diff --git a/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py b/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py
index 83e925da03..285f4e3f2b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py
@@ -1009,7 +1009,19 @@ def canonical_custom_identity(
     # Only return it when it actually resolves to a configured custom entry,
     # so we never invent a `custom:<x>` that resolution can't honor.
     try:
-        if _get_named_custom_provider(candidate) is not None:
+        entry = _get_named_custom_provider(candidate)
+        if entry is not None:
+            # ``candidate`` matched, but it may be the entry's DISPLAY NAME —
+            # ``_get_named_custom_provider`` accepts either spelling. For a
+            # keyed ``providers:`` entry the display name is not the durable
+            # identity, so re-resolve through the endpoint the matched entry
+            # owns and return the same config-key slug every other path
+            # returns (7b5a18817). Without this, a display name that differs
+            # from its key heals to ``custom:<display-name>`` and stops
+            # matching the persisted identity.
+            identity = find_custom_provider_identity(str(entry.get("base_url") or ""))
+            if identity:
+                return identity
             if candidate_norm.startswith("custom:"):
                 return candidate_norm
             return f"custom:{candidate_norm}"
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_canonical_custom_identity.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_canonical_custom_identity.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80ef6c3624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_canonical_custom_identity.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+"""``canonical_custom_identity`` must return the durable config-key identity.
+
+A keyed ``providers:`` entry's identity is its config key, not its display
+name — ``custom_provider_slug`` encodes that, and the endpoint- and
+model-based recovery sources both honour it. The configured-provider fallback
+built its slug from whatever string the caller had, so a display name that
+differs from its key healed to ``custom:<display-name>``: a second identity
+for the same endpoint that no longer matches what persistence and routing
+store.
+
+Both spellings match the entry (``_get_named_custom_provider`` accepts
+either), so the test asserts they converge on one identity rather than
+asserting any particular spelling is rejected.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from hermes_cli import runtime_provider as rp
+
+PROVIDER_KEY = "my-endpoint"
+DISPLAY_NAME = "My Endpoint Display"
+BASE_URL = "https://example.invalid/v1"
+MODEL = "cool-model-1"
+
+CANONICAL = f"custom:{PROVIDER_KEY}"
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def keyed_provider_config(monkeypatch):
+    """A ``providers:`` entry whose display name differs from its config key."""
+    config = {
+        "providers": {
+            PROVIDER_KEY: {
+                "name": DISPLAY_NAME,
+                "api": BASE_URL,
+                "api_key": "sk-test",
+                "default_model": MODEL,
+                "models": [MODEL],
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    monkeypatch.setattr(rp, "load_config", lambda *a, **k: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.config.load_config", lambda *a, **k: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(rp, "_get_model_config", lambda: {})
+    return config
+
+
+def test_display_name_heals_to_the_config_key_identity(keyed_provider_config):
+    """The regression: the display-name spelling must not mint a second identity."""
+    assert rp.canonical_custom_identity(config_provider=DISPLAY_NAME) == CANONICAL
+
+
+def test_config_model_provider_display_name_heals_too(keyed_provider_config, monkeypatch):
+    """Same path reached through ``config.model.provider`` rather than an argument."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(rp, "_get_model_config", lambda: {"provider": DISPLAY_NAME})
+    assert rp.canonical_custom_identity() == CANONICAL
+
+
+def test_config_key_spelling_still_resolves(keyed_provider_config):
+    """The spelling that already worked keeps working."""
+    assert rp.canonical_custom_identity(config_provider=PROVIDER_KEY) == CANONICAL
+
+
+def test_all_recovery_sources_agree_on_one_identity(keyed_provider_config):
+    """Endpoint, model and configured-provider recovery must not disagree.
+
+    Three sources feeding the same session-identity slot is only safe while
+    they agree; a divergent one silently splits an endpoint in two.
+    """
+    by_url = rp.canonical_custom_identity(base_url=BASE_URL)
+    by_model = rp.canonical_custom_identity(model=MODEL)
+    by_config = rp.canonical_custom_identity(config_provider=DISPLAY_NAME)
+
+    assert {by_url, by_model, by_config} == {CANONICAL}
+
+
+def test_unconfigured_candidate_still_returns_none(keyed_provider_config):
+    """Fail-closed contract: never invent an identity resolution can't honour."""
+    assert rp.canonical_custom_identity(config_provider="not-a-configured-entry") is None
+
+
+def test_legacy_unkeyed_entry_keeps_its_name_identity(monkeypatch):
+    """``custom_providers:`` entries have no key, so the name stays the identity."""
+    config = {
+        "custom_providers": [
+            {
+                "name": "Legacy Endpoint",
+                "base_url": "https://legacy.invalid/v1",
+                "api_key": "sk-legacy",
+                "models": ["legacy-model"],
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+    monkeypatch.setattr(rp, "load_config", lambda *a, **k: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.config.load_config", lambda *a, **k: config)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(rp, "_get_model_config", lambda: {})
+
+    assert rp.canonical_custom_identity(config_provider="Legacy Endpoint") == "custom:legacy-endpoint"