diff --git a/frontend/src/client-store.ts b/frontend/src/client-store.ts
index 647e4413..4dcfaffd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client-store.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client-store.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { registerCapacitorLifecycle } from './lib/capacitor';
 import { configureKeyboard } from './lib/keyboard';
 import { initPushNotifications } from './lib/push';
 import { eventBus } from './lib/event-bus-singleton';
+import { getPreferredModel } from './lib/model-preference';
 
 export const clientStore = createMitzoStore({
   transport: {
@@ -26,6 +27,9 @@ export const clientStore = createMitzoStore({
   },
 });
 
+// Sync localStorage model preference into the store so sendMessage() includes it
+clientStore.getState().setModel(getPreferredModel());
+
 // Wire Capacitor app lifecycle → force WS reconnect on resume, send suspend on background
 registerCapacitorLifecycle(
   () => {