diff --git a/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-user-reference/references/commands.md b/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-user-reference/references/commands.md
index 7f8e9c5fc74..22a4a8c8fa0 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-user-reference/references/commands.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/nemoclaw-user-reference/references/commands.md
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ The wizard creates an OpenShell gateway, registers inference providers, builds t
 Use this command for new installs and for recreating a sandbox after changes to policy or configuration.
 
 ```console
-$ nemoclaw onboard [--non-interactive] [--resume] [--recreate-sandbox] [--from <Dockerfile>] [--agent <name>] [--yes-i-accept-third-party-software]
+$ nemoclaw onboard [--non-interactive] [--resume] [--recreate-sandbox] [--from <Dockerfile>] [--provider <name>] [--agent <name>] [--yes-i-accept-third-party-software]
 ```
 
 > **Warning:** For NemoClaw-managed environments, use `nemoclaw onboard` when you need to create or recreate the OpenShell gateway or sandbox.
@@ -97,6 +97,12 @@ or:
 $ NEMOCLAW_ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE=1 nemoclaw onboard --non-interactive
 ```
 
+To pick a non-default provider in scripted installs, pass `--provider` or set `NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER`:
+
+```console
+$ nemoclaw onboard --non-interactive --provider openai --yes-i-accept-third-party-software
+```
+
 To enable Brave Search in non-interactive mode, set:
 
 ```console
diff --git a/docs/reference/commands.md b/docs/reference/commands.md
index 6304e9f129f..396ec1165f3 100644
--- a/docs/reference/commands.md
+++ b/docs/reference/commands.md
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ The wizard creates an OpenShell gateway, registers inference providers, builds t
 Use this command for new installs and for recreating a sandbox after changes to policy or configuration.
 
 ```console
-$ nemoclaw onboard [--non-interactive] [--resume] [--recreate-sandbox] [--from <Dockerfile>] [--agent <name>] [--yes-i-accept-third-party-software]
+$ nemoclaw onboard [--non-interactive] [--resume] [--recreate-sandbox] [--from <Dockerfile>] [--provider <name>] [--agent <name>] [--yes-i-accept-third-party-software]
 ```
 
 :::{warning}
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ or:
 $ NEMOCLAW_ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE=1 nemoclaw onboard --non-interactive
 ```
 
+To pick a non-default provider in scripted installs, pass `--provider` or set `NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER`:
+
+```console
+$ nemoclaw onboard --non-interactive --provider openai --yes-i-accept-third-party-software
+```
+
 To enable Brave Search in non-interactive mode, set:
 
 ```console
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index bf33782e456..74a8b385b98 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ bootstrap_usage() {
   printf "    curl -fsSL https://www.nvidia.com/nemoclaw.sh | bash -s -- [options]\n\n"
   printf "  Options:\n"
   printf "    --non-interactive    Skip prompts (uses env vars / defaults)\n"
+  printf "    --provider <name>    Default inference provider for non-interactive onboard\n"
   printf "    --yes-i-accept-third-party-software Accept the third-party software notice in non-interactive mode\n"
   printf "    --version, -v        Print installer version and exit\n"
   printf "    --help, -h           Show this help message and exit\n\n"
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 64c0738baef..b6e68a1726e 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -301,6 +301,7 @@ usage() {
   printf "    curl -fsSL https://www.nvidia.com/nemoclaw.sh | bash -s -- [options]\n\n"
   printf "  ${C_DIM}Options:${C_RESET}\n"
   printf "    --non-interactive    Skip prompts (uses env vars / defaults)\n"
+  printf "    --provider <name>    Default inference provider for non-interactive onboard\n"
   printf "    --yes-i-accept-third-party-software Accept the third-party software notice in non-interactive mode\n"
   printf "    --version, -v        Print installer version and exit\n"
   printf "    --help, -h           Show this help message and exit\n\n"
@@ -1180,10 +1181,19 @@ post_install_message() {
 main() {
   # Parse flags
   NON_INTERACTIVE=""
+  PROVIDER=""
   ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE=""
-  for arg in "$@"; do
-    case "$arg" in
+  while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
       --non-interactive) NON_INTERACTIVE=1 ;;
+      --provider)
+        shift
+        if [[ $# -eq 0 || "$1" == --* ]]; then
+          usage
+          error "--provider requires a provider name"
+        fi
+        PROVIDER="$1"
+        ;;
       --yes-i-accept-third-party-software) ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE=1 ;;
       --version | -v)
         local version_suffix
@@ -1197,14 +1207,17 @@ main() {
         ;;
       *)
         usage
-        error "Unknown option: $arg"
+        error "Unknown option: $1"
         ;;
     esac
+    shift
   done
   # Also honor env var
   NON_INTERACTIVE="${NON_INTERACTIVE:-${NEMOCLAW_NON_INTERACTIVE:-}}"
+  PROVIDER="${PROVIDER:-${NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER:-}}"
   ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE="${ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE:-${NEMOCLAW_ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE:-}}"
   export NEMOCLAW_NON_INTERACTIVE="${NON_INTERACTIVE}"
+  export NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER="${PROVIDER}"
   export NEMOCLAW_ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE="${ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE}"
 
   _INSTALL_START=$SECONDS
diff --git a/src/lib/onboard-command.test.ts b/src/lib/onboard-command.test.ts
index c6889d322b2..543bce65c77 100644
--- a/src/lib/onboard-command.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/onboard-command.test.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
       resume: true,
       recreateSandbox: false,
       fromDockerfile: null,
+      provider: null,
       acceptThirdPartySoftware: true,
       agent: null,
       dangerouslySkipPermissions: false,
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
       resume: false,
       recreateSandbox: false,
       fromDockerfile: null,
+      provider: null,
       acceptThirdPartySoftware: true,
       agent: null,
       dangerouslySkipPermissions: false,
@@ -78,6 +80,7 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
       resume: true,
       recreateSandbox: false,
       fromDockerfile: null,
+      provider: null,
       acceptThirdPartySoftware: false,
       agent: null,
       dangerouslySkipPermissions: false,
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
     expect(runOnboard).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(lines.join("\n")).toContain("Usage: nemoclaw onboard");
     expect(lines.join("\n")).toContain("--from <Dockerfile>");
+    expect(lines.join("\n")).toContain("--provider <name>");
     expect(lines.join("\n")).toContain("--agent <name>");
     expect(lines.join("\n")).toContain("--dangerously-skip-permissions");
   });
@@ -125,12 +129,56 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
       resume: true,
       recreateSandbox: false,
       fromDockerfile: "/tmp/Custom.Dockerfile",
+      provider: null,
       acceptThirdPartySoftware: false,
       agent: null,
       dangerouslySkipPermissions: false,
     });
   });
 
+  it("parses --provider <name>", () => {
+    expect(
+      parseOnboardArgs(
+        ["--non-interactive", "--provider", "openai"],
+        "--yes-i-accept-third-party-software",
+        "NEMOCLAW_ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE",
+        {
+          env: {},
+          error: () => {},
+          exit: ((code: number) => {
+            throw new Error(String(code));
+          }) as never,
+        },
+      ),
+    ).toEqual({
+      nonInteractive: true,
+      resume: false,
+      recreateSandbox: false,
+      fromDockerfile: null,
+      provider: "openai",
+      acceptThirdPartySoftware: false,
+      agent: null,
+      dangerouslySkipPermissions: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("exits when --provider is missing its provider name", () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      parseOnboardArgs(
+        ["--provider"],
+        "--yes-i-accept-third-party-software",
+        "NEMOCLAW_ACCEPT_THIRD_PARTY_SOFTWARE",
+        {
+          env: {},
+          error: () => {},
+          exit: ((code: number) => {
+            throw new Error(`exit:${code}`);
+          }) as never,
+        },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow("exit:1");
+  });
+
   it("exits when --from is missing its Dockerfile path", () => {
     expect(() =>
       parseOnboardArgs(
@@ -188,6 +236,7 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
       resume: false,
       recreateSandbox: false,
       fromDockerfile: null,
+      provider: null,
       acceptThirdPartySoftware: false,
       agent: "openclaw",
       dangerouslySkipPermissions: true,
@@ -239,6 +288,7 @@ describe("onboard command", () => {
       resume: false,
       recreateSandbox: false,
       fromDockerfile: null,
+      provider: null,
       acceptThirdPartySoftware: false,
       agent: null,
       dangerouslySkipPermissions: false,
diff --git a/src/lib/onboard-command.ts b/src/lib/onboard-command.ts
index f3f4c5d8f9f..637ec746eca 100644
--- a/src/lib/onboard-command.ts
+++ b/src/lib/onboard-command.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export interface OnboardCommandOptions {
   resume: boolean;
   recreateSandbox: boolean;
   fromDockerfile: string | null;
+  provider: string | null;
   acceptThirdPartySoftware: boolean;
   agent: string | null;
   dangerouslySkipPermissions: boolean;
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ const ONBOARD_BASE_ARGS = [
 
 function onboardUsageLines(noticeAcceptFlag: string): string[] {
   return [
-    `  Usage: nemoclaw onboard [--non-interactive] [--resume] [--recreate-sandbox] [--from <Dockerfile>] [--agent <name>] [--dangerously-skip-permissions] [${noticeAcceptFlag}]`,
+    `  Usage: nemoclaw onboard [--non-interactive] [--resume] [--recreate-sandbox] [--from <Dockerfile>] [--provider <name>] [--agent <name>] [--dangerously-skip-permissions] [${noticeAcceptFlag}]`,
     "",
   ];
 }
@@ -69,6 +70,18 @@ export function parseOnboardArgs(
     parsedArgs.splice(fromIdx, 2);
   }
 
+  let provider: string | null = null;
+  const providerIdx = parsedArgs.indexOf("--provider");
+  if (providerIdx !== -1) {
+    provider = parsedArgs[providerIdx + 1] || null;
+    if (!provider || provider.startsWith("--")) {
+      error("  --provider requires a provider name");
+      printOnboardUsage(error, noticeAcceptFlag);
+      exit(1);
+    }
+    parsedArgs.splice(providerIdx, 2);
+  }
+
   let agent: string | null = null;
   const agentIdx = parsedArgs.indexOf("--agent");
   if (agentIdx !== -1) {
@@ -101,6 +114,7 @@ export function parseOnboardArgs(
     resume: parsedArgs.includes("--resume"),
     recreateSandbox: parsedArgs.includes("--recreate-sandbox"),
     fromDockerfile,
+    provider,
     acceptThirdPartySoftware:
       parsedArgs.includes(noticeAcceptFlag) || String(deps.env[noticeAcceptEnv] || "") === "1",
     agent,
diff --git a/src/lib/onboard.ts b/src/lib/onboard.ts
index ccb6f3392a7..0a303b30a0e 100644
--- a/src/lib/onboard.ts
+++ b/src/lib/onboard.ts
@@ -5827,6 +5827,9 @@ function skippedStepMessage(stepName, detail, reason = "resume") {
 async function onboard(opts = {}) {
   NON_INTERACTIVE = opts.nonInteractive || process.env.NEMOCLAW_NON_INTERACTIVE === "1";
   RECREATE_SANDBOX = opts.recreateSandbox || process.env.NEMOCLAW_RECREATE_SANDBOX === "1";
+  if (opts.provider) {
+    process.env.NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER = opts.provider;
+  }
   const dangerouslySkipPermissions =
     opts.dangerouslySkipPermissions || process.env.NEMOCLAW_DANGEROUSLY_SKIP_PERMISSIONS === "1";
   if (dangerouslySkipPermissions) {
diff --git a/test/cli.test.ts b/test/cli.test.ts
index 6f8f3592f9c..02ea9965f68 100644
--- a/test/cli.test.ts
+++ b/test/cli.test.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ describe("CLI dispatch", () => {
     expect(r.code).toBe(0);
     expect(r.out.includes("Usage: nemoclaw onboard")).toBeTruthy();
     expect(r.out.includes("--from <Dockerfile>")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(r.out.includes("--provider <name>")).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
   it("unknown onboard option exits 1", () => {
@@ -142,6 +143,13 @@ describe("CLI dispatch", () => {
     expect(r.out.includes("Unknown onboard option(s): --non-interactiv")).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
+  it("accepts onboard --provider in CLI parsing", () => {
+    const r = run("onboard --provider openai --non-interactiv");
+    expect(r.code).toBe(1);
+    expect(r.out.includes("Unknown onboard option(s): --non-interactiv")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(r.out.includes("Unknown onboard option(s): --provider")).toBeFalsy();
+  });
+
   it("setup --help exits 0 and shows onboard usage", () => {
     const r = run("setup --help");
     expect(r.code).toBe(0);
diff --git a/test/install-preflight.test.ts b/test/install-preflight.test.ts
index 52fe703ef24..082402d5a2c 100644
--- a/test/install-preflight.test.ts
+++ b/test/install-preflight.test.ts
@@ -1805,6 +1805,110 @@ describe("installer flag parsing", () => {
     expect(result.status).toBe(0);
     expect(`${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`).toMatch(/NEMOCLAW_INSTALL_TAG/);
   });
+
+  it("--help documents the provider flag", () => {
+    const result = spawnSync("bash", [INSTALLER, "--help"], {
+      cwd: path.join(import.meta.dirname, ".."),
+      encoding: "utf-8",
+    });
+
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(`${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`).toMatch(/--provider <name>/);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects --provider without a provider name", () => {
+    const result = spawnSync("bash", [INSTALLER, "--provider"], {
+      cwd: path.join(import.meta.dirname, ".."),
+      encoding: "utf-8",
+    });
+
+    expect(result.status).not.toBe(0);
+    const output = `${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`;
+    expect(output).toMatch(/--provider requires a provider name/);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/NemoClaw Installer/);
+  });
+
+  it("forwards --provider into the onboard environment for non-interactive installs", () => {
+    const tmp = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "nemoclaw-install-provider-forward-"));
+    const fakeBin = path.join(tmp, "bin");
+    const prefix = path.join(tmp, "prefix");
+    const onboardLog = path.join(tmp, "onboard.log");
+    fs.mkdirSync(fakeBin);
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(prefix, "bin"), { recursive: true });
+
+    writeNodeStub(fakeBin);
+    writeExecutable(
+      path.join(fakeBin, "docker"),
+      `#!/usr/bin/env bash
+if [ "$1" = "info" ]; then
+  echo '{"ServerVersion":"29.3.1","OperatingSystem":"Ubuntu 24.04","CgroupVersion":"2"}'
+  exit 0
+fi
+exit 0
+`,
+    );
+    writeExecutable(
+      path.join(fakeBin, "openshell"),
+      `#!/usr/bin/env bash
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
+  echo "openshell 0.0.22"
+  exit 0
+fi
+exit 0
+`,
+    );
+    writeNpmStub(
+      fakeBin,
+      `if [ "$1" = "pack" ]; then
+  tmpdir="$4"
+  mkdir -p "$tmpdir/package"
+  tar -czf "$tmpdir/openclaw-2026.3.11.tgz" -C "$tmpdir" package
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [ "$1" = "install" ]; then exit 0; fi
+if [ "$1" = "run" ] && { [ "$2" = "build" ] || [ "$2" = "build:cli" ] || [ "$2" = "--if-present" ]; }; then exit 0; fi
+if [ "$1" = "link" ]; then
+  cat > "$NPM_PREFIX/bin/nemoclaw" <<'EOS'
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "nemoclaw v0.1.0-test"; exit 0; fi
+printf 'args:%s\\n' "$*" >> "$NEMOCLAW_ONBOARD_LOG"
+printf 'provider:%s\\n' "\${NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER:-}" >> "$NEMOCLAW_ONBOARD_LOG"
+exit 0
+EOS
+  chmod +x "$NPM_PREFIX/bin/nemoclaw"
+  exit 0
+fi`,
+    );
+
+    const result = spawnSync(
+      "bash",
+      [
+        INSTALLER,
+        "--non-interactive",
+        "--provider",
+        "openai",
+        "--yes-i-accept-third-party-software",
+      ],
+      {
+        cwd: path.join(import.meta.dirname, ".."),
+        encoding: "utf-8",
+        env: {
+          ...process.env,
+          HOME: tmp,
+          PATH: `${fakeBin}:${TEST_SYSTEM_PATH}`,
+          NPM_PREFIX: prefix,
+          NEMOCLAW_ONBOARD_LOG: onboardLog,
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    const onboardInvocation = fs.readFileSync(onboardLog, "utf-8");
+    expect(onboardInvocation).toMatch(
+      /^args:onboard --non-interactive --yes-i-accept-third-party-software$/m,
+    );
+    expect(onboardInvocation).toMatch(/^provider:openai$/m);
+  });
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------