diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts
index 5aae57b01b..fad2def1f2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts
@@ -179,6 +179,42 @@ describe('WidgetSelect Value Binding', () => {
       expect(emitted).toBeDefined()
       expect(emitted![0]).toContain('100')
     })
+
+    it('displays value not in options list as placeholder (deserialized workflow value)', async () => {
+      // Simulate a workflow loaded with a value that's no longer in the options
+      // (e.g., a deleted model file)
+      const currentOptions = ['model1.ckpt', 'model2.safetensors']
+      const deserializedValue = 'old_deleted_model.ckpt'
+      const widget = createMockWidget(deserializedValue, {
+        values: currentOptions
+      })
+      const wrapper = mountComponent(widget, deserializedValue)
+
+      const select = wrapper.findComponent({ name: 'Select' })
+
+      // The deserialized value should be shown as the placeholder
+      expect(select.props('placeholder')).toBe(deserializedValue)
+
+      // The options should remain unchanged (not include the deserialized value)
+      const options = select.props('options')
+      expect(options).not.toContain(deserializedValue)
+      expect(options).toContain('model1.ckpt')
+      expect(options).toContain('model2.safetensors')
+    })
+
+    it('uses widget placeholder when value exists in options', async () => {
+      const options = ['option1', 'option2', 'option3']
+      const widget = createMockWidget('option2', {
+        values: options,
+        placeholder: 'Select an option'
+      })
+      const wrapper = mountComponent(widget, 'option2')
+
+      const select = wrapper.findComponent({ name: 'Select' })
+
+      // Should use the widget's placeholder since value is in options
+      expect(select.props('placeholder')).toBe('Select an option')
+    })
   })
 
   describe('Spec-aware rendering', () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue
index cb69ac7b88..48d03ff2ad 100644
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue
+++ b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     <Select
       v-model="localValue"
       :options="selectOptions"
+      :placeholder="selectPlaceholder"
       v-bind="combinedProps"
       :class="cn(WidgetInputBaseClass, 'w-full text-xs')"
       :aria-label="widget.name"
@@ -68,4 +69,22 @@ const selectOptions = computed(() => {
 
   return []
 })
+
+// Show the deserialized value as placeholder when it's not in the options list
+// This preserves legacy behavior where workflow values are shown even if deleted
+const selectPlaceholder = computed(() => {
+  const currentValue = localValue.value
+
+  // If there's a current value and it's not in the options, show it as placeholder
+  if (
+    currentValue != null &&
+    currentValue !== '' &&
+    !selectOptions.value.includes(currentValue)
+  ) {
+    return String(currentValue)
+  }
+
+  // Otherwise use the default placeholder from options
+  return props.widget.options?.placeholder
+})
 </script>
diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue
index bb5accb81d..ffbdc7d426 100644
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue
+++ b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue
@@ -128,6 +128,20 @@ const dropdownItems = computed<DropdownItem[]>(() => {
 })
 
 const mediaPlaceholder = computed(() => {
+  const currentValue = localValue.value
+  const values = props.widget.options?.values || []
+
+  // If there's a current value and it's not in the options, show it as placeholder
+  // This preserves legacy behavior where workflow values are shown even if deleted
+  if (
+    currentValue != null &&
+    currentValue !== '' &&
+    typeof currentValue === 'string' &&
+    !values.includes(currentValue)
+  ) {
+    return currentValue
+  }
+
   const options = props.widget.options
 
   if (options?.placeholder) {