diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2404502..2dfb6b1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,17 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [0.2.1] - 2026-05-11
+
+### Changed
+
+- Model selection is now controlled by `/perplexity-config` or `PI_PERPLEXITY_MODEL` instead of an LLM-facing tool parameter.
+- Updated the configured model list with current Perplexity internal model slugs.
+
+### Added
+
+- Opt-in live E2E test for validating Perplexity model selection.
+
 ## [0.2.0] - 2026-03-21
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index da340e2..6838967 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,9 +56,10 @@ Once installed, the agent automatically calls `perplexity_search` whenever it ne
 | `query` | string | ✅ | The search query |
 | `recency` | string | — | Filter by age: `hour` · `day` · `week` · `month` · `year` |
 | `limit` | number | — | Max sources to include (1–50) |
-| `model` | string | — | Model preference, e.g. `pplx_pro_upgraded`, `pplx_pro`, `experimental`, `gpt54`, `gpt54_thinking`, `claude46sonnet`, `claude46sonnetthinking`, `gemini31pro_high`, `nv_nemotron_3_super`, `pplx_reasoning`, `pplx_alpha` |
 | `incognito` | boolean | — | Whether to hide the search from Perplexity history; defaults to `true` |
 
+Model selection is configured globally with `/perplexity-config` or `PI_PERPLEXITY_MODEL`; it is not exposed as a tool parameter, so agent-generated tool calls cannot accidentally override your configured model.
+
 ### Output format
 
 The tool returns structured text the agent can reason over:
@@ -98,6 +99,13 @@ bun test           # Run tests
 bunx tsc --noEmit  # Type check
 ```
 
+Optional live model-selection E2E test (requires cached auth from `/perplexity-login`):
+
+```bash
+PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E=1 bun test test/e2e-models.test.ts
+PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E=1 PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E_MODELS=pplx_pro_upgraded,gpt54 bun test test/e2e-models.test.ts
+```
+
 ## License
 
 MIT — see [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index de4e5b3..5a97152 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pi-perplexity",
-  "version": "0.2.0",
+  "version": "0.2.1",
   "description": "Perplexity web search for pi — uses your Pro/Max subscription, no API credits needed",
   "keywords": [
     "pi-package",
diff --git a/src/commands/config.ts b/src/commands/config.ts
index 7f5f47e..95bbf67 100644
--- a/src/commands/config.ts
+++ b/src/commands/config.ts
@@ -6,20 +6,7 @@ import {
   saveConfig as defaultSaveConfig,
   type PerplexityConfig,
 } from "../config.js";
-
-const KNOWN_MODELS: { value: string; label: string }[] = [
-  { value: "pplx_pro_upgraded", label: "Best (auto)" },
-  { value: "pplx_pro", label: "Default Pro" },
-  { value: "experimental", label: "Sonar" },
-  { value: "gpt54", label: "GPT-5.4" },
-  { value: "gpt54_thinking", label: "GPT-5.4 Thinking" },
-  { value: "claude46sonnet", label: "Claude 4.6 Sonnet" },
-  { value: "claude46sonnetthinking", label: "Claude 4.6 Sonnet Thinking" },
-  { value: "gemini31pro_high", label: "Gemini 3.1 Pro" },
-  { value: "nv_nemotron_3_super", label: "Nemotron 3 Super" },
-  { value: "pplx_reasoning", label: "Default Reasoning" },
-  { value: "pplx_alpha", label: "Deep Research" },
-];
+import { KNOWN_MODELS } from "../search/models.js";
 
 function formatCurrentConfig(config: { model?: string; incognito?: boolean }): string {
   const model = config.model ?? "pplx_pro_upgraded (default)";
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index b53d916..1d2cced 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
       limit: Type.Optional(
         Type.Number({ description: "Max sources to return", minimum: 1, maximum: 50 }),
       ),
-      model: Type.Optional(Type.String({ description: "Model preference" })),
       incognito: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: "Hide search from Perplexity history" })),
     }),
     renderCall: renderPerplexityCall,
@@ -76,7 +75,6 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
         const config = await loadConfig();
         const { model, incognito } = resolveSearchDefaults(
           {
-            ...(params.model !== undefined ? { model: params.model } : {}),
             ...(params.incognito !== undefined ? { incognito: params.incognito } : {}),
           },
           config,
diff --git a/src/search/models.ts b/src/search/models.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07e97f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/search/models.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+export interface ModelOption {
+  value: string;
+  label: string;
+}
+
+export const KNOWN_MODELS: ModelOption[] = [
+  { value: "pplx_pro_upgraded", label: "Pro (auto)" },
+  { value: "pplx_pro", label: "Best (auto)" },
+  { value: "experimental", label: "Sonar" },
+  { value: "pplx_reasoning", label: "Reasoning" },
+  { value: "pplx_alpha", label: "Deep Research" },
+  { value: "gpt54", label: "GPT-5.4" },
+  { value: "gpt54_thinking", label: "GPT-5.4 Thinking" },
+  { value: "gpt52", label: "GPT-5.2" },
+  { value: "gpt52_thinking", label: "GPT-5.2 Thinking" },
+  { value: "gpt52_pro", label: "GPT-5.2 Pro" },
+  { value: "gpt51", label: "GPT-5.1" },
+  { value: "gpt51_thinking", label: "GPT-5.1 Thinking" },
+  { value: "claude46sonnet", label: "Claude 4.6 Sonnet" },
+  { value: "claude46sonnetthinking", label: "Claude 4.6 Sonnet Thinking" },
+  { value: "claude47opus", label: "Claude 4.7 Opus" },
+  { value: "claude47opusthinking", label: "Claude 4.7 Opus Thinking" },
+  { value: "claude45sonnet", label: "Claude 4.5 Sonnet" },
+  { value: "claude45sonnetthinking", label: "Claude 4.5 Sonnet Thinking" },
+  { value: "gemini31pro_low", label: "Gemini 3.1 Pro" },
+  { value: "gemini31pro_high", label: "Gemini 3.1 Pro Thinking" },
+  { value: "gemini30pro", label: "Gemini 3 Pro" },
+  { value: "gemini30flash", label: "Gemini 3 Flash" },
+  { value: "gemini30flash_high", label: "Gemini 3 Flash Thinking" },
+  { value: "grok41nonreasoning", label: "Grok 4.1" },
+  { value: "grok41reasoning", label: "Grok 4.1 Reasoning" },
+  { value: "grok4nonthinking", label: "Grok 4" },
+  { value: "grok4", label: "Grok 4 Thinking" },
+  { value: "nv_nemotron_3_super", label: "Nemotron 3 Super" },
+  { value: "kimik25thinking", label: "Kimi K2.5 Thinking" },
+];
diff --git a/test/e2e-models.test.ts b/test/e2e-models.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d9fd14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e-models.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+
+import { loadToken } from "../src/auth/storage.js";
+import { searchPerplexity } from "../src/search/client.js";
+
+const DEFAULT_MODELS = [
+  "pplx_pro_upgraded",
+  "experimental",
+  "pplx_reasoning",
+  "gpt54",
+  "claude46sonnetthinking",
+];
+
+const runE2E = process.env.PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E === "1";
+const maybeTest = runE2E ? test : test.skip;
+
+function configuredModels(): string[] {
+  const raw = process.env.PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E_MODELS;
+  if (!raw) return DEFAULT_MODELS;
+  return raw
+    .split(",")
+    .map((model) => model.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+}
+
+function configuredDelayMs(): number {
+  const raw = Number(process.env.PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E_DELAY_MS ?? "1500");
+  return Number.isFinite(raw) && raw >= 0 ? raw : 1500;
+}
+
+async function delay(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+}
+
+describe("Perplexity model selection e2e", () => {
+  maybeTest(
+    "sends requested model slugs and receives matching display_model values",
+    async () => {
+      const token = await loadToken();
+      if (!token) {
+        throw new Error("No cached Perplexity token. Run /perplexity-login before PI_PERPLEXITY_E2E=1 bun test.");
+      }
+
+      const models = configuredModels();
+      const delayMs = configuredDelayMs();
+
+      for (const model of models) {
+        const result = await searchPerplexity(
+          {
+            query: "Say exactly OK",
+            model,
+            incognito: true,
+            limit: 1,
+          },
+          token.access,
+        );
+
+        expect(result.answer.trim().startsWith("OK")).toBe(true);
+        expect(result.displayModel).toBe(model);
+
+        if (delayMs > 0 && model !== models.at(-1)) {
+          await delay(delayMs);
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    { timeout: 180_000 },
+  );
+});
diff --git a/test/index-execute.test.ts b/test/index-execute.test.ts
index ff21eac..1be497a 100644
--- a/test/index-execute.test.ts
+++ b/test/index-execute.test.ts
@@ -28,19 +28,28 @@ describe("perplexity_search execute", () => {
     const { default: registerExtension } = await import(`../src/index.ts?test=${crypto.randomUUID()}`);
 
     let execute: ((toolCallId: string, params: any, signal?: AbortSignal, onUpdate?: any, ctx?: any) => Promise<any>) | undefined;
+    let parameters: unknown;
 
     registerExtension({
       registerCommand() {
         return undefined;
       },
-      registerTool(tool: { execute: typeof execute }) {
+      registerTool(tool: { execute: typeof execute; parameters: unknown }) {
         execute = tool.execute;
+        parameters = tool.parameters;
       },
     } as any);
 
     expect(execute).toBeDefined();
+    expect(JSON.stringify(parameters)).not.toContain("model");
 
-    const result = await execute!("tool-1", { query: "how many planets" }, undefined, undefined, { ui: {} });
+    const result = await execute!(
+      "tool-1",
+      { query: "how many planets", model: "pplx_pro" },
+      undefined,
+      undefined,
+      { ui: {} },
+    );
 
     expect(loadConfig).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(resolveSearchDefaults).toHaveBeenCalledWith({}, { model: "gpt54", incognito: false });