diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index c76a86529a..cdfdd491be 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ impl Codex {
 
         let config = Arc::new(config);
         let model = models_manager
-            .get_model(
+            .get_default_model(
                 &config.model,
                 &config,
                 crate::models_manager::manager::RefreshStrategy::default(),
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/manager.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/manager.rs
index d3ecbd6162..070eccaff5 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/manager.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/models_manager/manager.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ impl ModelsManager {
     ///
     /// If `model` is provided, returns it directly. Otherwise selects the default based on
     /// auth mode and available models (prefers `codex-auto-balanced` for ChatGPT auth).
-    pub async fn get_model(
+    pub async fn get_default_model(
         &self,
         model: &Option<String>,
         config: &Config,
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ impl ModelsManager {
         OPENAI_DEFAULT_API_MODEL.to_string()
     }
 
+    // todo(aibrahim): look if we can tighten it to pub(crate)
     /// Look up model metadata, applying remote overrides and config adjustments.
     pub async fn get_model_info(&self, model: &str, config: &Config) -> ModelInfo {
         let remote = self
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/remote_models.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/remote_models.rs
index a98e4c2b70..c67c083c55 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/remote_models.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/remote_models.rs
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ async fn remote_models_request_times_out_after_5s() -> Result<()> {
     let start = Instant::now();
     let model = timeout(
         Duration::from_secs(7),
-        manager.get_model(&None, &config, RefreshStrategy::OnlineIfUncached),
+        manager.get_default_model(&None, &config, RefreshStrategy::OnlineIfUncached),
     )
     .await;
     let elapsed = start.elapsed();
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ async fn remote_models_hide_picker_only_models() -> Result<()> {
     );
 
     let selected = manager
-        .get_model(&None, &config, RefreshStrategy::OnlineIfUncached)
+        .get_default_model(&None, &config, RefreshStrategy::OnlineIfUncached)
         .await;
     assert_eq!(selected, "gpt-5.2-codex");
 
diff --git a/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs
index 01e6ff9f5f..e35bd4525f 100644
--- a/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ pub async fn run_main(cli: Cli, codex_linux_sandbox_exe: Option<PathBuf>) -> any
     );
     let default_model = thread_manager
         .get_models_manager()
-        .get_model(&config.model, &config, RefreshStrategy::default())
+        .get_default_model(&config.model, &config, RefreshStrategy::default())
         .await;
 
     // Handle resume subcommand by resolving a rollout path and using explicit resume API.
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
index fb0f1dd3ec..d95e89590a 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ impl App {
         ));
         let mut model = thread_manager
             .get_models_manager()
-            .get_model(&config.model, &config, RefreshStrategy::default())
+            .get_default_model(&config.model, &config, RefreshStrategy::default())
             .await;
         let exit_info = handle_model_migration_prompt_if_needed(
             tui,
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/app.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/app.rs
index 84c2b9813c..b95fd48c7e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/app.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/app.rs
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ impl App {
         ));
         let mut model = thread_manager
             .get_models_manager()
-            .get_model(&config.model, &config, RefreshStrategy::default())
+            .get_default_model(&config.model, &config, RefreshStrategy::default())
             .await;
         let exit_info = handle_model_migration_prompt_if_needed(
             tui,