diff --git a/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-card.tsx b/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-card.tsx
index 7457caae..941ac32b 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-card.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-card.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { getRequestedModelId } from '@/lib/provider-config';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import type {
   AiProviderEntryView,
@@ -241,9 +242,13 @@ export function ProviderEntryCard({
                     key={`${model.name}:${model.alias}`}
                     className="rounded-md border bg-muted/20 px-3 py-2"
                   >
-                    <span className="font-medium">{model.name}</span>
-                    <span className="mx-2 text-muted-foreground">→</span>
-                    <span className="text-muted-foreground">{model.alias}</span>
+                    <span className="font-medium">{getRequestedModelId(model)}</span>
+                    {model.alias.trim() ? (
+                      <>
+                        <span className="mx-2 text-muted-foreground">→</span>
+                        <span className="text-muted-foreground">{model.name}</span>
+                      </>
+                    ) : null}
                   </div>
                 ))}
               </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-dialog.tsx b/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-dialog.tsx
index d9d602d7..d3dfc74c 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-dialog.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-dialog.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import { useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { ProviderLogo } from '@/components/cliproxy/provider-logo';
-import { getAiProviderFamilyVisual } from '@/lib/provider-config';
+import {
+  formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules,
+  getAiProviderFamilyVisual,
+  getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors,
+  parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules,
+} from '@/lib/provider-config';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Collapsible, CollapsibleContent, CollapsibleTrigger } from '@/components/ui/collapsible';
@@ -192,22 +197,7 @@ function parseKeyValueLines(value: string): Array<{ key: string; value: string }
 }
 
 function parseModelAliasLines(value: string) {
-  return value
-    .split('\n')
-    .map((line) => line.trim())
-    .filter((line) => line.length > 0)
-    .map((line) => {
-      const separatorIndex = line.indexOf('=');
-      if (separatorIndex === -1) {
-        return { name: line.trim(), alias: '' };
-      }
-
-      return {
-        name: line.slice(0, separatorIndex).trim(),
-        alias: line.slice(separatorIndex + 1).trim(),
-      };
-    })
-    .filter((item) => item.name.length > 0 || item.alias.length > 0);
+  return parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules(value);
 }
 
 function TextArea({
@@ -241,9 +231,7 @@ function formatExcludedModels(entry?: AiProviderEntryView | null): string {
 }
 
 function formatModelAliases(entry?: AiProviderEntryView | null): string {
-  return (entry?.models || [])
-    .map((item) => (item.alias.trim() ? `${item.name}=${item.alias}` : item.name))
-    .join('\n');
+  return formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules(entry?.models);
 }
 
 function ChecklistCard({
@@ -297,6 +285,10 @@ export function ProviderEntryDialog({
   const [headers, setHeaders] = useState(() => formatHeaders(entry));
   const [excludedModels, setExcludedModels] = useState(() => formatExcludedModels(entry));
   const [modelAliases, setModelAliases] = useState(() => formatModelAliases(entry));
+  const modelRuleErrors = useMemo(
+    () => getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors(modelAliases),
+    [modelAliases]
+  );
   const [advancedOpen, setAdvancedOpen] = useState(() =>
     Boolean(
       entry?.headers.length || entry?.excludedModels.length || entry?.proxyUrl || entry?.prefix
@@ -311,6 +303,10 @@ export function ProviderEntryDialog({
   }, [entry?.secretConfigured, isEditing, supportsOpenAiCompat]);
 
   const handleSubmit = async () => {
+    if (modelRuleErrors.length > 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     const nextApiKey = apiKey.trim();
     const nextApiKeys = parseDelimitedLines(apiKeys);
     const preserveSecrets =
@@ -472,6 +468,9 @@ export function ProviderEntryDialog({
                   placeholder={guide.aliasesPlaceholder}
                 />
                 <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{guide.aliasesHelper}</p>
+                {modelRuleErrors.length > 0 ? (
+                  <p className="text-xs text-destructive">{modelRuleErrors[0]}</p>
+                ) : null}
               </div>
             </section>
 
@@ -573,7 +572,11 @@ export function ProviderEntryDialog({
             <Button type="button" variant="outline" onClick={() => onOpenChange(false)}>
               Cancel
             </Button>
-            <Button type="button" onClick={() => void handleSubmit()} disabled={isSaving}>
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => void handleSubmit()}
+              disabled={isSaving || modelRuleErrors.length > 0}
+            >
               {isSaving
                 ? 'Saving...'
                 : supportsOpenAiCompat
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/provider-config.ts b/ui/src/lib/provider-config.ts
index 516b85e8..35e9822e 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/provider-config.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/provider-config.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   PROVIDER_CAPABILITIES,
   getProvidersByOAuthFlow,
 } from '../../../src/cliproxy/provider-capabilities';
-import type { AiProviderFamilyId } from '../../../src/cliproxy/ai-providers';
+import type { AiProviderFamilyId, AiProviderModelAlias } from '../../../src/cliproxy/ai-providers';
 
 // Monorepo contract: UI consumes provider capability constants directly from backend
 // to enforce one source of truth and prevent provider drift across surfaces.
@@ -115,6 +115,75 @@ export function getAiProviderFamilyVisual(familyId: AiProviderFamilyId): Provide
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Parse UI model rules that use the requested=upstream convention into the
+ * provider config shape where `name` is upstream and `alias` is client-visible.
+ */
+export function parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules(value: string): AiProviderModelAlias[] {
+  return value
+    .split('\n')
+    .map((line) => line.trim())
+    .filter((line) => line.length > 0)
+    .map((line) => {
+      const separatorIndex = line.indexOf('=');
+      if (separatorIndex === -1) {
+        return { name: line.trim(), alias: '' };
+      }
+
+      const requested = line.slice(0, separatorIndex).trim();
+      const upstream = line.slice(separatorIndex + 1).trim();
+      if (!upstream) {
+        return { name: requested, alias: '' };
+      }
+
+      return {
+        name: upstream,
+        alias: requested,
+      };
+    })
+    .filter((item) => item.name.length > 0 || item.alias.length > 0);
+}
+
+export function getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors(value: string): string[] {
+  return value
+    .split('\n')
+    .map((line, index) => ({ line: line.trim(), lineNumber: index + 1 }))
+    .filter(({ line }) => line.length > 0 && line.includes('='))
+    .flatMap(({ line, lineNumber }) => {
+      const separatorIndex = line.indexOf('=');
+      const requested = line.slice(0, separatorIndex).trim();
+      const upstream = line.slice(separatorIndex + 1).trim();
+      if (requested && upstream) {
+        return [];
+      }
+
+      return [`Line ${lineNumber}: use requested=upstream or a plain model name.`];
+    });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Format stored provider config back into the UI-facing requested=upstream form.
+ */
+export function formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules(
+  models: Array<Partial<AiProviderModelAlias>> | null | undefined
+): string {
+  return (models || [])
+    .map((item) => {
+      const requested = item.alias?.trim() || '';
+      const upstream = item.name?.trim() || '';
+      return requested ? `${requested}=${upstream}` : upstream;
+    })
+    .join('\n');
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return the client-visible model ID for previews and generated settings.
+ */
+export function getRequestedModelId(model: AiProviderModelAlias): string {
+  const requested = model.alias.trim();
+  return requested || model.name.trim();
+}
+
 export function getProviderLogoAsset(provider: unknown): string | undefined {
   const normalized = normalizeProviderInput(provider);
   if (!isProviderVisualId(normalized)) {
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/cliproxy-ai-providers.tsx b/ui/src/pages/cliproxy-ai-providers.tsx
index b7a8c79e..0d60c6bd 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/cliproxy-ai-providers.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/cliproxy-ai-providers.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,13 @@ import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { ScrollArea } from '@/components/ui/scroll-area';
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton';
 import { Tabs, TabsContent, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tabs';
-import { getAiProviderFamilyVisual } from '@/lib/provider-config';
+import {
+  formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules,
+  getAiProviderFamilyVisual,
+  getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors,
+  getRequestedModelId,
+  parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules,
+} from '@/lib/provider-config';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { FamilyRail, ProviderEntryDialog } from '@/components/cliproxy/ai-providers';
 import {
@@ -339,22 +345,7 @@ function parseKeyValueLines(value: string): Array<{ key: string; value: string }
 }
 
 function parseModelAliasLines(value: string) {
-  return value
-    .split('\n')
-    .map((line) => line.trim())
-    .filter((line) => line.length > 0)
-    .map((line) => {
-      const separatorIndex = line.indexOf('=');
-      if (separatorIndex === -1) {
-        return { name: line.trim(), alias: '' };
-      }
-
-      return {
-        name: line.slice(0, separatorIndex).trim(),
-        alias: line.slice(separatorIndex + 1).trim(),
-      };
-    })
-    .filter((item) => item.name.length > 0 || item.alias.length > 0);
+  return parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules(value);
 }
 
 function formatHeaders(entry?: AiProviderEntryView | null): string {
@@ -366,9 +357,7 @@ function formatExcludedModels(entry?: AiProviderEntryView | null): string {
 }
 
 function formatModelAliases(entry?: AiProviderEntryView | null): string {
-  return (entry?.models || [])
-    .map((item) => (item.alias.trim() ? `${item.name}=${item.alias}` : item.name))
-    .join('\n');
+  return formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules(entry?.models);
 }
 
 function buildEntryEditorDraft(entry: AiProviderEntryView): EntryEditorDraft {
@@ -398,6 +387,12 @@ function buildRawConfigModelArray(value: string) {
   return parsed.length > 0 ? parsed : undefined;
 }
 
+function formatRawConfigModelArray(value: unknown): string {
+  return Array.isArray(value)
+    ? formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules(value as Array<{ name?: string; alias?: string }>)
+    : '';
+}
+
 function buildExcludedModelsArray(value: string) {
   const parsed = parseDelimitedLines(value);
   return parsed.length > 0 ? parsed : undefined;
@@ -484,16 +479,7 @@ function parseEntryConfigDraft(
               .join('\n')
           : '',
       excludedModelsText: '',
-      modelAliasesText: Array.isArray(record.models)
-        ? (record.models as Array<{ name?: string; alias?: string }>)
-            .map((item) =>
-              item.alias?.trim()
-                ? `${item.name?.trim() || ''}=${item.alias.trim()}`
-                : item.name?.trim() || ''
-            )
-            .filter(Boolean)
-            .join('\n')
-        : '',
+      modelAliasesText: formatRawConfigModelArray(record.models),
       apiKey: '',
       apiKeysText: apiKeys.join('\n'),
     };
@@ -515,16 +501,7 @@ function parseEntryConfigDraft(
     excludedModelsText: Array.isArray(record['excluded-models'])
       ? (record['excluded-models'] as string[]).join('\n')
       : '',
-    modelAliasesText: Array.isArray(record.models)
-      ? (record.models as Array<{ name?: string; alias?: string }>)
-          .map((item) =>
-            item.alias?.trim()
-              ? `${item.name?.trim() || ''}=${item.alias.trim()}`
-              : item.name?.trim() || ''
-          )
-          .filter(Boolean)
-          .join('\n')
-      : '',
+    modelAliasesText: formatRawConfigModelArray(record.models),
     apiKey:
       typeof record['api-key'] === 'string' && record['api-key'] !== STORED_SECRET_PLACEHOLDER
         ? record['api-key']
@@ -579,7 +556,7 @@ function buildSettingsPreview(
     item.name.trim()
   );
   if (primaryModel?.name) {
-    env.ANTHROPIC_MODEL = primaryModel.name;
+    env.ANTHROPIC_MODEL = getRequestedModelId(primaryModel);
   }
 
   return { env };
@@ -702,6 +679,10 @@ function EntryInspector({
     () => parseModelAliasLines(draft.modelAliasesText),
     [draft.modelAliasesText]
   );
+  const modelRuleErrors = useMemo(
+    () => getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors(draft.modelAliasesText),
+    [draft.modelAliasesText]
+  );
   const headerRules = useMemo(() => parseKeyValueLines(draft.headersText), [draft.headersText]);
   const excludedModelRules = useMemo(
     () => parseDelimitedLines(draft.excludedModelsText),
@@ -753,7 +734,11 @@ function EntryInspector({
     entry.secretConfigured,
     family.id,
   ]);
-  const canSave = isRawJsonValid && missingRequiredFields.length === 0 && hasChanges;
+  const canSave =
+    isRawJsonValid &&
+    missingRequiredFields.length === 0 &&
+    modelRuleErrors.length === 0 &&
+    hasChanges;
 
   const updateDraft = (updater: (current: EntryEditorDraft) => EntryEditorDraft) => {
     setDraft((current) => updater(current));
@@ -1091,6 +1076,11 @@ function EntryInspector({
                       rows={6}
                     />
                   </EntryEditorField>
+                  {modelRuleErrors.length > 0 ? (
+                    <div className="mt-3 rounded-md border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/10 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+                      {modelRuleErrors[0]}
+                    </div>
+                  ) : null}
                 </div>
 
                 <div className="rounded-xl border bg-background p-4">
diff --git a/ui/tests/unit/components/cliproxy/provider-entry-card.test.tsx b/ui/tests/unit/components/cliproxy/provider-entry-card.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b447edc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/tests/unit/components/cliproxy/provider-entry-card.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { ProviderEntryCard } from '@/components/cliproxy/ai-providers/provider-entry-card';
+import { render, screen } from '../../../setup/test-utils';
+
+describe('ProviderEntryCard', () => {
+  it('renders mapped models as requested to upstream', () => {
+    render(
+      <ProviderEntryCard
+        family={{
+          id: 'openai-compatibility',
+          displayName: 'OpenAI-Compatible',
+          description: 'Connectors',
+          authMode: 'connector',
+          routePath: '/api/provider/openai-compat',
+          status: 'ready',
+          supportsNamedEntries: true,
+          entries: [],
+        }}
+        entry={{
+          id: 'openai-compatibility:0',
+          index: 0,
+          name: 'openrouter',
+          label: 'openrouter',
+          baseUrl: 'https://openrouter.ai/api/v1',
+          headers: [],
+          excludedModels: [],
+          models: [{ name: 'gpt-5', alias: 'claude-sonnet-4-5' }],
+          apiKeysMasked: ['...1234'],
+          secretConfigured: true,
+        }}
+        onEdit={vi.fn()}
+        onDelete={vi.fn()}
+      />
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('claude-sonnet-4-5')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('gpt-5')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('→')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/tests/unit/ui/lib/provider-config.test.ts b/ui/tests/unit/ui/lib/provider-config.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d48a838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/tests/unit/ui/lib/provider-config.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import {
+  formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules,
+  getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors,
+  getRequestedModelId,
+  parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules,
+} from '@/lib/provider-config';
+
+describe('provider model mapping helpers', () => {
+  it('parses requested=upstream rules into stored upstream+alias pairs', () => {
+    expect(
+      parseRequestedUpstreamModelRules('claude-sonnet-4-5=gpt-4.1\nminimax/minimax-m2.7')
+    ).toEqual([
+      { name: 'gpt-4.1', alias: 'claude-sonnet-4-5' },
+      { name: 'minimax/minimax-m2.7', alias: '' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('formats stored model rules back into requested=upstream text', () => {
+    expect(
+      formatRequestedUpstreamModelRules([
+        { name: 'gpt-4.1', alias: 'claude-sonnet-4-5' },
+        { name: 'minimax/minimax-m2.7', alias: '' },
+      ])
+    ).toBe('claude-sonnet-4-5=gpt-4.1\nminimax/minimax-m2.7');
+  });
+
+  it('prefers the requested alias for generated settings previews', () => {
+    expect(getRequestedModelId({ name: 'gpt-4.1', alias: 'claude-sonnet-4-5' })).toBe(
+      'claude-sonnet-4-5'
+    );
+    expect(getRequestedModelId({ name: 'minimax/minimax-m2.7', alias: '' })).toBe(
+      'minimax/minimax-m2.7'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('rejects malformed requested=upstream lines instead of coercing them', () => {
+    expect(getRequestedUpstreamModelRuleErrors('claude-sonnet-4-5=\n=gpt-5\nqwen3-coder')).toEqual([
+      'Line 1: use requested=upstream or a plain model name.',
+      'Line 2: use requested=upstream or a plain model name.',
+    ]);
+  });
+});