diff --git a/frigate/genai/llama_cpp.py b/frigate/genai/llama_cpp.py
index 51e8d160d2..e5e9883b8f 100644
--- a/frigate/genai/llama_cpp.py
+++ b/frigate/genai/llama_cpp.py
@@ -238,10 +238,15 @@ class LlamaCppClient(GenAIClient):
 
     def list_models(self) -> list[str]:
         """Return available model IDs from the llama.cpp server."""
-        if self.provider is None:
+        base_url = self.provider or (
+            self.genai_config.base_url.rstrip("/")
+            if self.genai_config.base_url
+            else None
+        )
+        if base_url is None:
             return []
         try:
-            response = requests.get(f"{self.provider}/v1/models", timeout=10)
+            response = requests.get(f"{base_url}/v1/models", timeout=10)
             response.raise_for_status()
             models = []
             for m in response.json().get("data", []):
diff --git a/frigate/genai/ollama.py b/frigate/genai/ollama.py
index 7315b6e39b..7524d54e38 100644
--- a/frigate/genai/ollama.py
+++ b/frigate/genai/ollama.py
@@ -134,10 +134,20 @@ class OllamaClient(GenAIClient):
 
     def list_models(self) -> list[str]:
         """Return available model names from the Ollama server."""
-        if self.provider is None:
-            return []
+        client = self.provider
+        if client is None:
+            # Provider init may have failed due to invalid model, but we can
+            # still list available models with a fresh client.
+            if not self.genai_config.base_url:
+                return []
+            try:
+                client = ApiClient(
+                    host=self.genai_config.base_url, timeout=self.timeout
+                )
+            except Exception:
+                return []
         try:
-            response = self.provider.list()
+            response = client.list()
             return sorted(
                 m.get("name", m.get("model", "")) for m in response.get("models", [])
             )