diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback-drain.js b/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback-drain.js
index 8a24c96c0..909ca7307 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback-drain.js
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/self-feedback-drain.js
@@ -381,8 +381,14 @@ async function resolveTriageModel(providerModelString) {
 /**
  * Read the operator's enabledModels allowlist from ~/.sf/agent/settings.json
  * and expand "provider/*" wildcards against @singularity-forge/ai's MODELS
- * catalog. Always also include defaultProvider/defaultModel from the same
- * settings so the operator's chosen default is never silently dropped.
+ * catalog.
+ *
+ * Intentionally does NOT include defaultProvider/defaultModel. The operator's
+ * `defaultModel` is for general dispatch (typically a flash/cheap pick like
+ * gemini-3-flash-preview); triage is an agentic-heavy task and should pick
+ * from the explicit `enabledModels` allowlist (typically kimi/minimax/zai).
+ * Mixing the cheap default into the triage candidate pool gives it a chance
+ * to win on cost tie-break against an agentic-better but pricier option.
  *
  * Returns null on any failure — callers fall back to TRIAGE_FALLBACK_CANDIDATES.
  */
@@ -395,13 +401,8 @@ async function readOperatorTriageCandidates() {
 		const enabled = Array.isArray(settings?.enabledModels)
 			? settings.enabledModels
 			: [];
-		const defaultProvider = settings?.defaultProvider;
-		const defaultModel = settings?.defaultModel;
 
 		const result = new Set();
-		if (defaultProvider && defaultModel) {
-			result.add(`${defaultProvider}/${defaultModel}`);
-		}
 
 		// Expand wildcards by walking the pi-ai MODELS catalog for matching
 		// provider entries. Exact "provider/modelId" entries pass through.
@@ -415,11 +416,12 @@ async function readOperatorTriageCandidates() {
 				result.add(entry);
 				continue;
 			}
-			// Wildcard: enumerate models registered under this provider that
-			// have an agentic profile we can score. getModelsByProvider is the
-			// canonical pi-ai accessor; if it isn't available we just skip.
-			if (typeof ai.getModelsByProvider === "function") {
-				const models = ai.getModelsByProvider(provider) ?? [];
+			// Wildcard: enumerate models registered under this provider via
+			// pi-ai's getModels(provider). If the function isn't available
+			// in the loaded build we just skip (caller falls back to
+			// TRIAGE_FALLBACK_CANDIDATES).
+			if (typeof ai.getModels === "function") {
+				const models = ai.getModels(provider) ?? [];
 				for (const m of models) {
 					if (m?.id) result.add(`${provider}/${m.id}`);
 				}