diff --git a/agent/auxiliary_client.py b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
index a32e3a293..57c3c1186 100644
--- a/agent/auxiliary_client.py
+++ b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
@@ -560,12 +560,16 @@ def get_vision_auxiliary_client() -> Tuple[Optional[OpenAI], Optional[str]]:
     forced = _get_auxiliary_provider("vision")
     if forced != "auto":
         return _resolve_forced_provider(forced)
-    # Auto: only multimodal-capable providers
-    for try_fn in (_try_openrouter, _try_nous, _try_codex):
+    # Auto: try providers known to support multimodal first, then fall
+    # back to the user's custom endpoint.  Many local models (Qwen-VL,
+    # LLaVA, Pixtral, etc.) support vision — skipping them entirely
+    # caused silent failures for local-only users.
+    for try_fn in (_try_openrouter, _try_nous, _try_codex,
+                   _try_custom_endpoint):
         client, model = try_fn()
         if client is not None:
             return client, model
-    logger.debug("Auxiliary vision client: none available (auto only tries OpenRouter/Nous/Codex)")
+    logger.debug("Auxiliary vision client: none available")
     return None, None
 
 
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py b/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py
index 66187d055..299d083f2 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_auxiliary_client.py
@@ -176,14 +176,18 @@ class TestVisionClientFallback:
         assert isinstance(client, CodexAuxiliaryClient)
         assert model == "gpt-5.3-codex"
 
-    def test_vision_auto_skips_custom_endpoint(self, monkeypatch):
-        """Custom endpoint is skipped in vision auto mode."""
+    def test_vision_auto_falls_back_to_custom_endpoint(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Custom endpoint is used as fallback in vision auto mode.
+
+        Many local models (Qwen-VL, LLaVA, etc.) support vision.
+        When no OpenRouter/Nous/Codex is available, try the custom endpoint.
+        """
         monkeypatch.setenv("OPENAI_BASE_URL", "http://localhost:1234/v1")
         monkeypatch.setenv("OPENAI_API_KEY", "local-key")
-        with patch("agent.auxiliary_client._read_nous_auth", return_value=None):
+        with patch("agent.auxiliary_client._read_nous_auth", return_value=None), \
+             patch("agent.auxiliary_client.OpenAI") as mock_openai:
             client, model = get_vision_auxiliary_client()
-        assert client is None
-        assert model is None
+        assert client is not None  # Custom endpoint picked up as fallback
 
     def test_vision_uses_openrouter_when_available(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setenv("OPENROUTER_API_KEY", "or-key")