diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index c5278d3c2..ff097532c 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -3721,7 +3721,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
 
         # Persistence
         if persist_global:
-            save_config_value("model.name", result.new_model)
+            save_config_value("model.default", result.new_model)
             if result.provider_changed:
                 save_config_value("model.provider", result.target_provider)
             _cprint("    Saved to config.yaml (--global)")
diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index c50c67462..ca1e48946 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -3493,7 +3493,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                     cfg = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
                 model_cfg = cfg.get("model", {})
                 if isinstance(model_cfg, dict):
-                    current_model = model_cfg.get("name", "")
+                    current_model = model_cfg.get("default", "")
                     current_provider = model_cfg.get("provider", current_provider)
                     current_base_url = model_cfg.get("base_url", "")
                 user_provs = cfg.get("providers")
@@ -3603,7 +3603,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                 else:
                     cfg = {}
                 model_cfg = cfg.setdefault("model", {})
-                model_cfg["name"] = result.new_model
+                model_cfg["default"] = result.new_model
                 model_cfg["provider"] = result.target_provider
                 if result.base_url:
                     model_cfg["base_url"] = result.base_url