diff --git a/src/services/acp/__tests__/agent.test.ts b/src/services/acp/__tests__/agent.test.ts
index 706010d5d..b3c58777b 100644
--- a/src/services/acp/__tests__/agent.test.ts
+++ b/src/services/acp/__tests__/agent.test.ts
@@ -325,13 +325,17 @@ describe('AcpAgent', () => {
       expect(res.sessionId.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
     })
 
-    test('returns modes and configOptions (models omitted for v1 compliance)', async () => {
+    test('returns modes, configOptions, and models (clients need models to populate selector)', async () => {
       const agent = new AcpAgent(makeConn())
       const res = await agent.newSession({ cwd: '/tmp' } as any)
       expect(res.modes).toBeDefined()
       expect(res.configOptions).toBeDefined()
-      // Stable v1 NewSessionResponse does not define `models`
-      expect((res as any).models).toBeUndefined()
+      // SDK 0.19.2 marks NewSessionResponse.models as UNSTABLE but the schema allows it, and
+      // standard clients (Cursor/Zed/VS Code) read it to populate the model selector. Omitting
+      // it forces supportsModelSelection=false on the client.
+      expect(res.models).toBeDefined()
+      expect(Array.isArray(res.models!.availableModels)).toBe(true)
+      expect(typeof res.models!.currentModelId).toBe('string')
     })
 
     test('each call returns a unique sessionId', async () => {
@@ -865,8 +869,8 @@ describe('AcpAgent', () => {
       } as any)
       expect(agent.sessions.has(requestedId)).toBe(true)
       expect(res.modes).toBeDefined()
-      // models is omitted for v1 compliance
-      expect((res as any).models).toBeUndefined()
+      // resume also returns models so clients can render the selector after reconnect.
+      expect(res.models).toBeDefined()
     })
 
     test('reuses existing session when sessionId matches and fingerprint unchanged', async () => {
diff --git a/src/services/acp/agent/createSessionMethod.ts b/src/services/acp/agent/createSessionMethod.ts
index 8e2cc04c2..5e1d0ff74 100644
--- a/src/services/acp/agent/createSessionMethod.ts
+++ b/src/services/acp/agent/createSessionMethod.ts
@@ -270,11 +270,16 @@ async function createSession(
 
     this.sessions.set(sessionId, session)
 
-    // Stable v1 NewSessionResponse only defines sessionId/modes/configOptions.
-    // `models` is a draft/unstable field — omit it for v1 compliance.
+    // Return models even though SDK 0.19.2 marks it UNSTABLE. The schema does allow the field
+    // (NewSessionResponse.models?: SessionModelState | null), and standard clients (Cursor/Zed/
+    // VS Code ACP) rely on it to populate the model selector — omitting it forces
+    // supportsModelSelection=false on the client and the user can never switch models.
+    // The UNSTABLE marker only means "this field may change in a future schema version", not
+    // "agents MUST NOT return it". The previous "v1 compliance" omission was overzealous.
     return {
       sessionId,
       modes,
+      models,
       configOptions,
     }
   } finally {
diff --git a/src/services/acp/agent/sessionLifecycle.ts b/src/services/acp/agent/sessionLifecycle.ts
index 0b6eb7e03..50d23d332 100644
--- a/src/services/acp/agent/sessionLifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/services/acp/agent/sessionLifecycle.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ async function getOrCreateSession(
       return {
         sessionId: params.sessionId,
         modes: existingSession.modes,
+        // Carry models over on reconnect so the client keeps its model selector
+        // populated (standard clients gate supportsModelSelection on this field).
+        models: existingSession.models,
         configOptions: existingSession.configOptions,
       }
     }
@@ -150,6 +153,8 @@ async function getOrCreateSession(
   return {
     sessionId: response.sessionId,
     modes: response.modes,
+    // createSession already returns models; pass it through. Same reason as above.
+    models: response.models,
     configOptions: response.configOptions,
   }
 }