diff --git a/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_common.py b/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_common.py
index 969b561585..b986ba7067 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_common.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_common.py
@@ -229,21 +229,24 @@ def _oauth_gate(logged_in: bool, name: str, login_fn, *login_args, fresh_name: s
 
 
 def _models_dev_merged(provider_id: str, curated) -> list:
-    """models.dev agentic models for *provider_id* plus curated ids not yet listed
-    (case-insensitive). Empty list when models.dev has nothing / is unavailable."""
+    """Curated ids first (our agentic picks lead, and models.dev lag can't hide new ones), then
+    models.dev agentic models not yet listed (case-insensitive; models.dev's spelling wins since
+    it comes from the provider). Live-first providers keep
+    models.dev order ahead of curated, matching ``_profile_live_catalog``. Empty list when
+    models.dev has nothing / is unavailable."""
+    from hermes_cli.models_catalog_static import _LIVE_FIRST_PICKER_PROVIDERS
     mdev_models: list = []
     with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
         from agent.models_dev import list_agentic_models
         mdev_models = list_agentic_models(provider_id)
     if not mdev_models:
         return []
-    seen = {m.lower() for m in mdev_models}
-    merged = list(mdev_models)
-    for m in curated:
-        if m.lower() not in seen:
-            merged.append(m)
-            seen.add(m.lower())
-    return merged
+    primary, secondary = (mdev_models, curated) if provider_id in _LIVE_FIRST_PICKER_PROVIDERS else (curated, mdev_models)
+    canonical = {m.lower(): m for m in mdev_models}
+    merged: dict = {}
+    for m in [*primary, *secondary]:
+        merged.setdefault(m.lower(), canonical.get(m.lower(), m))
+    return list(merged.values())
 
 
 def _show_curated(model_list) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_models_dev_preferred_merge.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_models_dev_preferred_merge.py
index f4f320c37b..96660215d1 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_models_dev_preferred_merge.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_models_dev_preferred_merge.py
@@ -139,3 +139,10 @@ class TestProviderModelIdsPreferred:
             _model_flow_kimi({}, current_model="")
 
         assert captured["models"] == _PROVIDER_MODELS["kimi-coding"]
+
+
+def test_setup_menu_merge_leads_with_curated_in_full():
+    from hermes_cli.model_setup_flows_common import _models_dev_merged
+    with patch("agent.models_dev.list_agentic_models", return_value=["a/x", "b/Y", "c/z"]):
+        assert _models_dev_merged("nvidia", ["B/y", "d/w"]) == ["b/Y", "d/w", "a/x", "c/z"]
+        assert _models_dev_merged("opencode-zen", ["B/y", "d/w"]) == ["a/x", "b/Y", "c/z", "d/w"]