diff --git a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/deploy.py b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/deploy.py
index 3ef70ea6e..d3a27e48b 100644
--- a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/deploy.py
+++ b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/deploy.py
@@ -491,8 +491,8 @@ def _source_of(resource: object) -> str | None:
 def find_deployment_by_name(
     client: HostBackendClient, name: str
 ) -> ExistingDeployment | None:
-    for resource in client.list_deployments(name_contains=name):
-        if resource.get("name") == name and resource.get("id"):
+    for resource in client.list_deployments(name=name):
+        if resource.get("id"):
             return ExistingDeployment(str(resource["id"]), _source_of(resource))
     return None
 
diff --git a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/host_backend.py b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/host_backend.py
index bc9d2b635..b7c3a7eea 100644
--- a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/host_backend.py
+++ b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/host_backend.py
@@ -189,14 +189,13 @@ class HostBackendClient:
             payload["secrets"] = secrets
         return self._request("POST", "/v2/deployments", payload)
 
-    def list_deployments(self, name_contains: str = "") -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
-        return _resources(
-            self._request(
-                "GET",
-                "/v2/deployments",
-                params={"name_contains": name_contains},
-            )
+    def list_deployments(
+        self, *, name: str | None = None, name_contains: str | None = None
+    ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        params = (
+            {"name": name} if name is not None else {"name_contains": name_contains}
         )
+        return _resources(self._request("GET", "/v2/deployments", params=params))
 
     def list_listeners(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
         return _resources(
diff --git a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/cli/test_deploy_command.py b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/cli/test_deploy_command.py
index 94a13194e..29e6c26d7 100644
--- a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/cli/test_deploy_command.py
+++ b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/cli/test_deploy_command.py
@@ -85,13 +85,24 @@ class ControlPlaneDouble:
         self.timeline.append(route)
         if request.content:
             self.bodies[route] = json.loads(request.content)
-        return self._respond(request.method, request.url.path)
+        return self._respond(request)
 
-    def _respond(self, method: str, path: str) -> httpx.Response:
+    def _respond(self, request: httpx.Request) -> httpx.Response:
+        method, path = request.method, request.url.path
         if (method, path) == ("GET", "/v2/listeners"):
             return httpx.Response(200, json={"resources": self.listeners})
         if (method, path) == ("GET", "/v2/deployments"):
-            return httpx.Response(200, json={"resources": self.existing_deployments})
+            name = request.url.params.get("name")
+            return httpx.Response(
+                200,
+                json={
+                    "resources": [
+                        deployment
+                        for deployment in self.existing_deployments
+                        if name is None or deployment.get("name") == name
+                    ]
+                },
+            )
         if (method, path) == ("POST", "/v2/deployments"):
             if self.create_error is not None:
                 return httpx.Response(400, text=self.create_error)
diff --git a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_deploy_helpers.py b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_deploy_helpers.py
index e1e33528a..e9e479aa2 100644
--- a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_deploy_helpers.py
+++ b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_deploy_helpers.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import langgraph_cli.deploy as deploy_mod
 from langgraph_cli.deploy import (
     CustomerRegistrySource,
     DockerBuildCommand,
+    ExistingDeployment,
     Listener,
     ManagedRegistrySource,
     OnListener,
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ from langgraph_cli.deploy import (
     _resolve_pushed_image_digest,
     _select_source,
     _validate_prebuilt_image,
+    find_deployment_by_name,
     normalize_image_tag,
     normalize_name,
 )
@@ -1107,3 +1109,35 @@ class TestRequestedPlacement:
     )
     def test_source_config_matches_the_control_plane_shape(self, placement, expected):
         assert placement.source_config() == expected
+
+
+def test_finding_a_deployment_by_name_asks_the_server_for_an_exact_match():
+    seen: dict = {}
+
+    def handler(req: httpx.Request) -> httpx.Response:
+        seen["params"] = dict(req.url.params)
+        return httpx.Response(
+            200,
+            json={"resources": [{"id": "dep-1", "name": "agent", "source": "github"}]},
+        )
+
+    client = HostBackendClient(
+        "https://api.example.com", "key", transport=httpx.MockTransport(handler)
+    )
+
+    found = find_deployment_by_name(client, "agent")
+
+    assert seen["params"] == {"name": "agent"}
+    assert found == ExistingDeployment("dep-1", "github")
+
+
+def test_finding_a_deployment_by_name_returns_none_when_the_server_has_no_match():
+    client = HostBackendClient(
+        "https://api.example.com",
+        "key",
+        transport=httpx.MockTransport(
+            lambda req: httpx.Response(200, json={"resources": []})
+        ),
+    )
+
+    assert find_deployment_by_name(client, "agent") is None
diff --git a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_host_backend.py b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_host_backend.py
index cbd6272da..18f3e0173 100644
--- a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_host_backend.py
+++ b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_host_backend.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def test_list_deployments_sends_query_params():
     c = HostBackendClient(
         "https://api.example.com", "test-key", transport=httpx.MockTransport(handler)
     )
-    assert c.list_deployments("my app") == []
+    assert c.list_deployments(name_contains="my app") == []
 
 
 def _capturing_client(captured: dict) -> HostBackendClient:
@@ -612,3 +612,39 @@ def test_is_cloud_recognises_the_managed_control_plane(control_plane_url, expect
     endpoints = ControlPlaneEndpoints.from_control_plane_url(control_plane_url)
 
     assert endpoints.is_cloud is expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("call", "expected_params"),
+    [
+        pytest.param(
+            lambda c: c.list_deployments(name="agent"),
+            {"name": "agent"},
+            id="exact_name_filters_server_side",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            lambda c: c.list_deployments(name_contains="age"),
+            {"name_contains": "age"},
+            id="substring_search_keeps_its_own_parameter",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            lambda c: c.list_deployments(),
+            {"name_contains": ""},
+            id="no_filter_lists_everything",
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_list_deployments_sends_one_name_filter(call, expected_params):
+    seen: dict = {}
+
+    def handler(req: httpx.Request) -> httpx.Response:
+        seen.update(dict(req.url.params))
+        return httpx.Response(200, json={"resources": []})
+
+    call(
+        HostBackendClient(
+            "https://api.example.com", "key", transport=httpx.MockTransport(handler)
+        )
+    )
+
+    assert seen == expected_params