332,7 +332,9 @@ pub struct TransformOptions {
     pub catalog:            Arc<fabro_model::Catalog>,
     pub default_provider:   Option<ProviderId>,
     pub eligible_providers: HashSet<ProviderId>,
-    pub fallback_providers: Option<HashSet<ProviderId>>,
+    /// Fall back to the full catalog when the eligible providers cannot
+    /// supply a requested model, instead of erroring.
+    pub catalog_fallback:   bool,
 }
 
 /// Options for the FINALIZE phase.
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/validate.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/validate.rs
index 8e19bb5a6..f0cd51dbd 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/validate.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/pipeline/validate.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ mod tests {
             catalog:            std::sync::Arc::clone(&catalog),
             default_provider:   None,
             eligible_providers: catalog.all_provider_ids(),
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback:   false,
         })
         .unwrap();
         validate(transformed, catalog.as_ref(), &[])
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/run_materialization.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/run_materialization.rs
index 27183bcf5..d1118b076 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/run_materialization.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/run_materialization.rs
@@ -14,31 +14,27 @@ pub fn materialize_run(
     catalog: &Catalog,
     configured_providers: &[ProviderId],
 ) -> Result<WorkflowSettings, Error> {
-    materialize_run_with_provider_sets(settings, graph, catalog, configured_providers, None)
+    materialize_run_with_eligible_providers(settings, graph, catalog, configured_providers, false)
 }
 
-pub fn materialize_run_with_provider_fallback(
+/// Materialize while resolving the run model against the ready providers
+/// first, falling back to the full catalog only for provider-readiness
+/// selection failures.
+pub fn materialize_run_with_ready_providers(
     settings: WorkflowSettings,
     graph: &Graph,
     catalog: &Catalog,
-    preferred_providers: &[ProviderId],
-    fallback_providers: &[ProviderId],
+    ready_providers: &[ProviderId],
 ) -> Result<WorkflowSettings, Error> {
-    materialize_run_with_provider_sets(
-        settings,
-        graph,
-        catalog,
-        preferred_providers,
-        Some(fallback_providers),
-    )
+    materialize_run_with_eligible_providers(settings, graph, catalog, ready_providers, true)
 }
 
-fn materialize_run_with_provider_sets(
+fn materialize_run_with_eligible_providers(
     mut settings: WorkflowSettings,
     graph: &Graph,
     catalog: &Catalog,
-    configured_providers: &[ProviderId],
-    fallback_providers: Option<&[ProviderId]>,
+    eligible_providers: &[ProviderId],
+    catalog_fallback: bool,
 ) -> Result<WorkflowSettings, Error> {
     let configured_model = settings.run.model.name.take();
     let configured_provider = settings.run.model.provider.take();
@@ -55,25 +51,17 @@ fn materialize_run_with_provider_sets(
 
     let provider = configured_provider.or(graph_provider);
     let model = configured_model.or(graph_model);
-    let eligible = configured_providers.iter().cloned().collect::<HashSet<_>>();
-    let fallback =
-        fallback_providers.map(|providers| providers.iter().cloned().collect::<HashSet<_>>());
-    let provider = provider
-        .as_deref()
-        .filter(|provider| !provider.is_empty())
-        .map(ProviderId::new);
-    let selected = match fallback {
-        Some(fallback) => catalog.resolve_selection_with_fallback(
-            model.as_deref(),
-            provider.as_ref(),
-            &eligible,
-            &fallback,
-        ),
-        None => catalog.resolve_selection(model.as_deref(), provider.as_ref(), &eligible),
-    }?;
+    let eligible = eligible_providers.iter().cloned().collect::<HashSet<_>>();
+    let (resolved_model, resolved_provider) = resolve_run_model(
+        catalog,
+        &eligible,
+        model.as_deref(),
+        provider.as_deref(),
+        catalog_fallback,
+    )?;
 
-    settings.run.model.name = Some(selected.model);
-    settings.run.model.provider = Some(selected.provider.into_inner());
+    settings.run.model.name = Some(resolved_model);
+    settings.run.model.provider = Some(resolved_provider.into_inner());
 
     let goal = graph.goal().to_string();
     settings.run.goal = if goal.is_empty() {
@@ -99,10 +87,15 @@ pub(crate) fn resolve_run_model(
     eligible: &HashSet<ProviderId>,
     model: Option<&str>,
     provider: Option<&str>,
+    catalog_fallback: bool,
 ) -> Result<(String, ProviderId), ModelSelectionError> {
     let provider = provider
         .filter(|provider| !provider.is_empty())
         .map(ProviderId::new);
-    let selected = catalog.resolve_selection(model, provider.as_ref(), eligible)?;
+    let selected = if catalog_fallback {
+        catalog.resolve_selection_with_catalog_fallback(model, provider.as_ref(), eligible)?
+    } else {
+        catalog.resolve_selection(model, provider.as_ref(), eligible)?
+    };
     Ok((selected.model, selected.provider))
 }
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/transforms/model_resolution.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/transforms/model_resolution.rs
index 00e71ba74..12f29ac5a 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/transforms/model_resolution.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/src/transforms/model_resolution.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ pub struct ModelResolutionTransform {
     catalog:            Arc<Catalog>,
     default_provider:   Option<ProviderId>,
     eligible_providers: HashSet<ProviderId>,
-    fallback_providers: Option<HashSet<ProviderId>>,
+    catalog_fallback:   bool,
 }
 
 impl ModelResolutionTransform {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ impl ModelResolutionTransform {
             catalog,
             default_provider: None,
             eligible_providers,
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ impl ModelResolutionTransform {
             catalog,
             default_provider: None,
             eligible_providers,
-            fallback_providers: None,
+            catalog_fallback: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -44,12 +44,11 @@ impl ModelResolutionTransform {
         self
     }
 
+    /// When enabled, provider-readiness selection failures fall back to the
+    /// full catalog instead of erroring.
     #[must_use]
-    pub fn with_fallback_providers(
-        mut self,
-        fallback_providers: Option<HashSet<ProviderId>>,
-    ) -> Self {
-        self.fallback_providers = fallback_providers;
+    pub fn with_catalog_fallback(mut self, catalog_fallback: bool) -> Self {
+        self.catalog_fallback = catalog_fallback;
         self
     }
 
@@ -58,18 +57,15 @@ impl ModelResolutionTransform {
         model: &str,
         explicit_provider: Option<&ProviderId>,
     ) -> Result<(String, ProviderId), Error> {
-        let selected = match &self.fallback_providers {
-            Some(fallback_providers) => self.catalog.resolve_selection_with_fallback(
+        let selected = if self.catalog_fallback {
+            self.catalog.resolve_selection_with_catalog_fallback(
                 Some(model),
                 explicit_provider,
                 &self.eligible_providers,
-                fallback_providers,
-            ),
-            None => self.catalog.resolve_selection(
-                Some(model),
-                explicit_provider,
-                &self.eligible_providers,
-            ),
+            )
+        } else {
+            self.catalog
+                .resolve_selection(Some(model), explicit_provider, &self.eligible_providers)
         }?;
         Ok((selected.model, selected.provider))
     }
@@ -378,7 +374,7 @@ enabled = true
             Arc::clone(&catalog),
             HashSet::from([ProviderId::new("openrouter")]),
         )
-        .with_fallback_providers(Some(catalog.all_provider_ids()))
+        .with_catalog_fallback(true)
         .apply(graph)
         .unwrap();
 
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/tests/it/integration.rs b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/tests/it/integration.rs
index 44307ca81..8e415c81a 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-workflow/tests/it/integration.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-workflow/tests/it/integration.rs
@@ -4908,7 +4908,7 @@ async fn import_e2e_through_engine() {
         catalog:            std::sync::Arc::clone(&catalog),
         default_provider:   None,
         eligible_providers: catalog.all_provider_ids(),
-        fallback_providers: None,
+        catalog_fallback:   false,
     })
     .unwrap();
     let validated = validate(transformed, catalog.as_ref(), &[]);
diff --git a/lib/foundation/fabro-model/src/catalog.rs b/lib/foundation/fabro-model/src/catalog.rs
index da9ab96fd..db59dcb98 100644
--- a/lib/foundation/fabro-model/src/catalog.rs
+++ b/lib/foundation/fabro-model/src/catalog.rs
@@ -1102,19 +1102,18 @@ impl Catalog {
     }
 
     /// Resolve a selection against a preferred provider snapshot, falling back
-    /// to a broader eligible set only when the preferred set cannot supply the
-    /// requested provider or model.
+    /// to every provider in the catalog only when the preferred set cannot
+    /// supply the requested provider or model.
     ///
     /// This is useful for readiness checks: ready providers remain preferred,
     /// while a catalog-only offering can still be selected so the caller can
     /// report why its provider is unavailable. Semantic failures such as an
     /// unknown provider do not fall back.
-    pub fn resolve_selection_with_fallback(
+    pub fn resolve_selection_with_catalog_fallback(
         &self,
         selector: Option<&str>,
         explicit_provider: Option<&ProviderId>,
         preferred_providers: &HashSet<ProviderId>,
-        fallback_providers: &HashSet<ProviderId>,
     ) -> Result<SelectedModel, ModelSelectionError> {
         match self.resolve_selection(selector, explicit_provider, preferred_providers) {
             Ok(selected) => Ok(selected),
@@ -1122,7 +1121,7 @@ impl Catalog {
                 ModelSelectionError::ProviderUnavailable { .. }
                 | ModelSelectionError::NoEligibleOffering { .. }
                 | ModelSelectionError::NoDefaultModel { .. },
-            ) => self.resolve_selection(selector, explicit_provider, fallback_providers),
+            ) => self.resolve_selection(selector, explicit_provider, &self.all_provider_ids()),
             Err(error) => Err(error),
         }
     }
@@ -4021,30 +4020,19 @@ adapter = "openai_compatible"
         let openai = ProviderId::openai();
         let openrouter = ProviderId::new("openrouter");
         let ready = HashSet::from([openrouter.clone()]);
-        let catalog_providers = HashSet::from([openai.clone(), openrouter.clone()]);
 
         let shared = catalog
-            .resolve_selection_with_fallback(Some("portable"), None, &ready, &catalog_providers)
+            .resolve_selection_with_catalog_fallback(Some("portable"), None, &ready)
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(shared.provider, openrouter);
 
         let pinned = catalog
-            .resolve_selection_with_fallback(
-                Some("portable"),
-                Some(&openai),
-                &ready,
-                &catalog_providers,
-            )
+            .resolve_selection_with_catalog_fallback(Some("portable"), Some(&openai), &ready)
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(pinned.provider, openai);
 
         let unknown = catalog
-            .resolve_selection_with_fallback(
-                Some("provider-private-preview"),
-                None,
-                &ready,
-                &catalog_providers,
-            )
+            .resolve_selection_with_catalog_fallback(Some("provider-private-preview"), None, &ready)
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(unknown.provider, ProviderId::new("openrouter"));
         assert_eq!(unknown.model, "provider-private-preview");