diff --git a/src/cli/debug/agentSessionCli.ts b/src/cli/debug/agentSessionCli.ts
index 653e23a849..184fb201af 100644
--- a/src/cli/debug/agentSessionCli.ts
+++ b/src/cli/debug/agentSessionCli.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import {
   type SendMessageOptions,
   type WorkspaceChatMessage,
 } from "@/common/types/ipc";
-import { getDefaultModel } from "@/common/utils/model/defaults";
+import { defaultModel } from "@/common/utils/ai/models";
 import { ensureProvidersConfig } from "@/common/utils/providers/ensureProvidersConfig";
 import { modeToToolPolicy, PLAN_MODE_INSTRUCTION } from "@/common/utils/ui/modeUtils";
 import {
@@ -183,8 +183,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     throw new Error("Message must be provided via --message or stdin");
   }
 
-  const model =
-    values.model && values.model.trim().length > 0 ? values.model.trim() : getDefaultModel();
+  const model = values.model && values.model.trim().length > 0 ? values.model.trim() : defaultModel;
   const timeoutMs = parseTimeout(values.timeout);
   const thinkingLevel = parseThinkingLevel(values["thinking-level"]);
   const initialMode = parseMode(values.mode);
diff --git a/src/cli/debug/costs.ts b/src/cli/debug/costs.ts
index 995297ce33..83ae64a746 100644
--- a/src/cli/debug/costs.ts
+++ b/src/cli/debug/costs.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import * as path from "path";
 import { defaultConfig } from "@/node/config";
 import type { MuxMessage } from "@/common/types/message";
 import { calculateTokenStats } from "@/common/utils/tokens/tokenStatsCalculator";
-import { getDefaultModel } from "@/common/utils/model/defaults";
+import { defaultModel } from "@/common/utils/ai/models";
 
 /**
  * Debug command to display cost/token statistics for a workspace
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export async function costsCommand(workspaceId: string) {
 
   // Detect model from first assistant message
   const firstAssistantMessage = messages.find((msg) => msg.role === "assistant");
-  const model = firstAssistantMessage?.metadata?.model ?? getDefaultModel();
+  const model = firstAssistantMessage?.metadata?.model ?? defaultModel;
 
   // Calculate stats using shared logic (now synchronous)
   const stats = await calculateTokenStats(messages, model);
diff --git a/src/cli/debug/send-message.ts b/src/cli/debug/send-message.ts
index f1c8925eaf..d3018ed8ca 100644
--- a/src/cli/debug/send-message.ts
+++ b/src/cli/debug/send-message.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import * as path from "path";
 import { defaultConfig } from "@/node/config";
 import type { MuxMessage } from "@/common/types/message";
 import type { SendMessageOptions } from "@/common/types/ipc";
-import { getDefaultModel } from "@/common/utils/model/defaults";
+import { defaultModel } from "@/common/utils/ai/models";
 import { getMuxSessionsDir } from "@/common/constants/paths";
 
 /**
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export function sendMessageCommand(
 
   // Prepare options
   const options: SendMessageOptions = {
-    model: getDefaultModel(),
+    model: defaultModel,
   };
 
   if (editMessageId) {
diff --git a/src/common/utils/model/defaults.ts b/src/common/utils/model/defaults.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index dbe2edda53..0000000000
--- a/src/common/utils/model/defaults.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Default model utilities for use across contexts (browser, CLI, etc.)
- */
-
-import { defaultModel } from "@/common/utils/ai/models";
-
-/**
- * Get the default model for CLI and non-browser contexts
- * This is a simplified version that doesn't access browser localStorage
- */
-export function getDefaultModel(): string {
-  return defaultModel;
-}