diff --git a/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py b/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py
index 313e7cd865..0fd556f840 100644
--- a/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py
+++ b/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py
@@ -1260,6 +1260,7 @@ def build_api_kwargs(agent, api_messages: list, tools_for_api: list | None = Non
             max_tokens=agent.max_tokens,
             timeout=agent._resolved_api_call_timeout(),
             request_overrides=agent.request_overrides,
+            provider=getattr(agent, "provider", None),
             is_github_responses=is_github_responses,
             is_codex_backend=is_codex_backend,
             is_xai_responses=is_xai_responses,
diff --git a/agent/transports/codex.py b/agent/transports/codex.py
index 499238b513..a60e5291b5 100644
--- a/agent/transports/codex.py
+++ b/agent/transports/codex.py
@@ -297,6 +297,12 @@ class ResponsesApiTransport(ProviderTransport):
         if params.get("is_xai_responses", False):
             # xAI Responses tops out at high; keep generic stronger values usable.
             _effort_clamp.update({"xhigh": "high", "max": "high", "ultra": "high"})
+        if (params.get("provider") or "").strip().lower() == "actual":
+            # Actual Computer relays to SGLang/vLLM backends that accept only
+            # none/low/medium/high/max for reasoning effort — a forwarded
+            # xhigh/ultra fails with a wrapped HTTP 400 ("Expecting value:
+            # line 1 column 1"). Clamp Hermes' wider set to the supported one.
+            _effort_clamp.update({"xhigh": "high", "ultra": "max"})
         reasoning_effort = _effort_clamp.get(reasoning_effort, reasoning_effort)
 
         response_tools = _responses_tools(tools)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/config_defaults.py b/hermes_cli/config_defaults.py
index 24659cc03b..41c493383b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/config_defaults.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/config_defaults.py
@@ -3334,6 +3334,22 @@ OPTIONAL_ENV_VARS = {
         "category": "provider",
         "advanced": True,
     },
+    "ACTUAL_API_KEY": {
+        "description": "Actual Computer inference key (ac_...)",
+        "prompt": "Actual Computer inference key",
+        "url": "https://actual.inc/user/keys",
+        "password": True,
+        "category": "provider",
+        "advanced": True,
+    },
+    "ACTUAL_BASE_URL": {
+        "description": "Actual Computer base URL override (set to http://127.0.0.1:8080 for the local offline daemon)",
+        "prompt": "Actual Computer base URL (leave empty for hosted relay)",
+        "url": None,
+        "password": False,
+        "category": "provider",
+        "advanced": True,
+    },
     "FIREWORKS_API_KEY": {
         "description": "Fireworks AI API key",
         "prompt": "Fireworks AI API key",
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_actual_provider.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_actual_provider.py
index 37d50ad8ac..2e9116c08e 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_actual_provider.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_actual_provider.py
@@ -199,3 +199,54 @@ def test_actual_provider_model_ids_use_local_profile_catalog(monkeypatch):
         api_key=ACTUAL_LOCAL_NOAUTH_PLACEHOLDER,
         base_url=DEFAULT_ACTUAL_LOCAL_BASE_URL,
     )
+
+
+def test_actual_codex_transport_clamps_reasoning_effort():
+    """Actual's SGLang/vLLM backends only accept none/low/medium/high/max.
+
+    A global xhigh/ultra reasoning_effort must be clamped before the wire,
+    otherwise every request fails with a wrapped HTTP 400. Regression for
+    the field-reported reasoning_effort trap.
+    """
+    from agent.transports.codex import ResponsesApiTransport
+
+    t = ResponsesApiTransport()
+    for requested, expected in (("xhigh", "high"), ("ultra", "max"), ("high", "high")):
+        kwargs = t.build_kwargs(
+            model="glm-5.2-nvfp4",
+            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}],
+            tools=None,
+            provider="actual",
+            reasoning_config={"effort": requested},
+            base_url=DEFAULT_ACTUAL_BASE_URL,
+        )
+        assert kwargs["reasoning"]["effort"] == expected, requested
+
+    # Other providers keep the wider values untouched on the generic path.
+    kwargs = t.build_kwargs(
+        model="some-model",
+        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}],
+        tools=None,
+        provider="openai-codex",
+        reasoning_config={"effort": "xhigh"},
+    )
+    assert kwargs["reasoning"]["effort"] == "xhigh"
+
+
+def test_actual_runtime_config_local_base_url_without_key(monkeypatch):
+    """Config-driven loopback base_url (not just env) reaches the no-auth path."""
+    _clear_actual_env(monkeypatch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        rp,
+        "_get_model_config",
+        lambda: {
+            "provider": "actual",
+            "base_url": "http://localhost:8080",
+            "default": "actual/local-model",
+        },
+    )
+
+    resolved = rp.resolve_runtime_provider(requested="actual")
+
+    assert resolved["api_key"] == ACTUAL_LOCAL_NOAUTH_PLACEHOLDER
+    assert resolved["api_mode"] == "codex_responses"