diff --git a/backend/apps/subscription/free_trial.py b/backend/apps/subscription/free_trial.py
index 089515e2..de7170ac 100644
--- a/backend/apps/subscription/free_trial.py
+++ b/backend/apps/subscription/free_trial.py
@@ -139,6 +139,13 @@ async def clear_free_trial(settings_obj) -> None:
     (so the UI knows it's spent) and never touches a real paid mode."""
     if getattr(settings_obj, "connection_mode", "own_key") == "free-trial":
         settings_obj.connection_mode = "own_key"
+        # arm() pinned default_model to "haiku" for the free run; once the wheel is
+        # handed back, don't let that forced pick linger (it'd silently default a
+        # real subscription user to Haiku). "sonnet" is the fresh default; the
+        # frontend's DefaultModelGuard reconciles it to a reachable model if the
+        # connected provider isn't Anthropic.
+        if getattr(settings_obj, "default_model", None) == "haiku":
+            settings_obj.default_model = "sonnet"
     settings_obj.free_trial_token = None
     await save_settings_async(settings_obj)
     await _sync_routing(settings_obj)
@@ -152,7 +159,22 @@ async def arm_free_trial(settings_obj) -> dict:
     mode = getattr(settings_obj, "connection_mode", "own_key")
     if mode not in ("own_key", "free-trial"):
         return {"armed": False, "reason": "other_mode"}
-    if _has_own_model(settings_obj) or await _has_connected_subscription():
+    own = _has_own_model(settings_obj)
+    if not own:
+        # A subscription lives in 9Router, not settings, and 9Router now starts in
+        # the BACKGROUND (non-blocking boot), so at first-launch mint time it isn't
+        # up yet. Without this wait _has_connected_subscription() reads False and
+        # we'd arm the free trial OVER a real Claude/ChatGPT/Gemini sub, pinning the
+        # user to Haiku until they manually reload. Bring 9Router up so the sub is
+        # actually visible before we decide. Bounded + idempotent (shares the start
+        # lock with the boot auto-start), and skipped when a settings-level model
+        # already proves there's nothing to shadow.
+        try:
+            from backend.apps.nine_router import ensure_running as _ensure_9r
+            await _ensure_9r()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    if own or await _has_connected_subscription():
         # A real model exists now (key, custom provider, or a 9Router sub). If we
         # were on the free lane, hand the wheel back instead of re-arming.
         if mode == "free-trial":
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_free_trial.py b/backend/tests/test_free_trial.py
index ac61df64..2e7b2df2 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_free_trial.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_free_trial.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 import backend  # noqa: F401  (path sanity asserted below)
 
+import pytest
+
 from backend.apps.settings.models import AppSettings
 from backend.apps.settings.credentials import proxy_auth
 from backend.apps.agents.core.error_classify import (
@@ -9,7 +11,8 @@ from backend.apps.agents.core.error_classify import (
     _is_transient_capacity_error,
 )
 from backend.apps.agents.providers.registry import resolve_model_id_for_sdk
-from backend.apps.subscription.free_trial import _has_own_model
+from backend.apps.subscription import free_trial as ft
+from backend.apps.subscription.free_trial import _has_own_model, arm_free_trial, clear_free_trial
 
 
 def test_proxy_auth_for_each_mode():
@@ -55,3 +58,61 @@ def test_has_own_model_never_shadows_a_real_provider():
     assert _has_own_model(
         AppSettings(connection_mode="openswarm-pro", openswarm_bearer_token="b")
     )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_arm_waits_for_9router_before_shadowing_a_background_started_sub(monkeypatch):
+    """The regression: 9Router starts in the background, so at first-boot mint time
+    a real Claude sub is invisible. arm() must bring 9Router up (so the sub becomes
+    visible) BEFORE deciding, instead of arming the free trial over it."""
+    saved: list = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "save_settings_async", _record(saved))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "_sync_routing", _noop)
+
+    started = {"called": False}
+
+    async def fake_ensure_running():
+        started["called"] = True  # 9Router comes up here; the sub is now visible
+
+    # The sub is only reachable AFTER ensure_running ran (mirrors the real race).
+    async def sub_visible_after_start():
+        return started["called"]
+
+    import backend.apps.nine_router as nr
+    monkeypatch.setattr(nr, "ensure_running", fake_ensure_running)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "_has_connected_subscription", sub_visible_after_start)
+
+    s = AppSettings()  # no key, own_key mode: a subscription-only user
+    out = await arm_free_trial(s)
+
+    assert started["called"], "arm must start 9Router before trusting the sub check"
+    assert out["armed"] is False and out["reason"] == "has_model"
+    assert s.connection_mode == "own_key"
+    assert s.default_model != "haiku"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_clear_reverts_forced_haiku_so_it_doesnt_outlive_the_trial(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "save_settings_async", _noop)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ft, "_sync_routing", _noop)
+
+    s = AppSettings(connection_mode="free-trial", free_trial_token="ftk", default_model="haiku")
+    await clear_free_trial(s)
+    assert s.connection_mode == "own_key"
+    assert s.default_model == "sonnet"  # forced free-run pick handed back, not left on Haiku
+    assert s.free_trial_token is None
+
+    # A user who deliberately picked haiku OUTSIDE free-trial mode is left alone.
+    s2 = AppSettings(connection_mode="own_key", default_model="haiku")
+    await clear_free_trial(s2)
+    assert s2.default_model == "haiku"
+
+
+async def _noop(*_a, **_k):
+    return None
+
+
+def _record(bucket):
+    async def _inner(obj, *_a, **_k):
+        bucket.append(obj)
+    return _inner