diff --git a/packages/client/ui-models/src/client/CustomProviderCard.tsx b/packages/client/ui-models/src/client/CustomProviderCard.tsx
index f8dd6ca3f8..e27bd3c6bd 100644
--- a/packages/client/ui-models/src/client/CustomProviderCard.tsx
+++ b/packages/client/ui-models/src/client/CustomProviderCard.tsx
@@ -112,14 +112,17 @@ export function CustomProviderCard(props: CustomProviderCardProps): ReactNode {
   const ready = route.length > 0 && !routeInvalid && !routeTaken
     && baseURL.length > 0 && models.length > 0 && modelFailure === undefined
     && keyFailure === undefined
-  // The one blocked gate worth a line under the form. The route id is omitted
-  // because its own field already explains itself, and a satisfied card says
+  // The one blocked gate worth a line under the form. A satisfied card says
   // nothing at all rather than printing an empty paragraph.
   const hint = failure !== undefined || ready
     // The key field prints its own failure directly beneath itself, so a card
     // blocked only by the key stays silent here rather than answering with the
     // next unmet gate — which is satisfied, and reads as a second, false fault.
     || keyFailure !== undefined
+    // Same for the route id, and it must be tested rather than assumed: the
+    // fallback arm below reads "no models yet", so an unmet route gate used to
+    // fall through to it and contradict the filled-in list right above.
+    || route.length === 0 || routeInvalid || routeTaken
     ? undefined
     : baseURL.length === 0
       ? t('customNeedsBaseUrl')
diff --git a/packages/client/ui-models/tests/provider-form.spec.tsx b/packages/client/ui-models/tests/provider-form.spec.tsx
index 831353bc5c..7d8f2efe27 100644
--- a/packages/client/ui-models/tests/provider-form.spec.tsx
+++ b/packages/client/ui-models/tests/provider-form.spec.tsx
@@ -790,6 +790,26 @@ describe('hand-declared providers', () => {
     expect(onClose).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true)
   })
 
+  it('never contradicts a filled-in field with the next gate\u2019s copy', () => {
+    mountCard()
+    const routeField = screen.getByLabelText(en.customRoute)
+    fireEvent.change(routeField, { target: { value: '2' } })
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText(en.baseUrl), { target: { value: 'https://acme.test/v1' } })
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: en.addModel }))
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText(`${en.modelId} 1`), { target: { value: 'm' } })
+
+    // The route field explains itself right under the input; the shared line
+    // must stay silent rather than falling through to "no models yet" while
+    // the list above plainly has one.
+    expect(screen.getByText(en.customRouteInvalid)).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(screen.queryByText(en.customNeedsModels)).toBeNull()
+
+    // Fixing the route hands the line back to the gate that is actually unmet.
+    fireEvent.change(routeField, { target: { value: 'acme' } })
+    expect(screen.queryByText(en.customNeedsModels)).toBeNull()
+    expect(buttonNamed(en.create).disabled).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   it('refuses a route id whose derived credential reference would be illegal', () => {
     mountCard()
     const routeField = screen.getByLabelText(en.customRoute)