diff --git a/internal/registry/model_definitions_test.go b/internal/registry/model_definitions_test.go
index 7a0630c28..bb2fc4604 100644
--- a/internal/registry/model_definitions_test.go
+++ b/internal/registry/model_definitions_test.go
@@ -2,9 +2,15 @@ package registry
 
 import "testing"
 
+func TestCodexFreeModelsExcludeGPT55(t *testing.T) {
+	model := findModelInfo(GetCodexFreeModels(), "gpt-5.5")
+	if model != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected codex free tier to NOT include gpt-5.5")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCodexStaticModelsIncludeGPT55(t *testing.T) {
 	tierModels := map[string][]*ModelInfo{
-		"free": GetCodexFreeModels(),
 		"team": GetCodexTeamModels(),
 		"plus": GetCodexPlusModels(),
 		"pro":  GetCodexProModels(),