diff --git a/pkg/tools/spawn.go b/pkg/tools/spawn.go
index be40ffda2..48ec6a222 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/spawn.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/spawn.go
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ func (t *SpawnTool) Parameters() map[string]any {
 				"type":        "string",
 				"description": "Optional target agent ID to delegate the task to",
 			},
+			"model": map[string]any{
+				"type":        "string",
+				"description": "Optional model_name from model_list to use for the subagent",
+			},
 		},
 		"required": []string{"task"},
 	}
@@ -71,6 +75,7 @@ func (t *SpawnTool) execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any, cb AsyncCa
 
 	label, _ := args["label"].(string)
 	agentID, _ := args["agent_id"].(string)
+	model, _ := args["model"].(string)
 
 	// Check allowlist if targeting a specific agent
 	if agentID != "" && t.allowlistCheck != nil {
@@ -96,7 +101,7 @@ func (t *SpawnTool) execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any, cb AsyncCa
 	}
 
 	// Pass callback to manager for async completion notification
-	result, err := t.manager.Spawn(ctx, task, label, agentID, channel, chatID, cb)
+	result, err := t.manager.Spawn(ctx, task, label, agentID, model, channel, chatID, cb)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("failed to spawn subagent: %v", err))
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/tools/subagent.go b/pkg/tools/subagent.go
index 10cf8b6c8..2bc2b4049 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/subagent.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/subagent.go
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func (sm *SubagentManager) RegisterTool(tool Tool) {
 
 func (sm *SubagentManager) Spawn(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	task, label, agentID, originChannel, originChatID string,
+	task, label, agentID, model, originChannel, originChatID string,
 	callback AsyncCallback,
 ) (string, error) {
 	sm.mu.Lock()
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ func (sm *SubagentManager) Spawn(
 		ID:            taskID,
 		Task:          task,
 		Label:         label,
+		Model:         model,
 		AgentID:       agentID,
 		OriginChannel: originChannel,
 		OriginChatID:  originChatID,
@@ -181,6 +182,19 @@ After completing the task, provide a clear summary of what was done.`
 	default:
 	}
 
+	// Resolve the model for this task
+	resolvedModel, err := sm.ResolveModel(task.Model)
+	if err != nil {
+		sm.mu.Lock()
+		task.Status = "failed"
+		task.Result = err.Error()
+		sm.mu.Unlock()
+		if callback != nil {
+			callback(ctx, ErrorResult(err.Error()))
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Run tool loop with access to tools
 	sm.mu.RLock()
 	tools := sm.tools
@@ -204,7 +218,7 @@ After completing the task, provide a clear summary of what was done.`
 
 	loopResult, err := RunToolLoop(ctx, ToolLoopConfig{
 		Provider:      sm.provider,
-		Model:         sm.defaultModel,
+		Model:         resolvedModel,
 		Tools:         tools,
 		MaxIterations: maxIter,
 		LLMOptions:    llmOptions,
@@ -319,6 +333,10 @@ func (t *SubagentTool) Parameters() map[string]any {
 				"type":        "string",
 				"description": "Optional short label for the task (for display)",
 			},
+			"model": map[string]any{
+				"type":        "string",
+				"description": "Optional model_name from model_list to use for the subagent",
+			},
 		},
 		"required": []string{"task"},
 	}
@@ -331,11 +349,18 @@ func (t *SubagentTool) Execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolRe
 	}
 
 	label, _ := args["label"].(string)
+	model, _ := args["model"].(string)
 
 	if t.manager == nil {
 		return ErrorResult("Subagent manager not configured").WithError(fmt.Errorf("manager is nil"))
 	}
 
+	// Resolve the model before proceeding
+	resolvedModel, err := t.manager.ResolveModel(model)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("invalid model: %v", err)).WithError(err)
+	}
+
 	// Build messages for subagent
 	messages := []providers.Message{
 		{
@@ -383,7 +408,7 @@ func (t *SubagentTool) Execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolRe
 
 	loopResult, err := RunToolLoop(ctx, ToolLoopConfig{
 		Provider:      sm.provider,
-		Model:         sm.defaultModel,
+		Model:         resolvedModel,
 		Tools:         tools,
 		MaxIterations: maxIter,
 		LLMOptions:    llmOptions,
diff --git a/pkg/tools/subagent_tool_test.go b/pkg/tools/subagent_tool_test.go
index 8ae30b4f1..776857dfc 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/subagent_tool_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/subagent_tool_test.go
@@ -362,6 +362,81 @@ func TestSubagentManager_ResolveModel(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestSubagentTool_Execute_WithModel(t *testing.T) {
+	provider := &MockLLMProvider{}
+	msgBus := bus.NewMessageBus()
+	manager := NewSubagentManager(provider, "parent-model", "/tmp/test", msgBus)
+	manager.SetModelValidator(func(name string) bool {
+		return name == "custom-model" || name == "parent-model"
+	})
+	tool := NewSubagentTool(manager)
+
+	ctx := WithToolContext(context.Background(), "cli", "direct")
+	args := map[string]any{
+		"task":  "Test with custom model",
+		"model": "custom-model",
+	}
+
+	result := tool.Execute(ctx, args)
+	if result.IsError {
+		t.Errorf("Expected success, got error: %s", result.ForLLM)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubagentTool_Execute_WithInvalidModel(t *testing.T) {
+	provider := &MockLLMProvider{}
+	msgBus := bus.NewMessageBus()
+	manager := NewSubagentManager(provider, "parent-model", "/tmp/test", msgBus)
+	manager.SetModelValidator(func(name string) bool {
+		return name == "parent-model"
+	})
+	tool := NewSubagentTool(manager)
+
+	ctx := WithToolContext(context.Background(), "cli", "direct")
+	args := map[string]any{
+		"task":  "Test with bad model",
+		"model": "nonexistent-model",
+	}
+
+	result := tool.Execute(ctx, args)
+	if !result.IsError {
+		t.Error("Expected error for invalid model")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "not found in model_list") {
+		t.Errorf("Error should mention model_list, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSpawnTool_Parameters_IncludesModel(t *testing.T) {
+	provider := &MockLLMProvider{}
+	manager := NewSubagentManager(provider, "test-model", "/tmp/test", nil)
+	tool := NewSpawnTool(manager)
+	params := tool.Parameters()
+	props := params["properties"].(map[string]any)
+	model, ok := props["model"].(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("model parameter should exist in spawn tool")
+	}
+	if model["type"] != "string" {
+		t.Errorf("model type should be 'string', got: %v", model["type"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubagentTool_Parameters_IncludesModel(t *testing.T) {
+	provider := &MockLLMProvider{}
+	manager := NewSubagentManager(provider, "test-model", "/tmp/test", nil)
+	tool := NewSubagentTool(manager)
+	params := tool.Parameters()
+	props := params["properties"].(map[string]any)
+	model, ok := props["model"].(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("model parameter should exist in subagent tool")
+	}
+	if model["type"] != "string" {
+		t.Errorf("model type should be 'string', got: %v", model["type"])
+	}
+}
+
 // TestSubagentTool_ForUserTruncation verifies long content is truncated for user
 func TestSubagentTool_ForUserTruncation(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a mock provider that returns very long content