diff --git a/strix/agents/factory.py b/strix/agents/factory.py
index 12867944d..a69f40f82 100644
--- a/strix/agents/factory.py
+++ b/strix/agents/factory.py
@@ -599,6 +599,7 @@ def build_strix_agent(
     system_prompt_context: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     extra_tools: Sequence[Tool] | None = None,
     instructions_override: str | None = None,
+    model_name: str | None = None,
 ) -> SandboxAgent[Any]:
     """Build a SandboxAgent for either root or child use.
 
@@ -609,6 +610,10 @@ def build_strix_agent(
             registered via ``register_agent_tools``.
         instructions_override: Use this verbatim as the system prompt instead
             of rendering the built-in scan prompt.
+        model_name: The effective model for this run (e.g. ``RunConfig.model``
+            / ``run_strix_scan(model=...)``), which can differ from
+            ``load_settings().llm.model``. Falls back to the settings model
+            when omitted, e.g. for tests that don't go through the runner.
     """
     if instructions_override is not None:
         instructions = instructions_override
@@ -638,10 +643,10 @@ def build_strix_agent(
         for tool in tools
     ]
 
-    model_name = load_settings().llm.model
+    effective_model = model_name if model_name is not None else load_settings().llm.model
     if (
-        is_claude_model(model_name)
-        and is_bedrock_route(model_name)
+        is_claude_model(effective_model)
+        and is_bedrock_route(effective_model)
         and _bedrock_claude_strict_tool_limit_exceeded(len(tools))
     ):
         # Bedrock rejects the whole request over the 20-strict-tool cap, not
@@ -686,12 +691,15 @@ def make_child_factory(
     interactive: bool = False,
     chat_completions_tools: bool = False,
     system_prompt_context: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+    model_name: str | None = None,
 ) -> Any:
     """Return the runner-owned builder used by ``spawn_child_agent``.
 
     Run-level arguments (``scan_mode``, ``is_whitebox``, etc.) are
     captured in a closure so each child inherits scan-level configuration
-    without the graph tool knowing about runner internals.
+    without the graph tool knowing about runner internals. ``model_name`` is
+    the effective run model (see ``build_strix_agent``), so children built
+    later in the scan see the same model classification as the root agent.
     """
 
     def _factory(*, name: str, skills: list[str]) -> SandboxAgent[Any]:
@@ -704,6 +712,7 @@ def make_child_factory(
             interactive=interactive,
             chat_completions_tools=chat_completions_tools,
             system_prompt_context=system_prompt_context,
+            model_name=model_name,
         )
 
     return _factory
diff --git a/strix/core/runner.py b/strix/core/runner.py
index 8726f8197..fdbdea81b 100644
--- a/strix/core/runner.py
+++ b/strix/core/runner.py
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ async def run_strix_scan(
             chat_completions_tools=chat_completions_tools,
             system_prompt_context=root_context,
             instructions_override=root_instructions,
+            model_name=resolved_model,
         )
 
         if not is_resume:
@@ -320,6 +321,7 @@ async def run_strix_scan(
             interactive=interactive,
             chat_completions_tools=chat_completions_tools,
             system_prompt_context=scope_context,
+            model_name=resolved_model,
         )
 
         async def spawn_child_agent(**kwargs: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
diff --git a/tests/test_agent_tool_registration.py b/tests/test_agent_tool_registration.py
index a6c9ff194..30532a5f5 100644
--- a/tests/test_agent_tool_registration.py
+++ b/tests/test_agent_tool_registration.py
@@ -204,3 +204,52 @@ def test_disabling_strict_schema_does_not_leak_across_builds(
             assert shared.strict_json_schema, (
                 f"{shared.name} singleton was mutated by the Bedrock build"
             )
+
+
+def test_model_name_override_takes_precedence_over_settings(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """``run_strix_scan(model=...)`` can pick a model that differs from
+    ``settings.llm.model`` (e.g. ``STRIX_LLM`` unset, model passed directly).
+    The strict-tool gate must classify that effective model, not whatever
+    happens to be in settings.
+    """
+    monkeypatch.delenv("STRIX_LLM", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(loader, "_cached", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(loader, "_override", None)
+
+    agent = factory.build_strix_agent(
+        is_root=True,
+        model_name="bedrock/anthropic.claude-4-6-sonnet",
+    )
+
+    assert len(agent.tools) > 20
+    function_tools = [t for t in agent.tools if isinstance(t, FunctionTool)]
+    assert all(not t.strict_json_schema for t in function_tools)
+
+
+def test_model_name_override_can_keep_strict_schema(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    """A Bedrock model in settings should not force non-strict tools when the
+    effective run model (passed explicitly) is a different, non-Bedrock route.
+    """
+    monkeypatch.setenv("STRIX_LLM", "bedrock/anthropic.claude-4-6-sonnet")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(loader, "_cached", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(loader, "_override", None)
+
+    agent = factory.build_strix_agent(
+        is_root=True,
+        model_name="anthropic/claude-4-6-sonnet",
+    )
+
+    function_tools = [t for t in agent.tools if isinstance(t, FunctionTool)]
+    assert any(t.strict_json_schema for t in function_tools)
+
+
+def test_child_factory_threads_model_name_through() -> None:
+    factory_fn = factory.make_child_factory(model_name="bedrock/anthropic.claude-4-6-sonnet")
+
+    child = factory_fn(name="child", skills=[])
+
+    function_tools = [t for t in child.tools if isinstance(t, FunctionTool)]
+    assert len(child.tools) > 20
+    assert all(not t.strict_json_schema for t in function_tools)