From f49836dd4c6561c404c609b28a44dffcfa1f7e0b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Shin <shin-bot-litellm@berri.ai>
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2026 20:13:13 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] fix(proxy): only create Router when models or search_tools
 exist

Previously, PR #19818 (via #20205) removed the model_list check entirely,
causing Router to be created even with no models AND no search_tools.

This fix adds back a conditional check that creates the Router only when:
- There are models to route, OR
- There are search_tools configured

This preserves the PR #19818 goal (search-tools-only deployments) while
avoiding unnecessary Router creation when there's nothing to route.

Fixes test_add_and_delete_deployments[0-None]
---
 litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py | 25 +++++++++++++------------
 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index cf9e00512b1..22d63579986 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -3249,18 +3249,19 @@ async def _update_llm_router(
                 _model_list: list = self.decrypt_model_list_from_db(
                     new_models=models_list
                 )
-                # Create router even with empty model list to support search_tools
-                # Router can function with model_list=[] and only search_tools
-                verbose_proxy_logger.debug(f"_model_list: {_model_list}")
-                llm_router = litellm.Router(
-                    model_list=_model_list,
-                    router_general_settings=RouterGeneralSettings(
-                        async_only_mode=True  # only init async clients
-                    ),
-                    search_tools=search_tools,
-                    ignore_invalid_deployments=True,
-                )
-                verbose_proxy_logger.debug(f"updated llm_router: {llm_router}")
+                # Only create router if we have models or search_tools to route
+                # Router can function with model_list=[] if search_tools are configured
+                if len(_model_list) > 0 or search_tools:
+                    verbose_proxy_logger.debug(f"_model_list: {_model_list}")
+                    llm_router = litellm.Router(
+                        model_list=_model_list,
+                        router_general_settings=RouterGeneralSettings(
+                            async_only_mode=True  # only init async clients
+                        ),
+                        search_tools=search_tools,
+                        ignore_invalid_deployments=True,
+                    )
+                    verbose_proxy_logger.debug(f"updated llm_router: {llm_router}")
             else:
                 verbose_proxy_logger.debug(f"len new_models: {len(models_list)}")
                 if search_tools is not None and llm_router is not None: