openclaw - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Bug]: v2026.05.28 breaks Google Vertex Express API Key [3 pull requests]

Bug type

Regression (worked before, now fails)

Beta release blocker

No

Summary

Updating from v2026.5.20 and v2026.5.28 completely breaks OpenClaw when using Google Vertex when using an API key. If I roll back to v2026.5.20 it works fine again. OpenClaw throws an error about being unable to find a model provider

All models failed (2): google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro: Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-2.5-pro" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model.

The moment I downgrade back to v2026.5.20 it starts working again.

Steps to reproduce

1. Start OpenClaw v2026.5.20 with the below config using Google Vertex AI Express API key (not ADC)
2. Everything should work
3. Update to v2026.5.28 and OpenClaw won't respond to any requests and will throw an error
4. 1. Downgrade back to 2026.5.20 and it starts working again

This is my the starting of openclaw.json:

  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "workspace": "/home/xx/.openclaw/workspace",
      "models": {
        "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6": {},
        "google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash": {},
        "google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro": {}
      },
      "model": {
        "primary": "google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro",
        "fallbacks": [
          "google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash"
        ]
      },
      "contextInjection": "always",
      "bootstrapMaxChars": 20000,
      "bootstrapTotalMaxChars": 150000,
      "thinkingDefault": "adaptive"
    }
   ...
  }

Google Vertex Express API keys, here's the auth-profile.json

{
  "version": 1,
  "profiles": {
    "anthropic:default": {
      "type": "api_key",
      "provider": "anthropic",
      "key": "xxx"
    },
    "google-vertex:default": {
      "type": "api_key",
      "provider": "google-vertex",
      "key": "AQ.xxx"
    }
  }
}

Expected behavior

In 2026.5.20 it worked fine, in 2026.5.28 it fails to find a model provider to communicate with Google Vertex using API Keys

Actual behavior

The console and logs throws this error when you type anything in on v2026.5.28:

Agent failed before reply: All models failed (2): google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro: Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-2.5-pro" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model. (model_not_found) | google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash: Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-3.5-flash" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model. (model_not_found) | Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-3.5-flash" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model.

No error, only expected result when using v2026.5.20

OpenClaw version

2026.5.28

Operating system

Ubuntu 24.04

Install method

npm global

Model

google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro

Provider / routing chain

openclaw ->google-vertex

Additional provider/model setup details

No response

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Agent failed before reply: All models failed (2): google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro: Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-2.5-pro" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model. (model_not_found) | google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash: Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-3.5-flash" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model. (model_not_found) | Unknown model: google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash. Found agents.defaults.models["google-vertex/gemini-3.5-flash"], but no matching models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] entry. Add { "id": "gemini-3.5-flash" } to models.providers["google-vertex"].models[] to register this provider model.

Impact and severity

Affected systems - Google Vertex AI Express API Severity - Critical (system non functional) Frequency - Always Consequence - OpenClaw in operable when using Vertex API keys

Additional information

No response