diff --git a/cortex/routers/chat.py b/cortex/routers/chat.py
index 14cc3fb..6977db8 100644
--- a/cortex/routers/chat.py
+++ b/cortex/routers/chat.py
@@ -18,6 +18,20 @@ import event_bus
 router = APIRouter()
 
 
+def _backend_label(backend: str, username: str) -> str:
+    """Human-readable label for the model that handled a request."""
+    if backend == "claude":
+        return "Claude"
+    if backend == "gemini":
+        return "Gemini"
+    if backend == "local":
+        cfg = model_registry.get_best_local_model(username)
+        if cfg:
+            return cfg.get("label") or cfg.get("model_name") or "Local"
+        return "Local"
+    return backend.title()
+
+
 class ChatRequest(BaseModel):
     message: str
     session_id: str | None = None
@@ -105,6 +119,7 @@ async def _stream_chat(req: ChatRequest):
                 "response": response_text,
                 "session_id": session_id,
                 "backend": actual_backend,
+                "backend_label": _backend_label(actual_backend, user),
                 "fallback_used": actual_backend != requested,
             }
             yield f"data: {json.dumps(payload)}\n\n"
diff --git a/cortex/static/app.js b/cortex/static/app.js
index 920585e..9960580 100644
--- a/cortex/static/app.js
+++ b/cortex/static/app.js
@@ -949,6 +949,7 @@
                         include_mid: memMid,
                         include_short: memShort,
                         off_record: current_mode === 'otr',
+                        model: primaryBackend,
                         user: CORTEX_USER,
                         persona: CORTEX_PERSONA,
                     }),
@@ -984,10 +985,15 @@
                             const assistHistIdx = currentHistory.length;
                             currentHistory.push({ role: 'assistant', content: data.response });
                             attachHistoryControls(thinkingDiv, assistHistIdx);
-                            if (data.fallback_used) {
-                                addMessage('system',
-                                    `⚡ ${primaryBackend} unavailable — answered by ${data.backend}`);
-                            }
+
+                            // Model tag — always shown, amber if fallback was used
+                            const modelTag = document.createElement('div');
+                            modelTag.className = 'model-tag' + (data.fallback_used ? ' fallback' : '');
+                            const label = data.backend_label || data.backend || '';
+                            modelTag.textContent = data.fallback_used
+                                ? `⚡ fallback → ${label}`
+                                : label;
+                            thinkingDiv.appendChild(modelTag);
                         } else if (data.type === 'error') {
                             throw new Error(data.message);
                         }
diff --git a/cortex/static/style.css b/cortex/static/style.css
index 6fdbc1b..d6c13cb 100644
--- a/cortex/static/style.css
+++ b/cortex/static/style.css
@@ -552,6 +552,20 @@
         .copy-btn:hover  { color: var(--text); border-color: var(--muted); }
         .copy-btn.copied { color: var(--success); border-color: var(--success-dim); }
 
+        /* Model tag — shown at the bottom of every assistant message */
+        .model-tag {
+            display: block;
+            font-size: 0.67rem;
+            color: #334155;
+            margin-top: 0.55rem;
+            padding-top: 0.4rem;
+            border-top: 1px solid #1e2030;
+            text-align: right;
+            letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+            font-weight: 500;
+        }
+        .model-tag.fallback { color: #f59e0b; }
+
         /* Note messages */
         .message.note-private {
             align-self: flex-end;