diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7115bde..258ac79 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "eveflow",
-  "version": "2.0.1",
+  "version": "2.0.2",
   "description": "JARVIS-style desktop HUD for Hermes Agent: voice, streaming runs, scheduled jobs, skills and telemetry",
   "main": "dist-electron/main.js",
   "private": true,
diff --git a/src/services/hermes/client.ts b/src/services/hermes/client.ts
index 8ee1806..c626159 100644
--- a/src/services/hermes/client.ts
+++ b/src/services/hermes/client.ts
@@ -397,9 +397,10 @@ export class HermesClient {
     });
 
     let fullText = '';
+    let toolsAllowed = useTools;
     for (let iteration = 0; iteration < 6 && !aborted; iteration++) {
       const payload: Rec = { model: this.config.model || 'hermes-agent', messages, stream: true };
-      if (useTools) {
+      if (toolsAllowed) {
         payload.tools = options.localToolDefinitions;
         payload.tool_choice = 'auto';
       }
@@ -435,7 +436,15 @@ export class HermesClient {
       currentHandle = handle;
       if (!handle.start.ok) {
         await handle.done.catch(() => undefined);
-        throw new HttpError(handle.start.status, errorMessage(handle.start.status, errorChunks.join('')));
+        const detail = errorMessage(handle.start.status, errorChunks.join(''));
+        // Some Hermes builds reject client-side tool definitions: retry once without them.
+        if (toolsAllowed && handle.start.status === 400 && iteration === 0) {
+          Log.warn('hermes', `chat completions rejected the tools payload (${detail}); retrying without local tools`);
+          toolsAllowed = false;
+          iteration--;
+          continue;
+        }
+        throw new HttpError(handle.start.status, detail);
       }
       ready = true;
       const rotated = handle.start.headers['x-hermes-session-id'];
@@ -445,7 +454,7 @@ export class HermesClient {
       parser.end();
       fullText += iterationText;
 
-      if (finishReason === 'tool_calls' && useTools && toolCalls.size > 0 && !aborted) {
+      if (finishReason === 'tool_calls' && toolsAllowed && toolCalls.size > 0 && !aborted) {
         const calls = [...toolCalls.values()];
         messages.push({
           role: 'assistant',
diff --git a/src/state/hermes.ts b/src/state/hermes.ts
index 7c77248..d3f62df 100644
--- a/src/state/hermes.ts
+++ b/src/state/hermes.ts
@@ -91,7 +91,12 @@ export const useHermes = create<HermesStore>((set, get) => ({
   webhook: null,
   busy: false,
 
-  client: () => new HermesClient(useSettings.getState().settings.hermes),
+  client: () => {
+    const config = useSettings.getState().settings.hermes;
+    // Without an explicit model, use the alias advertised by /v1/models (Hermes rejects unknown names).
+    const model = config.model.trim() || get().models[0]?.id || '';
+    return new HermesClient({ ...config, model });
+  },
 
   connect: async () => {
     const config = useSettings.getState().settings.hermes;