diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 16993a4..e228114 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ COPY --from=permissions /zeroclaw-data /zeroclaw-data
 # Environment setup
 ENV ZEROCLAW_WORKSPACE=/zeroclaw-data/workspace
 ENV HOME=/zeroclaw-data
-# Defaults for prod (OpenRouter)
+# Default provider (model is set in config.toml, not here,
+# so config file edits are not silently overridden)
 ENV PROVIDER="openrouter"
-ENV ZEROCLAW_MODEL="anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514"
 ENV ZEROCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=3000
 
 # API_KEY must be provided at runtime!
diff --git a/src/agent/loop_.rs b/src/agent/loop_.rs
index 13d2ae0..fcaedf9 100644
--- a/src/agent/loop_.rs
+++ b/src/agent/loop_.rs
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ pub async fn run(
     let model_name = model_override
         .as_deref()
         .or(config.default_model.as_deref())
-        .unwrap_or("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514");
+        .unwrap_or("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4");
 
     let provider: Box<dyn Provider> = providers::create_routed_provider(
         provider_name,
diff --git a/src/channels/discord.rs b/src/channels/discord.rs
index 3f5a450..27d2582 100644
--- a/src/channels/discord.rs
+++ b/src/channels/discord.rs
@@ -10,16 +10,18 @@ pub struct DiscordChannel {
     bot_token: String,
     guild_id: Option<String>,
     allowed_users: Vec<String>,
+    listen_to_bots: bool,
     client: reqwest::Client,
     typing_handle: std::sync::Mutex<Option<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>>>,
 }
 
 impl DiscordChannel {
-    pub fn new(bot_token: String, guild_id: Option<String>, allowed_users: Vec<String>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(bot_token: String, guild_id: Option<String>, allowed_users: Vec<String>, listen_to_bots: bool) -> Self {
         Self {
             bot_token,
             guild_id,
             allowed_users,
+            listen_to_bots,
             client: reqwest::Client::new(),
             typing_handle: std::sync::Mutex::new(None),
         }
@@ -309,8 +311,8 @@ impl Channel for DiscordChannel {
                         continue;
                     }
 
-                    // Skip bot messages
-                    if d.get("author").and_then(|a| a.get("bot")).and_then(serde_json::Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(false) {
+                    // Skip bot messages (unless listen_to_bots is enabled)
+                    if !self.listen_to_bots && d.get("author").and_then(|a| a.get("bot")).and_then(serde_json::Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(false) {
                         continue;
                     }
 
@@ -411,7 +413,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn discord_channel_name() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         assert_eq!(ch.name(), "discord");
     }
 
@@ -432,21 +434,21 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn empty_allowlist_denies_everyone() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("12345"));
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("anyone"));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn wildcard_allows_everyone() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["*".into()]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["*".into()], false);
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("12345"));
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("anyone"));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn specific_allowlist_filters() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into(), "222".into()]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into(), "222".into()], false);
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("111"));
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("222"));
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("333"));
@@ -455,7 +457,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn allowlist_is_exact_match_not_substring() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into()]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into()], false);
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("1111"));
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("11"));
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("0111"));
@@ -463,20 +465,20 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn allowlist_empty_string_user_id() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into()]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into()], false);
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed(""));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn allowlist_with_wildcard_and_specific() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into(), "*".into()]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["111".into(), "*".into()], false);
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("111"));
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("anyone_else"));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn allowlist_case_sensitive() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["ABC".into()]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec!["ABC".into()], false);
         assert!(ch.is_user_allowed("ABC"));
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("abc"));
         assert!(!ch.is_user_allowed("Abc"));
@@ -651,14 +653,14 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn typing_handle_starts_as_none() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         let guard = ch.typing_handle.lock().unwrap();
         assert!(guard.is_none());
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn start_typing_sets_handle() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         let _ = ch.start_typing("123456").await;
         let guard = ch.typing_handle.lock().unwrap();
         assert!(guard.is_some());
@@ -666,7 +668,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn stop_typing_clears_handle() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         let _ = ch.start_typing("123456").await;
         let _ = ch.stop_typing("123456").await;
         let guard = ch.typing_handle.lock().unwrap();
@@ -675,14 +677,14 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn stop_typing_is_idempotent() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         assert!(ch.stop_typing("123456").await.is_ok());
         assert!(ch.stop_typing("123456").await.is_ok());
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn start_typing_replaces_existing_task() {
-        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![]);
+        let ch = DiscordChannel::new("fake".into(), None, vec![], false);
         let _ = ch.start_typing("111").await;
         let _ = ch.start_typing("222").await;
         let guard = ch.typing_handle.lock().unwrap();
diff --git a/src/channels/mod.rs b/src/channels/mod.rs
index a828f53..ad095d0 100644
--- a/src/channels/mod.rs
+++ b/src/channels/mod.rs
@@ -544,6 +544,7 @@ pub async fn doctor_channels(config: Config) -> Result<()> {
                 dc.bot_token.clone(),
                 dc.guild_id.clone(),
                 dc.allowed_users.clone(),
+                dc.listen_to_bots,
             )),
         ));
     }
@@ -671,7 +672,7 @@ pub async fn start_channels(config: Config) -> Result<()> {
     let model = config
         .default_model
         .clone()
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514".into());
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4".into());
     let temperature = config.default_temperature;
     let mem: Arc<dyn Memory> = Arc::from(memory::create_memory(
         &config.memory,
@@ -752,6 +753,7 @@ pub async fn start_channels(config: Config) -> Result<()> {
             dc.bot_token.clone(),
             dc.guild_id.clone(),
             dc.allowed_users.clone(),
+            dc.listen_to_bots,
         )));
     }
 
diff --git a/src/config/schema.rs b/src/config/schema.rs
index 2ec474b..da00e7c 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.rs
+++ b/src/config/schema.rs
@@ -774,6 +774,10 @@ pub struct DiscordConfig {
     pub guild_id: Option<String>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub allowed_users: Vec<String>,
+    /// When true, process messages from other bots (not just humans).
+    /// The bot still ignores its own messages to prevent feedback loops.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub listen_to_bots: bool,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -887,7 +891,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             config_path: zeroclaw_dir.join("config.toml"),
             api_key: None,
             default_provider: Some("openrouter".to_string()),
-            default_model: Some("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514".to_string()),
+            default_model: Some("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4".to_string()),
             default_temperature: 0.7,
             observability: ObservabilityConfig::default(),
             autonomy: AutonomyConfig::default(),
diff --git a/src/gateway/mod.rs b/src/gateway/mod.rs
index 6941208..11de562 100644
--- a/src/gateway/mod.rs
+++ b/src/gateway/mod.rs
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ pub async fn run_gateway(host: &str, port: u16, config: Config) -> Result<()> {
     let model = config
         .default_model
         .clone()
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514".into());
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4".into());
     let temperature = config.default_temperature;
     let mem: Arc<dyn Memory> = Arc::from(memory::create_memory(
         &config.memory,
diff --git a/src/onboard/wizard.rs b/src/onboard/wizard.rs
index 5b66e17..2baae7d 100644
--- a/src/onboard/wizard.rs
+++ b/src/onboard/wizard.rs
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ fn default_model_for_provider(provider: &str) -> String {
         "groq" => "llama-3.3-70b-versatile".into(),
         "deepseek" => "deepseek-chat".into(),
         "gemini" | "google" | "google-gemini" => "gemini-2.0-flash".into(),
-        _ => "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514".into(),
+        _ => "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4".into(),
     }
 }
 
@@ -689,7 +689,7 @@ fn setup_provider() -> Result<(String, String, String)> {
     let models: Vec<(&str, &str)> = match provider_name {
         "openrouter" => vec![
             (
-                "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
+                "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4",
                 "Claude Sonnet 4 (balanced, recommended)",
             ),
             (
@@ -1378,6 +1378,7 @@ fn setup_channels() -> Result<ChannelsConfig> {
                     bot_token: token,
                     guild_id: if guild.is_empty() { None } else { Some(guild) },
                     allowed_users,
+                    listen_to_bots: false,
                 });
             }
             2 => {
diff --git a/src/providers/router.rs b/src/providers/router.rs
index 2fec083..4ee36f3 100644
--- a/src/providers/router.rs
+++ b/src/providers/router.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub struct Route {
 /// based on a task hint encoded in the model parameter.
 ///
 /// The model parameter can be:
-/// - A regular model name (e.g. "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514") → uses default provider
+/// - A regular model name (e.g. "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4") → uses default provider
 /// - A hint-prefixed string (e.g. "hint:reasoning") → resolves via route table
 ///
 /// This wraps multiple pre-created providers and selects the right one per request.