diff --git a/docs/reference/protocols/host-mode-plan-v0.md b/docs/reference/protocols/host-mode-plan-v0.md
index b1cb25e3b..ef0a2d1fa 100644
--- a/docs/reference/protocols/host-mode-plan-v0.md
+++ b/docs/reference/protocols/host-mode-plan-v0.md
@@ -147,8 +147,10 @@ quota guard command, and required proofs.
 - `host` is the mode's **declared** host: the scheduler context the readiness
   statement and capability requirements are written against. It is not a claim
   that this concrete host has already been resolved for the run; the runtime
-  resolves the concrete host (including a credential- or configuration-resolved
-  default) when `plan_command` runs.
+  resolves the concrete host from its own explicit product default
+  (`loopx/control_plane/turn_driver/host_binding.py`) when `plan_command` runs,
+  and `LOOPX_TURN_HOST` or an explicit `--host` re-points that default. An
+  operator credential authenticates the selected host; it does not select one.
 - `host_selection` is `resolved_default` when the command deliberately leaves
   host resolution to `loopx turn plan`/`run-once`, and `pinned` when the command
   carries an explicit `--host`.
diff --git a/examples/host-mode-plan-smoke.py b/examples/host-mode-plan-smoke.py
index 8c3f4b223..f4efce344 100755
--- a/examples/host-mode-plan-smoke.py
+++ b/examples/host-mode-plan-smoke.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import os
 import re
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -113,8 +114,8 @@ def test_headless_maps_to_loopx_turn_plan_not_parallel_runner() -> None:
     assert selected["scheduler_owner"] == "outer_controller", selected
     command = selected["plan_command"]
     assert "loopx turn plan" in command, command
-    # The preview keeps the shipped host resolution, so a lane without an
-    # operator credential does not land on the compatibility adapter path.
+    # The preview keeps the shipped host resolution, so it does not freeze the
+    # compatibility adapter path as the product default.
     assert "--host" not in command, command
     assert "--execution-mode isolated-headless" in command, command
     assert "--scheduler-owner outer_controller" in command, command
@@ -127,6 +128,28 @@ def test_headless_maps_to_loopx_turn_plan_not_parallel_runner() -> None:
     assert plan["turn_contract"]["writeback_before_quota_spend"] is True, plan
 
 
+def test_headless_preview_ignores_operator_credential() -> None:
+    credential_env = "DEEPSEEK_API_KEY"
+    previous = os.environ.pop(credential_env, None)
+    try:
+        without_credential = build_full_plan("continue_without_ui")["selected_turn_mapping"]
+        os.environ[credential_env] = "host-mode-plan-smoke-not-a-credential"
+        with_credential = build_full_plan("continue_without_ui")["selected_turn_mapping"]
+    finally:
+        if previous is None:
+            os.environ.pop(credential_env, None)
+        else:
+            os.environ[credential_env] = previous
+    # `loopx turn plan`/`run-once` ship one explicit product default that
+    # `LOOPX_TURN_HOST` or an explicit `--host` re-points, and an operator
+    # credential only authenticates the host that was already selected. A
+    # preview whose shape changed when the credential appeared would re-introduce
+    # a credential-selected Turn host, so the shape is pinned here instead.
+    assert with_credential == without_credential, (without_credential, with_credential)
+    assert without_credential["host_selection"] == "resolved_default", without_credential
+    assert "--host" not in without_credential["plan_command"], without_credential
+
+
 def test_visible_mode_stays_visible_and_scoped() -> None:
     plan = build_workflow_identity_plan("watch_each_turn", host_identity="codex-cli")
     selected = plan["selected_turn_mapping"]
@@ -469,6 +492,7 @@ def test_markdown_and_docs_are_wired() -> None:
 def main() -> int:
     test_intent_selects_distinct_host_modes()
     test_headless_maps_to_loopx_turn_plan_not_parallel_runner()
+    test_headless_preview_ignores_operator_credential()
     test_visible_mode_stays_visible_and_scoped()
     test_visible_mode_preserves_distinct_host_identities()
     test_visible_mode_fails_closed_without_host_identity()
diff --git a/loopx/host_mode_planner.py b/loopx/host_mode_planner.py
index ae2f1720f..e5050bab0 100644
--- a/loopx/host_mode_planner.py
+++ b/loopx/host_mode_planner.py
@@ -121,11 +121,14 @@
 _INTENT_PRIMARY_MODE = {meta["intent"]: mode for mode, meta in _MODE_METADATA.items()}
 
 # The headless Turn modes preview the *shipped* host resolution instead of
-# pinning one host. `loopx turn plan`/`run-once` resolve their default from the
-# operator credential, so a preview that pinned `generic-cli` would quietly ask
-# every operator for the compatibility adapter path. The declared host stays in
-# the mapping and in the rollback command, because the mode's scheduler context
-# and capability requirements are still stated for it.
+# pinning one host. `loopx turn plan`/`run-once` ship one explicit product
+# default, owned by `control_plane.turn_driver.host_binding.selected_turn_host`,
+# which `LOOPX_TURN_HOST` or an explicit `--host` re-points; an operator
+# credential authenticates that host and never selects it, so a preview that
+# pinned `generic-cli` would quietly ask every operator for the compatibility
+# adapter path. The declared host stays in the mapping and in the rollback
+# command, because the mode's scheduler context and capability requirements are
+# still stated for it.
 RESOLVED_DEFAULT_TURN_HOST_MODES = frozenset(
     {MODE_ISOLATED_HEADLESS_TURN, MODE_SHELL_SERVICE}
 )