diff --git a/doc/DEVELOPING.md b/doc/DEVELOPING.md
index c2f39a56..98a8a1bd 100644
--- a/doc/DEVELOPING.md
+++ b/doc/DEVELOPING.md
@@ -289,3 +289,7 @@ Pairing behavior for this smoke script:
 
 - default `OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH=1` (no Control UI pairing prompt for local smoke; no extra pairing env vars required)
 - set `OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH=0` to require standard device pairing
+
+Model behavior for this smoke script:
+
+- defaults to OpenAI models (`openai/gpt-5.2` + OpenAI fallback) so it does not require Anthropic auth by default
diff --git a/docs/guides/openclaw-docker-setup.md b/docs/guides/openclaw-docker-setup.md
index 8aa2ad82..3f44af38 100644
--- a/docs/guides/openclaw-docker-setup.md
+++ b/docs/guides/openclaw-docker-setup.md
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ What this command does:
 - clones/updates `openclaw/openclaw` in `/tmp/openclaw-docker`
 - builds `openclaw:local` (unless `OPENCLAW_BUILD=0`)
 - writes `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` and Docker `.env`
+- pins agent model defaults to OpenAI (`openai/gpt-5.2` with OpenAI fallback)
 - starts `openclaw-gateway` via Compose (with required `/tmp` tmpfs override)
 - waits for health and prints:
   - `http://127.0.0.1:18789/#token=...`
@@ -55,6 +56,8 @@ Environment knobs:
 - `OPENCLAW_OPEN_BROWSER=1` to auto-open the URL on macOS
 - `OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH=1` (default) disables Control UI device pairing for local smoke
 - `OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH=0` keeps pairing enabled (then approve browser with `devices` CLI commands)
+- `OPENCLAW_MODEL_PRIMARY` (default `openai/gpt-5.2`)
+- `OPENCLAW_MODEL_FALLBACK` (default `openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest`)
 
 ### Authenticated mode
 
diff --git a/scripts/smoke/openclaw-docker-ui.sh b/scripts/smoke/openclaw-docker-ui.sh
index 8b2c3b95..84f1b803 100755
--- a/scripts/smoke/openclaw-docker-ui.sh
+++ b/scripts/smoke/openclaw-docker-ui.sh
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ OPENCLAW_OPEN_BROWSER="${OPENCLAW_OPEN_BROWSER:-0}"
 OPENCLAW_SECRETS_FILE="${OPENCLAW_SECRETS_FILE:-$HOME/.secrets}"
 # Keep default one-command UX: local smoke run should not require manual pairing.
 OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH="${OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH:-1}"
+OPENCLAW_MODEL_PRIMARY="${OPENCLAW_MODEL_PRIMARY:-openai/gpt-5.2}"
+OPENCLAW_MODEL_FALLBACK="${OPENCLAW_MODEL_FALLBACK:-openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest}"
 
 case "$OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH" in
   1|true|TRUE|True|yes|YES|Yes)
@@ -101,6 +103,12 @@ cat > "$OPENCLAW_CONFIG_DIR/openclaw.json" <<EOF
   },
   "agents": {
     "defaults": {
+      "model": {
+        "primary": "${OPENCLAW_MODEL_PRIMARY}",
+        "fallbacks": [
+          "${OPENCLAW_MODEL_FALLBACK}"
+        ]
+      },
       "workspace": "/home/node/.openclaw/workspace"
     }
   }
@@ -175,6 +183,8 @@ Pairing:
   Device pairing is disabled by default for this local smoke run.
   No extra env vars are required for the default path.
   (Security tradeoff: enable pairing with OPENCLAW_DISABLE_DEVICE_AUTH=0.)
+Model:
+  ${OPENCLAW_MODEL_PRIMARY} (fallback: ${OPENCLAW_MODEL_FALLBACK})
 
 Useful commands:
   docker compose -f "$OPENCLAW_DOCKER_DIR/docker-compose.yml" -f "$COMPOSE_OVERRIDE" logs -f openclaw-gateway
@@ -187,6 +197,8 @@ Pairing:
   If UI shows "pairing required", run:
     docker compose -f "$OPENCLAW_DOCKER_DIR/docker-compose.yml" -f "$COMPOSE_OVERRIDE" run --rm openclaw-cli devices list
     docker compose -f "$OPENCLAW_DOCKER_DIR/docker-compose.yml" -f "$COMPOSE_OVERRIDE" run --rm openclaw-cli devices approve --latest
+Model:
+  ${OPENCLAW_MODEL_PRIMARY} (fallback: ${OPENCLAW_MODEL_FALLBACK})
 
 Useful commands:
   docker compose -f "$OPENCLAW_DOCKER_DIR/docker-compose.yml" -f "$COMPOSE_OVERRIDE" logs -f openclaw-gateway