diff --git a/strix/core/execution.py b/strix/core/execution.py
index 4f579f5e..2d4ad5f7 100644
--- a/strix/core/execution.py
+++ b/strix/core/execution.py
@@ -184,9 +184,7 @@ def _is_transient_model_error(exc: BaseException) -> bool:
         return True
     code = _model_error_status_code(exc)
     if code is not None:
-        import litellm
-
-        return 400 <= code < 500 or bool(litellm._should_retry(code))
+        return code >= 400
     return isinstance(exc, APIError)