diff --git a/litellm/utils.py b/litellm/utils.py
index 36b48d3b8d8..8df28870544 100644
--- a/litellm/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/utils.py
@@ -3079,7 +3079,7 @@ def register_model(
         # Convert stringified numbers to appropriate numeric types
         loaded_model_cost = model_cost
     elif isinstance(model_cost, str):
-        loaded_model_cost = litellm.get_model_cost_map(url=model_cost)
+        loaded_model_cost = litellm.get_model_cost_map(url=model_cost, max_attempts=1)
 
     if persist_across_reloads:
         _registrations: Final[Mapping[str, Mapping[str, object]]] = loaded_model_cost
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/test_utils.py b/tests/test_litellm/test_utils.py
index fee5e3a2e4c..e90372141bd 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/test_utils.py
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@ import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 import os
+import threading
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from typing import Final
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
 
+import httpx
 import pytest
 import respx
 from jsonschema import validate
@@ -2382,6 +2384,27 @@ def test_register_model_with_scientific_notation():
     _invalidate_model_cost_lowercase_map()
 
 
+@respx.mock
+def test_register_model_url_fetch_uses_single_attempt(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(litellm, "model_cost", dict(litellm.model_cost))
+    before = dict(litellm.model_cost)
+    threads_before = {thread.name for thread in threading.enumerate()}
+    route = respx.get("https://example.invalid/custom_pricing.json").mock(
+        return_value=httpx.Response(503)
+    )
+
+    litellm.register_model(model_cost="https://example.invalid/custom_pricing.json")
+
+    threads_after = {thread.name for thread in threading.enumerate()}
+    assert route.call_count == 1
+    assert not (threads_after - threads_before) & {"litellm-model-cost-map-retry"}
+    assert not any(
+        thread.name == "litellm-model-cost-map-retry" and thread.is_alive()
+        for thread in threading.enumerate()
+    )
+    assert litellm.model_cost.keys() >= before.keys()
+
+
 def test_register_model_openrouter_without_slash():
     """
     Test that register_model handles openrouter models without '/' in the name.