diff --git a/heicode/controller/agent_template_handlers.go b/heicode/controller/agent_template_handlers.go
index c4678c87..9a5008e2 100644
--- a/heicode/controller/agent_template_handlers.go
+++ b/heicode/controller/agent_template_handlers.go
@@ -48,6 +48,42 @@ func unsealAgentToken(stored string) string {
 	return string(plain)
 }
 
+// mintAgentModelToken creates a hidden, unlimited-quota sk- token for the user
+// so the started agent can call HM /v1/* (OPENAI_API_KEY) and bill to the user.
+// Returns the bearer value ("sk-<key>") and the token id (stored for cleanup).
+func mintAgentModelToken(userID int, deploymentID string) (string, int, error) {
+	rawKey, err := common.GenerateKey()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", 0, err
+	}
+	now := common.GetTimestamp()
+	tok := model.Token{
+		UserId:         userID,
+		Name:           "agent:" + deploymentID,
+		Key:            rawKey,
+		Status:         common.TokenStatusEnabled,
+		CreatedTime:    now,
+		AccessedTime:   now,
+		ExpiredTime:    -1,   // never naturally
+		UnlimitedQuota: true, // bills straight from User.Quota
+		HideFromUserUI: true, // not a user-created key; don't clutter the token list
+	}
+	if err := tok.Insert(); err != nil {
+		return "", 0, err
+	}
+	return "sk-" + rawKey, tok.Id, nil
+}
+
+// revokeAgentModelToken deletes the agent's minted model token (best-effort).
+func revokeAgentModelToken(tokenID int) {
+	if tokenID <= 0 || model.DB == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if err := model.DB.Where("id = ?", tokenID).Delete(&model.Token{}).Error; err != nil {
+		common.SysLog("revokeAgentModelToken: " + err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 // templateAgentResponse maps a deployed template-agent record to the client view.
 func templateAgentResponse(row model.AgentDeployment) gin.H {
 	var bindingIDs []int
@@ -117,6 +153,15 @@ func HeicodeDeployAgent(c *gin.Context) {
 	deploymentID := "dep_" + common.GetUUID()[:12]
 	bindingIDsJSON, _ := common.Marshal(req.BindingIDs)
 
+	// Mint a model key so the agent can call HM /v1/* (OPENAI_API_KEY).
+	modelKey, modelTokenID, err := mintAgentModelToken(userID, deploymentID)
+	if err != nil {
+		common.SysLog("HeicodeDeployAgent mint model token: " + err.Error())
+		agentError(c, "DEPLOYMENT_PERSIST_FAILED", "failed to provision model key")
+		return
+	}
+	env["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = modelKey
+
 	// Ask AM to start the agent with the template definition (.md) + env injected.
 	result, err := amStartTemplateAgent(c.Request.Context(), amStartArgs{
 		ManagerDeploymentID: deploymentID,
@@ -128,6 +173,7 @@ func HeicodeDeployAgent(c *gin.Context) {
 		CallbackURL:         agentRuntimeCallbackURL(),
 	})
 	if err != nil {
+		revokeAgentModelToken(modelTokenID) // don't leak the minted key
 		agentError(c, "RUNTIME_UNAVAILABLE", "failed to start agent: "+err.Error())
 		return
 	}
@@ -143,6 +189,7 @@ func HeicodeDeployAgent(c *gin.Context) {
 		BindingIDsJSON:      string(bindingIDsJSON),
 		RuntimeDeploymentID: result.RuntimeID,
 		Status:              firstNonEmpty(result.Status, "running"),
+		ModelTokenID:        modelTokenID,
 		CreatedAtText:       now,
 		UpdatedAtText:       now,
 		CreatedAtMs:         nowMs,
@@ -150,6 +197,7 @@ func HeicodeDeployAgent(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	if err := model.DB.Create(&row).Error; err != nil {
 		common.SysLog("HeicodeDeployAgent persist: " + err.Error())
+		revokeAgentModelToken(modelTokenID)
 		// We started an agent in AM but failed to record it: roll back the
 		// orphan so it does not leak/keep running with no Manager record.
 		if strings.TrimSpace(result.RuntimeID) != "" {
@@ -292,6 +340,7 @@ func HeicodeDeleteAgent(c *gin.Context) {
 		agentError(c, "DEPLOYMENT_PERSIST_FAILED", "failed to delete agent")
 		return
 	}
+	revokeAgentModelToken(row.ModelTokenID) // invalidate the agent's model key
 	common.ApiSuccess(c, gin.H{
 		"deployment_id":   row.DeploymentID,
 		"status":          "deleted",
diff --git a/heicode/model/agent_deployment.go b/heicode/model/agent_deployment.go
index fd51175f..b4321001 100644
--- a/heicode/model/agent_deployment.go
+++ b/heicode/model/agent_deployment.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ type AgentDeployment struct {
 	Subdomain      string `gorm:"type:varchar(255)" json:"subdomain"`       // AM-assigned public address
 	AccessToken    string `gorm:"type:varchar(512)" json:"access_token"`    // client presents this to the agent; HM stores a copy
 	BindingIDsJSON string `gorm:"type:text" json:"binding_ids_json"`        // JSON array of resource_binding ids attached to this agent
+	ModelTokenID   int    `gorm:"index" json:"model_token_id"`              // sk- token minted for this agent's model calls (OPENAI_API_KEY); revoked on delete
 }
 
 func (AgentDeployment) TableName() string {