diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/review.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/review.rs
index 502773f157..d9966e38f4 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/review.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/review.rs
@@ -659,14 +659,13 @@ pub(super) async fn run_guardian_review_session(
             fallback
         }
     };
-    let use_parent_model_for_auto_review = turn.model_info.auto_review_model_override == Some(true);
-    let preferred_model_id = turn.provider.approval_review_preferred_model();
-    let preferred_model = available_models
+    let model_override = turn.model_info.auto_review_model_override.as_deref();
+    let review_model_id =
+        model_override.unwrap_or_else(|| turn.provider.approval_review_preferred_model());
+    let review_model = available_models
         .iter()
-        .find(|preset| preset.model == preferred_model_id);
-    let (guardian_model, guardian_reasoning_effort) = if !use_parent_model_for_auto_review
-        && let Some(preset) = preferred_model
-    {
+        .find(|preset| preset.model == review_model_id);
+    let (guardian_model, guardian_reasoning_effort) = if let Some(preset) = review_model {
         let reasoning_effort = preferred_reasoning_effort(
             preset
                 .supported_reasoning_efforts
@@ -674,7 +673,7 @@ pub(super) async fn run_guardian_review_session(
                 .any(|effort| effort.effort == codex_protocol::openai_models::ReasoningEffort::Low),
             Some(preset.default_reasoning_effort),
         );
-        (preferred_model_id.to_string(), reasoning_effort)
+        (review_model_id.to_string(), reasoning_effort)
     } else {
         let reasoning_effort = preferred_reasoning_effort(
             turn.model_info
@@ -684,7 +683,12 @@ pub(super) async fn run_guardian_review_session(
             turn.reasoning_effort
                 .or(turn.model_info.default_reasoning_level),
         );
-        (turn.model_info.slug.clone(), reasoning_effort)
+        (
+            model_override
+                .unwrap_or(turn.model_info.slug.as_str())
+                .to_string(),
+            reasoning_effort,
+        )
     };
     let guardian_config = build_guardian_review_session_config(
         turn.config.as_ref(),
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/tests.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/tests.rs
index 1fdace5ddc..aefc7632b9 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/tests.rs
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ fn guardian_output_schema_requires_only_outcome_and_allows_optional_details() {
 }
 
 async fn guardian_request_model_for_auto_review_override(
-    auto_review_model_override: Option<bool>,
+    auto_review_model_override: Option<String>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<(String, String, String)> {
     let server = start_mock_server().await;
     let guardian_assessment = serde_json::json!({
@@ -1284,31 +1284,32 @@ async fn guardian_request_model_for_auto_review_override(
 }
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
-async fn guardian_review_uses_parent_model_when_model_catalog_override_is_true()
+async fn guardian_review_uses_model_catalog_override_when_preferred_review_model_exists()
 -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
 
+    let override_model = "guardian-review-model-override".to_string();
     let (request_model, parent_model, preferred_model) =
-        guardian_request_model_for_auto_review_override(Some(true)).await?;
+        guardian_request_model_for_auto_review_override(Some(override_model.clone())).await?;
 
-    assert_eq!(request_model, parent_model);
+    assert_eq!(request_model, override_model);
+    assert_ne!(request_model, parent_model);
     assert_ne!(request_model, preferred_model);
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
-async fn guardian_review_uses_preferred_review_model_without_parent_override() -> anyhow::Result<()>
-{
+async fn guardian_review_uses_preferred_review_model_without_model_catalog_override()
+-> anyhow::Result<()> {
     skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
 
-    for auto_review_model_override in [None, Some(false)] {
-        let (request_model, parent_model, preferred_model) =
-            guardian_request_model_for_auto_review_override(auto_review_model_override).await?;
+    let (request_model, parent_model, preferred_model) =
+        guardian_request_model_for_auto_review_override(/*auto_review_model_override*/ None)
+            .await?;
 
-        assert_eq!(request_model, preferred_model);
-        assert_ne!(request_model, parent_model);
-    }
+    assert_eq!(request_model, preferred_model);
+    assert_ne!(request_model, parent_model);
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/auto_review.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/auto_review.rs
index 45e525e33c..d27526dda5 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/auto_review.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/auto_review.rs
@@ -40,16 +40,17 @@ use serde_json::json;
 use wiremock::MockServer;
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
-async fn remote_model_override_uses_parent_model_for_strict_auto_review() -> Result<()> {
+async fn remote_model_override_uses_catalog_model_for_strict_auto_review() -> Result<()> {
     skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
     skip_if_sandbox!(Ok(()));
 
     let server = MockServer::start().await;
     let model = "remote-auto-review-parent";
+    let review_model = "remote-auto-review-reviewer";
     mount_models_once(
         &server,
         ModelsResponse {
-            models: vec![remote_model_with_auto_review_override(model)],
+            models: vec![remote_model_with_auto_review_override(model, review_model)],
         },
     )
     .await;
@@ -129,7 +130,10 @@ async fn remote_model_override_uses_parent_model_for_strict_auto_review() -> Res
     let model_info = models_manager
         .get_model_info(model, &config.to_models_manager_config())
         .await;
-    assert_eq!(model_info.auto_review_model_override, Some(true));
+    assert_eq!(
+        model_info.auto_review_model_override,
+        Some(review_model.to_string())
+    );
 
     core_test_support::submit_thread_settings(
         &codex,
@@ -191,12 +195,15 @@ async fn remote_model_override_uses_parent_model_for_strict_auto_review() -> Res
         .into_iter()
         .find(|request| request.body_contains_text("auto-review-model-override.txt"))
         .expect("expected Guardian request for strict apply_patch");
-    assert_eq!(guardian_request.body_json()["model"].as_str(), Some(model));
+    assert_eq!(
+        guardian_request.body_json()["model"].as_str(),
+        Some(review_model)
+    );
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn remote_model_with_auto_review_override(slug: &str) -> ModelInfo {
+fn remote_model_with_auto_review_override(slug: &str, review_model: &str) -> ModelInfo {
     ModelInfo {
         slug: slug.to_string(),
         display_name: format!("{slug} display"),
@@ -212,7 +219,7 @@ fn remote_model_with_auto_review_override(slug: &str) -> ModelInfo {
         input_modalities: default_input_modalities(),
         used_fallback_model_metadata: false,
         supports_search_tool: false,
-        auto_review_model_override: Some(true),
+        auto_review_model_override: Some(review_model.to_string()),
         priority: 1,
         additional_speed_tiers: Vec::new(),
         service_tiers: Vec::new(),
diff --git a/codex-rs/protocol/src/openai_models.rs b/codex-rs/protocol/src/openai_models.rs
index fe727db138..83db2eb1f3 100644
--- a/codex-rs/protocol/src/openai_models.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/protocol/src/openai_models.rs
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ pub struct ModelInfo {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub supports_search_tool: bool,
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
-    pub auto_review_model_override: Option<bool>,
+    pub auto_review_model_override: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl ModelInfo {