diff --git a/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_custom.py b/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_custom.py
index cd1f53e9b1..7d296d97d4 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_custom.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/model_setup_flows_custom.py
@@ -30,6 +30,28 @@ def _parse_context_length(text: str):
     return value if value > 0 else None
 
 
+def _report_context_length_detection(model_name: str, base_url: str, api_key: str) -> None:
+    """Tell the user what the auto-detect resolver found for *model_name* at *base_url* (#2513).
+
+    The runtime resolver (``get_model_context_length``) probes /models, local servers and the
+    catalogs, then falls back to ``DEFAULT_FALLBACK_CONTEXT``; without this line a blank
+    context-length prompt gave no hint whether the saved endpoint runs on a detected value or
+    the silent default that shapes compression and cache windows. Feedback only — the value
+    is NOT written to config, which would freeze a probe result into a permanent override.
+    """
+    try:
+        from agent.model_metadata import DEFAULT_FALLBACK_CONTEXT, get_model_context_length
+        from hermes_cli.banner import _format_context_length
+        detected = get_model_context_length(model_name, base_url=base_url, api_key=api_key or "")
+    except Exception:  # a failing probe must never block the save
+        return
+    if detected and detected != DEFAULT_FALLBACK_CONTEXT:
+        print(f"  Context length auto-detected: {_format_context_length(detected)} tokens")
+    else:
+        print(f"  Context length: not detected — using the default {_format_context_length(DEFAULT_FALLBACK_CONTEXT)} tokens "
+              f"(set model.context_length in config.yaml to override)")
+
+
 def _probe_custom_endpoint(effective_key: str, effective_url: str) -> tuple[dict, str]:
     """Verify a custom endpoint via ``probe_api_models`` and report; returns
     ``(probe, effective_url)`` where the URL may be the working fallback base."""
@@ -136,6 +158,8 @@ def _model_flow_custom(config):
         print("\nCancelled.")
         return
     context_length = _parse_context_length(context_length_str)
+    if context_length is None and model_name:
+        _report_context_length_detection(model_name, effective_url, effective_key)
 
     # The key goes to .env and config.yaml only references it. Keyed on host:port
     # so two servers on one machine keep separate credentials.
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_custom_provider_context_feedback.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_custom_provider_context_feedback.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8e2278f57f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_custom_provider_context_feedback.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""#2513: a blank context-length prompt in the custom-endpoint wizard tells the user whether the
+runtime resolver detected a value or will run on the silent default."""
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from hermes_cli import model_setup_flows_custom as flows
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("resolved, expect", [
+    (200_000, "auto-detected"),
+    (None, "using the default"),
+])
+def test_blank_context_length_reports_detection_outcome(capsys, resolved, expect):
+    from agent.model_metadata import DEFAULT_FALLBACK_CONTEXT
+    with patch("agent.model_metadata.get_model_context_length",
+               return_value=resolved if resolved is not None else DEFAULT_FALLBACK_CONTEXT) as probe:
+        flows._report_context_length_detection("some-model", "http://localhost:8000/v1", "k")
+    probe.assert_called_once_with("some-model", base_url="http://localhost:8000/v1", api_key="k")
+    assert expect in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+
+def test_probe_failure_never_blocks_the_save(capsys):
+    with patch("agent.model_metadata.get_model_context_length", side_effect=RuntimeError("boom")):
+        flows._report_context_length_detection("some-model", "http://x/v1", "")
+    assert capsys.readouterr().out == ""