---
title: Keep OpenRouter as fallback
type: decision
status: active
created: 2026-07-22
updated: 2026-07-22
review_after: 2026-08-22  # was 0001-01-01 (bug), fixed during 2026-07-22 audit; real trigger is conditional, see Revisit when
confidence: high
tags: [routing, provider, decision]
sources: []
---
# Keep OpenRouter as fallback

## Decision
OpenRouter must remain available as a fallback provider, even if a self-hosted router becomes primary.

## Reasons
- Free models are important.
- Broad model coverage.
- Previous migrations disrupted provider availability.
- A fallback reduces the chance of Hermes becoming unusable.

## Alternatives considered
- Direct providers only
- OmniRoute exclusively
- Local models exclusively

## Revisit when
A self-hosted router has operated reliably for at least 30 days.

## Related
- [[model-routing]]
- [[systems/omniroute]]
- [[systems/openrouter]]