diff --git a/src/api/services/provider-presets.ts b/src/api/services/provider-presets.ts
index 7a70a61a..fd986a4d 100644
--- a/src/api/services/provider-presets.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/provider-presets.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export interface ProviderPreset {
   apiKeyPlaceholder: string;
   apiKeyHint: string;
   category: PresetCategory;
+  /** Whether API key is required (false for local providers like Ollama) */
+  requiresApiKey?: boolean;
   /** Additional env vars for thinking mode, etc. */
   extraEnv?: Record<string, string>;
   /** Enable always thinking mode */
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ export const PROVIDER_PRESETS: ProviderPreset[] = [
     apiKeyPlaceholder: 'sk-or-...',
     apiKeyHint: 'Get your API key at openrouter.ai/keys',
     category: 'recommended',
+    requiresApiKey: true,
   },
   {
     id: 'ollama',
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@ export const PROVIDER_PRESETS: ProviderPreset[] = [
     apiKeyPlaceholder: 'ollama',
     apiKeyHint: 'Install Ollama from ollama.com - no API key needed for local',
     category: 'recommended',
+    requiresApiKey: false,
   },
   // Alternative providers
   {
@@ -152,6 +156,7 @@ export const PROVIDER_PRESETS: ProviderPreset[] = [
     apiKeyPlaceholder: 'YOUR_OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY',
     apiKeyHint: 'Get your API key at ollama.com',
     category: 'alternative',
+    requiresApiKey: true,
   },
 ];
 
diff --git a/src/commands/api-command.ts b/src/commands/api-command.ts
index a96707a0..b7934bf7 100644
--- a/src/commands/api-command.ts
+++ b/src/commands/api-command.ts
@@ -181,9 +181,15 @@ async function handleCreate(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     console.log(dim('Note: For OpenRouter, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY should be empty.'));
   }
 
-  // Step 3: API Key
+  // Step 3: API Key (skip if preset doesn't require one)
   let apiKey = parsedArgs.apiKey;
-  if (!apiKey) {
+  const requiresApiKey = preset?.requiresApiKey !== false;
+
+  if (!requiresApiKey) {
+    // Preset doesn't require API key (e.g., local Ollama)
+    console.log(info('No API key required for local Ollama'));
+    apiKey = ''; // Empty string for local providers
+  } else if (!apiKey) {
     const keyPrompt = preset?.apiKeyHint ? `API Key (${preset.apiKeyHint})` : 'API Key';
     apiKey = await InteractivePrompt.password(keyPrompt);
     if (!apiKey) {