diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index ad1cf6e4..cc66ab1b 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -689,6 +689,16 @@ func runNormalMode(ctx context.Context) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// When --provider-url is set but no explicit --model was provided,
+	// default to "custom/custom" so the user doesn't need to remember a
+	// provider/model pair for custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints.
+	// This intentionally overrides saved preferences and config-file
+	// defaults — if you're pointing at a custom URL you almost certainly
+	// don't want the default Anthropic model.
+	if viper.GetString("provider-url") != "" && !modelFlagChanged {
+		viper.Set("model", "custom/custom")
+	}
+
 	// Load MCP configuration.
 	mcpConfig, err := config.LoadAndValidateConfig()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/models/providers.go b/internal/models/providers.go
index d3e88813..cda33598 100644
--- a/internal/models/providers.go
+++ b/internal/models/providers.go
@@ -253,6 +253,8 @@ func CreateProvider(ctx context.Context, config *ProviderConfig) (*ProviderResul
 		return createBedrockProvider(ctx, config, modelName)
 	case "vercel":
 		return createVercelProvider(ctx, config, modelName)
+	case "custom":
+		return createCustomProvider(ctx, config, modelName)
 	default:
 		return autoRouteProvider(ctx, config, provider, modelName, registry)
 	}
@@ -779,6 +781,42 @@ func createVercelProvider(ctx context.Context, config *ProviderConfig, modelName
 	return &ProviderResult{Model: model}, nil
 }
 
+func createCustomProvider(ctx context.Context, config *ProviderConfig, modelName string) (*ProviderResult, error) {
+	if config.ProviderURL == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("custom provider requires --provider-url")
+	}
+
+	apiKey := config.ProviderAPIKey
+	if apiKey == "" {
+		apiKey = os.Getenv("CUSTOM_API_KEY")
+	}
+	if apiKey == "" {
+		// Many local/custom endpoints don't require a key; use a placeholder.
+		apiKey = "custom"
+	}
+
+	var opts []openaicompat.Option
+	opts = append(opts, openaicompat.WithBaseURL(config.ProviderURL))
+	opts = append(opts, openaicompat.WithAPIKey(apiKey))
+	opts = append(opts, openaicompat.WithName("custom"))
+
+	if config.TLSSkipVerify {
+		opts = append(opts, openaicompat.WithHTTPClient(createHTTPClientWithTLSConfig(true)))
+	}
+
+	p, err := openaicompat.New(opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create custom provider: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	model, err := p.LanguageModel(ctx, modelName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create custom model: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &ProviderResult{Model: model}, nil
+}
+
 func createOllamaProvider(ctx context.Context, config *ProviderConfig, modelName string) (*ProviderResult, error) {
 	baseURL := "http://localhost:11434"
 	if host := os.Getenv("OLLAMA_HOST"); host != "" {
diff --git a/internal/models/registry.go b/internal/models/registry.go
index b3784b29..214cec7f 100644
--- a/internal/models/registry.go
+++ b/internal/models/registry.go
@@ -116,6 +116,31 @@ func buildFromModelsDB() map[string]ProviderInfo {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Register the "custom" provider stub for --provider-url without --model.
+	// This allows users to point kit at any OpenAI-compatible endpoint without
+	// needing to specify a model from the database.
+	providers["custom"] = ProviderInfo{
+		ID:   "custom",
+		Name: "Custom",
+		Models: map[string]ModelInfo{
+			"custom": {
+				ID:          "custom",
+				Name:        "Custom",
+				Attachment:  false,
+				Reasoning:   true,
+				Temperature: true,
+				Cost: Cost{
+					Input:  0,
+					Output: 0,
+				},
+				Limit: Limit{
+					Context: 262_144,
+					Output:  65_536,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
 	return providers
 }