diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/app.py b/src/plyngent/cli/app.py
index 18a7e71..205649a 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/app.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/app.py
@@ -245,20 +245,26 @@ async def _run_chat(  # noqa: C901, PLR0912, PLR0915 — chat orchestration
                 preferred_model=preferred_model,
                 interactive=interactive,
             )
-            # Build client early so we can always try GET /models for remote-first lists.
+            # Avoid blocking ready on GET /models unless interactive pick needs it.
             from plyngent.cli.models_source import (
                 client_supports_models,
                 fetch_remote_model_ids,
                 model_choices_for_provider,
+                needs_remote_models_for_selection,
             )
 
-            client = create_client(provider)
             remote_ids: list[str] | None = None
-            try:
-                if client_supports_models(client):
-                    remote_ids = await fetch_remote_model_ids(client)
-            except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError:
-                remote_ids = None
+            if needs_remote_models_for_selection(
+                provider,
+                preferred_model=preferred_model,
+                interactive=interactive,
+            ):
+                client = create_client(provider)
+                try:
+                    if client_supports_models(client):
+                        remote_ids = await fetch_remote_model_ids(client)
+                except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError, TimeoutError:
+                    remote_ids = None
             choices = model_choices_for_provider(provider, remote_ids=remote_ids)
             model_id = select_model(
                 provider,
@@ -282,9 +288,11 @@ async def _run_chat(  # noqa: C901, PLR0912, PLR0915 — chat orchestration
             interactive_limits=interactive,
             yolo=yolo,
         )
-        # Seed remote model cache from startup fetch so Tab/complete stays warm.
+        # Seed cache if we already fetched; else warm in background for Tab.
         if remote_ids is not None:
             state.seed_remote_models(remote_ids)
+        elif not oneshot and interactive:
+            state.schedule_remote_models_warm()
         if not quiet and not oneshot:
             click.secho(f"workspace: {state.workspace}", fg="bright_black", err=True)
 
diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/models_source.py b/src/plyngent/cli/models_source.py
index 2ded69c..5415664 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/models_source.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/models_source.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 import inspect
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Literal, Protocol, cast, runtime_checkable
 
@@ -10,6 +11,8 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
 # Cache remote catalog this long (seconds) unless /models --refresh.
 DEFAULT_MODELS_CACHE_TTL = 300.0
+# Bound startup/interactive GET /models so a dead API cannot hang the CLI.
+DEFAULT_MODELS_FETCH_TIMEOUT = 5.0
 
 type ModelListPrefer = Literal["remote", "union", "config"]
 
@@ -58,21 +61,50 @@ def client_supports_models(client: object) -> bool:
     return isinstance(client, SupportsModels) or callable(getattr(client, "models", None))
 
 
-async def fetch_remote_model_ids(client: object) -> list[str]:
-    """Call ``client.models()``; raise if missing or the call fails."""
+async def fetch_remote_model_ids(
+    client: object,
+    *,
+    timeout_seconds: float = DEFAULT_MODELS_FETCH_TIMEOUT,
+) -> list[str]:
+    """Call ``client.models()``; raise if missing or the call fails.
+
+    *timeout_seconds* bounds the await; use ``0`` or less to wait indefinitely.
+    """
     method = getattr(client, "models", None)
     if not callable(method):
         msg = "client does not support listing models"
         raise TypeError(msg)
     result = method()
     if inspect.isawaitable(result):
-        result = await result
+        if timeout_seconds > 0:
+            async with asyncio.timeout(timeout_seconds):
+                result = await result
+        else:
+            result = await result
     if not isinstance(result, list):
         msg = f"models() returned unexpected type {type(result)!r}"
         raise TypeError(msg)
     return [str(item) for item in cast("list[object]", result) if item]
 
 
+def needs_remote_models_for_selection(
+    provider: Provider,
+    *,
+    preferred_model: str | None,
+    interactive: bool,
+) -> bool:
+    """True when interactive model pick needs a remote catalog for a better list.
+
+    Skip network when the model is already known (``--model`` / session) or when
+    config has exactly one model (auto-selected).
+    """
+    if preferred_model is not None and preferred_model.strip():
+        return False
+    if not interactive:
+        return False
+    return len(config_model_ids(provider)) != 1
+
+
 def model_choices_for_provider(
     provider: Provider,
     *,
diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/provider_recovery.py b/src/plyngent/cli/provider_recovery.py
index c968f4c..89f6b4a 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/provider_recovery.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/provider_recovery.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ async def discover_model_ids(provider: Provider) -> list[str]:
         return []
     try:
         return await fetch_remote_model_ids(client)
-    except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError:
+    except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError, TimeoutError:
         return []
 
 
diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/state.py b/src/plyngent/cli/state.py
index d634aed..df7b63a 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/state.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/state.py
@@ -224,6 +224,29 @@ class ReplState:
         self._remote_models_key = self._models_cache_key()
         self._remote_models_error = None
 
+    def schedule_remote_models_warm(self) -> None:
+        """Fire-and-forget ``GET /models`` so Tab complete warms without blocking ready."""
+        import asyncio
+
+        async def _warm() -> None:
+            try:
+                _ = await self.ensure_remote_models(refresh=False)
+            except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError, TimeoutError:
+                return
+
+        try:
+            loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        except RuntimeError:
+            return
+        task = loop.create_task(_warm(), name="plyngent-warm-remote-models")
+        # Keep a strong ref until done (same pattern as todo persist tasks).
+        self._todo_persist_tasks.add(task)
+
+        def _done(t: object) -> None:
+            _ = self._todo_persist_tasks.discard(t)
+
+        task.add_done_callback(_done)
+
     def remember_session_ids(self, ids: Sequence[int]) -> None:
         """Cache session ids for Tab completion (``/resume`` / ``/delete``)."""
         self._session_id_cache = [int(i) for i in ids]
@@ -272,7 +295,7 @@ class ReplState:
             raise TypeError(msg)
         try:
             ids = await fetch_remote_model_ids(self.client)
-        except (RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError) as exc:
+        except (RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError, TimeoutError) as exc:
             self._remote_models_error = str(exc)
             raise
         self._remote_models = list(ids)
@@ -286,7 +309,7 @@ class ReplState:
         remote: list[str] | None
         try:
             remote = await self.ensure_remote_models(refresh=refresh)
-        except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError:
+        except RuntimeError, TypeError, OSError, ValueError, TimeoutError:
             remote = self.cached_remote_models()
         return model_choices_for_provider(self.provider, remote_ids=remote)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli/test_models_source.py b/tests/test_cli/test_models_source.py
index af3c934..d96dde4 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli/test_models_source.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli/test_models_source.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from plyngent.cli.models_source import (
     fetch_remote_model_ids,
     merge_model_choices,
     model_choices_for_provider,
+    needs_remote_models_for_selection,
 )
 from plyngent.config.models import ModelConfig, OpenAICompatibleProvider
 
@@ -55,3 +56,39 @@ async def test_fetch_remote_model_ids() -> None:
 
     with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="does not support"):
         _ = await fetch_remote_model_ids(object())
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_fetch_remote_model_ids_timeout() -> None:
+    import asyncio
+
+    class Slow:
+        async def models(self) -> list[str]:
+            await asyncio.sleep(10)
+            return ["late"]
+
+    with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
+        _ = await fetch_remote_model_ids(Slow(), timeout_seconds=0.05)
+
+
+def test_needs_remote_models_for_selection() -> None:
+    multi = OpenAICompatibleProvider(
+        access_key_or_token="sk",
+        url="https://x/v1",
+        models={"a": ModelConfig(), "b": ModelConfig()},
+    )
+    single = OpenAICompatibleProvider(
+        access_key_or_token="sk",
+        url="https://x/v1",
+        models={"only": ModelConfig()},
+    )
+    empty = OpenAICompatibleProvider(
+        access_key_or_token="sk",
+        url="https://x/v1",
+        models={},
+    )
+    assert needs_remote_models_for_selection(multi, preferred_model="a", interactive=True) is False
+    assert needs_remote_models_for_selection(multi, preferred_model=None, interactive=False) is False
+    assert needs_remote_models_for_selection(single, preferred_model=None, interactive=True) is False
+    assert needs_remote_models_for_selection(multi, preferred_model=None, interactive=True) is True
+    assert needs_remote_models_for_selection(empty, preferred_model=None, interactive=True) is True