diff --git a/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts b/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts
index 4a38d37..274b6b7 100644
--- a/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts
+++ b/src/mcplocal/src/http/project-mcp-endpoint.ts
@@ -147,10 +147,14 @@ export function registerProjectMcpEndpoint(app: FastifyInstance, mcpdClient: Mcp
       providerRegistry: effectiveRegistry,
     };
     if (resolvedModel) pluginConfig.modelOverride = resolvedModel;
-    // Route gate prompt-selection through this project's server Llm (mcpd
-    // inference proxy) so cloud/server keys stay at the k8s level; the local
-    // personal-token provider is the fallback. See credential-tiering.
-    if (mcpdConfig.llmProvider) pluginConfig.llmProvider = mcpdConfig.llmProvider;
+    // Route gate prompt-selection through a server Llm (mcpd inference proxy)
+    // so cloud/server keys stay at the k8s level; the local personal-token
+    // provider is the fallback. See credential-tiering. A dedicated fast
+    // (no-think) selection Llm can be pinned globally via
+    // MCPCTL_GATE_SELECTION_LLM — it overrides the project's chat llmProvider so
+    // selection stays fast while chat keeps its (thinking) model.
+    const gateSelectionLlm = process.env['MCPCTL_GATE_SELECTION_LLM'] || mcpdConfig.llmProvider;
+    if (gateSelectionLlm) pluginConfig.llmProvider = gateSelectionLlm;
     const basePlugin = createDefaultPlugin(pluginConfig);
     // Optional favourite-index presentation: curated favourite/<tool> + full
     // all/<server>/<tool> + a "prefer favourite/" instruction. Composed AFTER