# witcheer's Wingtips #39: the missing provider prefix

Written by [witcheer](https://x.com/witcheer) at Nous Research. Republished with credit.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/wingtips/39  
Published: 2026-08-06  
[Original](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/wingtips/39-the-missing-provider-prefix/) · [On X](https://x.com/witcheer/status/2085293767506931833) · [Full collection](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/) · [Official docs](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuring-models)

[Source Markdown](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notwitcheer/hermes-recipes/8653fb699a137a32e81936fa33cabacd3f4f2095/docs/wingtips/39-the-missing-provider-prefix.md): use this file as the base for relative links in the verbatim text below.

Sources: [Hermes docs: Configuring Models](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuring-models)


Hermes Wingtips #39: the missing provider prefix

if a model id ever answers you with a 404 error, check the id before you check your keys. 

providers know their models as `vendor/model`, and an id that lost its prefix (`nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b` instead of `nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b`) returns a 404, so it reads like an outage.

a fix just merged for the next release: the error now names the model and suggests the prefixed id. 

until then, the habit to keep in mind: `vendor/model`, always, and `hermes model` picks it correctly for you.