diff --git a/litellm/main.py b/litellm/main.py
index 17edafcdfca..5fc55ba7a5a 100644
--- a/litellm/main.py
+++ b/litellm/main.py
@@ -1065,7 +1065,11 @@ def responses_api_bridge_check(
     try:
         model_info = cast(
             dict,
-            _get_model_info_helper(model=model, custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider),
+            _get_model_info_helper(
+                model=model,
+                custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+                api_base=api_base,
+            ),
         )
         if model_info.get("mode") is None and model.startswith("responses/"):
             model = model.replace("responses/", "")
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/llms/ollama/test_ollama_model_info.py b/tests/test_litellm/llms/ollama/test_ollama_model_info.py
index 053d4da035f..f65fc0946d9 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/llms/ollama/test_ollama_model_info.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/llms/ollama/test_ollama_model_info.py
@@ -227,6 +227,36 @@ class TestOllamaModelInfo:
 class TestOllamaGetModelInfo:
     """Tests for OllamaConfig.get_model_info() api_base threading and graceful fallback."""
 
+    def test_responses_api_bridge_check_uses_provided_api_base_for_ollama(
+        self, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        """Bridge lookup must hit the completion api_base, not localhost:11434.
+
+        Regression for https://github.com/BerriAI/litellm/issues/37041
+        """
+        from litellm.main import responses_api_bridge_check
+
+        captured_urls = []
+
+        def mock_post(url, json, headers=None):
+            captured_urls.append(url)
+            return DummyResponse({"template": "", "model_info": {}}, status_code=200)
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.module_level_client.post", mock_post)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("OLLAMA_API_BASE", raising=False)
+
+        responses_api_bridge_check(
+            model="unknown-custom-model",
+            custom_llm_provider="ollama",
+            api_base="http://my-remote-server:30000",
+        )
+
+        assert captured_urls
+        assert all(
+            url.startswith("http://my-remote-server:30000") for url in captured_urls
+        )
+        assert not any("localhost:11434" in url for url in captured_urls)
+
     def test_get_model_info_uses_provided_api_base(self, monkeypatch):
         """When api_base is passed, get_model_info should use it instead of env var or default."""
         from litellm.llms.ollama.completion.transformation import OllamaConfig
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/test_main.py b/tests/test_litellm/test_main.py
index 4f7a51eb531..302a4e6bdb5 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/test_main.py
@@ -750,6 +750,30 @@ def test_responses_api_bridge_check_strips_responses_prefix():
         assert model_info["mode"] == "responses"
 
 
+def test_responses_api_bridge_check_forwards_api_base_to_model_info_helper():
+    """completion() api_base must reach Ollama /api/show, not localhost:11434.
+
+    Regression for https://github.com/BerriAI/litellm/issues/37041
+    """
+    from litellm.main import responses_api_bridge_check
+
+    with patch("litellm.main._get_model_info_helper") as mock_get_model_info:
+        mock_get_model_info.return_value = {"mode": "chat"}
+        api_base = "http://my-host:30000"
+
+        responses_api_bridge_check(
+            model="my-custom-model",
+            custom_llm_provider="ollama",
+            api_base=api_base,
+        )
+
+        mock_get_model_info.assert_called_once_with(
+            model="my-custom-model",
+            custom_llm_provider="ollama",
+            api_base=api_base,
+        )
+
+
 def test_responses_api_bridge_check_gpt_5_4_pro():
     """Test that gpt-5.4-pro routes through responses API bridge, not chat completions.