diff --git a/strix/config/models.py b/strix/config/models.py
index feedbe7..c6775e2 100644
--- a/strix/config/models.py
+++ b/strix/config/models.py
@@ -95,11 +95,13 @@ def _mirror_api_key_to_provider_env(model_name: str | None, api_key: str) -> Non
 
 
 def _configure_litellm_compatibility() -> None:
-    """Enable LiteLLM's permissive param-handling mode."""
+    """Enable LiteLLM's permissive param handling and disable its callbacks."""
     import litellm
 
     litellm.drop_params = True
     litellm.modify_params = True
+    litellm.turn_off_message_logging = True
+    litellm.disable_streaming_logging = True
 
 
 def _configure_litellm_default(name: str, value: str) -> None:
@@ -115,3 +117,13 @@ def uses_chat_completions_tool_schema(model_name: str, settings: Settings) -> bo
     if "/" in model and not model.startswith("openai/"):
         return True
     return bool(settings.llm.api_base)
+
+
+def is_known_openai_bare_model(model_name: str) -> bool:
+    import litellm
+
+    name = model_name.strip().lower()
+    if not name or "/" in name:
+        return False
+    entry = litellm.model_cost.get(name)
+    return bool(entry and entry.get("litellm_provider") == "openai")
diff --git a/strix/core/execution.py b/strix/core/execution.py
index 84fe72f..1017f70 100644
--- a/strix/core/execution.py
+++ b/strix/core/execution.py
@@ -349,12 +349,20 @@ async def _run_cycle(  # noqa: PLR0912
             )
             await coordinator.attach_stream(agent_id, stream)
             try:
-                async for event in stream.stream_events():
-                    if event_sink is not None:
-                        try:
-                            event_sink(agent_id, event)
-                        except Exception:
-                            logger.exception("stream event sink failed for %s", agent_id)
+                try:
+                    async for event in stream.stream_events():
+                        if event_sink is not None:
+                            try:
+                                event_sink(agent_id, event)
+                            except Exception:
+                                logger.exception("stream event sink failed for %s", agent_id)
+                except RuntimeError as stream_exc:
+                    if "after shutdown" not in str(stream_exc):
+                        raise
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "Ignoring LiteLLM end-of-stream shutdown race for %s",
+                        agent_id,
+                    )
                 if stream.run_loop_exception is not None:
                     raise stream.run_loop_exception
             finally:
diff --git a/strix/interface/main.py b/strix/interface/main.py
index ac3a86f..b5c56ad 100644
--- a/strix/interface/main.py
+++ b/strix/interface/main.py
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ from strix.config import (
     load_settings,
     persist_current,
 )
-from strix.config.models import StrixProvider, configure_sdk_model_defaults
+from strix.config.models import (
+    StrixProvider,
+    configure_sdk_model_defaults,
+    is_known_openai_bare_model,
+)
 from strix.core.paths import run_dir_for, runtime_state_dir
 from strix.interface.cli import run_cli
 from strix.interface.tui import run_tui
@@ -215,7 +219,39 @@ async def warm_up_llm() -> None:
         configure_sdk_model_defaults(settings)
         llm = settings.llm
 
-        model = StrixProvider().get_model((llm.model or "").strip())
+        raw_model = (llm.model or "").strip()
+        if (
+            raw_model
+            and "/" not in raw_model
+            and not is_known_openai_bare_model(raw_model)
+            and not llm.api_base
+        ):
+            warn_text = Text()
+            warn_text.append("UNKNOWN MODEL NAME", style="bold yellow")
+            warn_text.append("\n\n", style="white")
+            warn_text.append(f"'{raw_model}'", style="bold cyan")
+            warn_text.append(
+                " is not a known OpenAI model. Bare names route to OpenAI by default.\n"
+                "If you meant a non-OpenAI provider, use the '",
+                style="white",
+            )
+            warn_text.append("<provider>/<model>", style="bold cyan")
+            warn_text.append(
+                "' form, e.g. 'anthropic/claude-opus-4-7', 'deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro'.",
+                style="white",
+            )
+            console.print(
+                Panel(
+                    warn_text,
+                    title="[bold white]STRIX",
+                    title_align="left",
+                    border_style="yellow",
+                    padding=(1, 2),
+                ),
+            )
+            sys.exit(1)
+
+        model = StrixProvider().get_model(raw_model)
         await asyncio.wait_for(
             model.get_response(
                 system_instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",