diff --git a/src/lib/combos/intelligentRouting.ts b/src/lib/combos/intelligentRouting.ts
index 976e13e047..4fa6c86b84 100644
--- a/src/lib/combos/intelligentRouting.ts
+++ b/src/lib/combos/intelligentRouting.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_INTELLIGENT_WEIGHTS: IntelligentRoutingWeights = {
 };
 
 export const MODE_PACK_OPTIONS = [
+  { id: "custom", label: "Custom / None (Use Sliders)", emoji: "tune" },
   { id: "ship-fast", label: "Ship Fast", emoji: "rocket_launch" },
   { id: "cost-saver", label: "Cost Saver", emoji: "savings" },
   { id: "quality-first", label: "Quality First", emoji: "target" },
diff --git a/tests/unit/autocombo-unification.test.ts b/tests/unit/autocombo-unification.test.ts
index ebbafe62bb..1ead4afc9f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/autocombo-unification.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/autocombo-unification.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import test from "node:test";
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 
 const intelligentRouting = await import("../../src/lib/combos/intelligentRouting.ts");
+const { getModePack } = await import("../../open-sse/services/autoCombo/modePacks.ts");
 
 test("getStrategyCategory classifies intelligent and deterministic strategies correctly", () => {
   assert.equal(intelligentRouting.getStrategyCategory("auto"), "intelligent");
@@ -155,6 +156,19 @@ test("sidebar visibility excludes the removed auto-combo item", async () => {
   ]);
 });
 
+test("custom mode-pack selection preserves explicit slider intent", () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(intelligentRouting.MODE_PACK_OPTIONS[0], {
+    id: "custom",
+    label: "Custom / None (Use Sliders)",
+    emoji: "tune",
+  });
+  assert.equal(
+    intelligentRouting.normalizeIntelligentRoutingConfig({ modePack: "custom" }).modePack,
+    "custom"
+  );
+  assert.equal(getModePack("custom"), undefined);
+});
+
 test("intelligent routing helpers normalize config and build provider scores", () => {
   const normalizedConfig = intelligentRouting.normalizeIntelligentRoutingConfig({
     candidatePool: ["openai", "anthropic"],