fix(browser): preserve authenticated picker errors

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Browser: preserve authenticated model-picker errors instead of appending a misleading cookie/login hint after login has already been verified.
 - Browser: distinguish requested CLI model keys from verified ChatGPT picker labels without inferring a server-side GPT version from a generic label. Fixes #317. Thanks @DragonFSKY!
 - Browser: recognize GPT-5.6 Sol as the selected model when ChatGPT exposes Pro in its independent effort pill. Thanks @jung0han!
 - Browser: treat WSL's systemd-resolved loopback DNS stub as localhost when connecting to a freshly launched Chrome DevTools endpoint. Thanks @Rokurolize!

src/browser/index.ts

@@ -172,6 +172,10 @@ function shouldPreserveBrowserOnError(error: unknown, headless: boolean): boolea
   return classifyPreservedBrowserError(error, headless) !== null;
 }
 
+function normalizeAuthenticatedModelSelectionError(error: unknown): Error {
+  return error instanceof Error ? error : new Error(String(error));
+}
+
 function shouldKeepLocalBrowserOpen(options: {
   effectiveKeepBrowser: boolean;
   preserveBrowserOnError: boolean;
@@ -1474,12 +1478,9 @@ export async function runBrowserMode(options: BrowserRunOptions): Promise<Browse
           },
         ),
       ).catch((error) => {
-        const base = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-        const hint =
-          appliedCookies === 0
-            ? " No cookies were applied; log in to ChatGPT in Chrome or provide inline cookies (--browser-inline-cookies[(-file)] or ORACLE_BROWSER_COOKIES_JSON)."
-            : "";
-        throw new Error(`${base}${hint}`);
+        // Login has already been verified above. Preserve the picker failure instead of
+        // misdiagnosing an unavailable model as missing cookies.
+        throw normalizeAuthenticatedModelSelectionError(error);
       });
       await raceWithDisconnect(ensurePromptReady(Runtime, config.inputTimeoutMs, logger));
       logger(
@@ -3881,6 +3882,7 @@ export const __test__ = {
   isManualLoginProfileInitialized,
   isImageOnlyUiChromeText,
   listIgnoredRemoteChromeFlags,
+  normalizeAuthenticatedModelSelectionError,
   resolveManualLoginWaitMs,
   shouldCleanupBlankTabsAfterLastLease,
   shouldCloseOwnedRunTargetAfterRun,

tests/browser/index.test.ts

@@ -73,6 +73,21 @@ describe("shouldPreserveBrowserOnErrorForTest", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("authenticated model-selection errors", () => {
+  test("preserves picker diagnostics without adding cookie guidance", () => {
+    const error = new BrowserAutomationError(
+      'Unable to find model option matching "GPT-5.2 Instant". Available: GPT-5.6 Sol.',
+      { stage: "model-selection" },
+    );
+
+    const normalized = __test__.normalizeAuthenticatedModelSelectionError(error);
+
+    expect(normalized).toBe(error);
+    expect(normalized.message).toContain("Available: GPT-5.6 Sol");
+    expect(normalized.message).not.toMatch(/cookies|log in/i);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("browser run target cleanup", () => {
   test("never retains a copied profile after a preserved browser error", () => {
     expect(