diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 47b043f..2e88d05 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ cd zeroclaw
 # Optional: bootstrap dependencies + Rust on fresh machines
 ./bootstrap.sh --install-system-deps --install-rust
 
-# Optional: run onboarding in the same flow
-./bootstrap.sh --onboard --api-key "sk-..." --provider openrouter
+# Optional: run onboarding in the same flow 
+./bootstrap.sh --onboard --api-key "sk-..." --provider openrouter [--model "openrouter/auto"]
 ```
 
 Remote one-liner (review first in security-sensitive environments):
@@ -209,8 +209,8 @@ cargo install --path . --force --locked
 # Ensure ~/.cargo/bin is in your PATH
 export PATH="$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH"
 
-# Quick setup (no prompts)
-zeroclaw onboard --api-key sk-... --provider openrouter
+# Quick setup (no prompts, optional model specification)
+zeroclaw onboard --api-key sk-... --provider openrouter [--model "openrouter/auto"]
 
 # Or interactive wizard
 zeroclaw onboard --interactive
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 7e75bb2..d93b099 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ enum Commands {
         /// Provider name (used in quick mode, default: openrouter)
         #[arg(long)]
         provider: Option<String>,
-
+        /// Model ID override (used in quick mode)
+        #[arg(long)]
+        model: Option<String>,
         /// Memory backend (sqlite, lucid, markdown, none) - used in quick mode, default: sqlite
         #[arg(long)]
         memory: Option<String>,
@@ -532,6 +534,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         channels_only,
         api_key,
         provider,
+        model,
         memory,
     } = &cli.command
     {
@@ -539,22 +542,29 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         let channels_only = *channels_only;
         let api_key = api_key.clone();
         let provider = provider.clone();
+        let model = model.clone();
         let memory = memory.clone();
 
         if interactive && channels_only {
             bail!("Use either --interactive or --channels-only, not both");
         }
-        if channels_only && (api_key.is_some() || provider.is_some() || memory.is_some()) {
-            bail!("--channels-only does not accept --api-key, --provider, or --memory");
+        if channels_only
+            && (api_key.is_some() || provider.is_some() || model.is_some() || memory.is_some())
+        {
+            bail!("--channels-only does not accept --api-key, --provider, --model, or --memory");
         }
-
         let config = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
             if channels_only {
                 onboard::run_channels_repair_wizard()
             } else if interactive {
                 onboard::run_wizard()
             } else {
-                onboard::run_quick_setup(api_key.as_deref(), provider.as_deref(), memory.as_deref())
+                onboard::run_quick_setup(
+                    api_key.as_deref(),
+                    provider.as_deref(),
+                    model.as_deref(),
+                    memory.as_deref(),
+                )
             }
         })
         .await??;
diff --git a/src/onboard/wizard.rs b/src/onboard/wizard.rs
index 4e659a7..3ef7300 100644
--- a/src/onboard/wizard.rs
+++ b/src/onboard/wizard.rs
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ fn memory_config_defaults_for_backend(backend: &str) -> MemoryConfig {
 pub fn run_quick_setup(
     credential_override: Option<&str>,
     provider: Option<&str>,
+    model_override: Option<&str>,
     memory_backend: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<Config> {
     println!("{}", style(BANNER).cyan().bold());
@@ -345,7 +346,9 @@ pub fn run_quick_setup(
     fs::create_dir_all(&workspace_dir).context("Failed to create workspace directory")?;
 
     let provider_name = provider.unwrap_or("openrouter").to_string();
-    let model = default_model_for_provider(&provider_name);
+    let model = model_override
+        .map(str::to_string)
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| default_model_for_provider(&provider_name));
     let memory_backend_name = memory_backend
         .unwrap_or(default_memory_backend_key())
         .to_string();