diff --git a/llmx-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs b/llmx-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs
index bc920c9f..abe03d06 100644
--- a/llmx-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/llmx-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -980,7 +980,7 @@ impl Config {
         let model_provider_id = model_provider
             .or(config_profile.model_provider)
             .or(cfg.model_provider)
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| "openai".to_string());
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| "litellm".to_string());
         let model_provider = model_providers
             .get(&model_provider_id)
             .ok_or_else(|| {