diff --git a/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/llm.py b/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/llm.py
index 92513a26..a027d751 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/llm.py
+++ b/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/llm.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+import json
+import logging
 import os
+import re
 
 from flask import Blueprint, jsonify, redirect, url_for, flash
 from flask_babel import gettext
@@ -8,6 +11,44 @@ from changedetectionio.store import ChangeDetectionStore
 from changedetectionio.auth_decorator import login_optionally_required
 
 
+class _LiteLLMWarningCapture(logging.Handler):
+    """Capture warnings emitted on the 'LiteLLM' stdlib logger during a single call.
+
+    litellm.get_valid_models() catches HTTP/auth errors internally, logs a warning,
+    and returns []. Without capturing that warning we can't tell the user *why*
+    no models came back (bad key vs. offline vs. genuinely empty model list).
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__(level=logging.WARNING)
+        self.messages = []
+
+    def emit(self, record):
+        try:
+            self.messages.append(record.getMessage())
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+
+def _humanize_litellm_error(raw: str) -> str:
+    # litellm warnings typically look like:
+    #   "Error getting valid models: Failed to get models: { 'error': { 'message': '...' } }"
+    # Pull the inner provider message when present; otherwise trim the boilerplate.
+    if not raw:
+        return raw
+    m = re.search(r'\{.*\}', raw, re.DOTALL)
+    if m:
+        try:
+            body = json.loads(m.group(0))
+            inner = (body.get('error') or {}).get('message') or body.get('message')
+            if inner:
+                return inner
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    cleaned = re.sub(r'^Error getting valid models:\s*', '', raw)
+    cleaned = re.sub(r'^Failed to get models:\s*', '', cleaned).strip()
+    return cleaned[:500]
+
+
 def construct_llm_blueprint(datastore: ChangeDetectionStore):
     llm_blueprint = Blueprint('llm', __name__)
 
@@ -41,13 +82,27 @@ def construct_llm_blueprint(datastore: ChangeDetectionStore):
         try:
             import litellm
             logger.debug(f"LLM model list: calling litellm.get_valid_models provider={provider!r} (litellm={litellm_provider!r}) api_base={api_base!r}")
-            raw = litellm.get_valid_models(
-                check_provider_endpoint=True,
-                custom_llm_provider=litellm_provider,
-                api_key=api_key or None,
-                api_base=api_base or None,
-            ) or []
+
+            capture = _LiteLLMWarningCapture()
+            litellm_logger = logging.getLogger('LiteLLM')
+            litellm_logger.addHandler(capture)
+            try:
+                raw = litellm.get_valid_models(
+                    check_provider_endpoint=True,
+                    custom_llm_provider=litellm_provider,
+                    api_key=api_key or None,
+                    api_base=api_base or None,
+                ) or []
+            finally:
+                litellm_logger.removeHandler(capture)
+
             models = sorted({(m if m.startswith(prefix) else prefix + m) for m in raw})
+
+            if not models and capture.messages:
+                err = _humanize_litellm_error(capture.messages[-1])
+                logger.debug(f"LLM model list: 0 models, surfacing captured litellm warning: {err!r}")
+                return jsonify({'models': [], 'error': err}), 400
+
             logger.debug(f"LLM model list: got {len(models)} models for provider={provider!r}")
             return jsonify({'models': models, 'error': None})
         except Exception as e:
diff --git a/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html b/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
index 18233e7f..22a74843 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
+++ b/changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@
 
       if (!data.models || data.models.length === 0) {
         statusEl.style.color = '#e67e22';
-        statusEl.textContent = '{{ _("No models returned — check your API key.") }}';
+        statusEl.textContent = '{{ _("No models returned by the provider.") }}';
         selGroup.style.display = 'none';
         return;
       }
diff --git a/changedetectionio/forms.py b/changedetectionio/forms.py
index 852ed773..9ea93157 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/forms.py
+++ b/changedetectionio/forms.py
@@ -1106,7 +1106,6 @@ class globalSettingsLLMForm(Form):
         _l('API Key'),
         validators=[validators.Optional()],
         render_kw={
-            "placeholder": _l('Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var'),
             "autocomplete": "off",
             "style": "width: 24em;",
         },
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/cs/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/cs/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 33be85c0..3cfadde0 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/cs/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/cs/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3134,10 +3134,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "API klíč"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index dd6b5a7e..e29f3f19 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3186,10 +3186,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "API-Schlüssel"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/en_GB/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/en_GB/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 5b538c7b..7de77a5b 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/en_GB/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/en_GB/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3128,10 +3128,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/en_US/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/en_US/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index a3f43c35..8e479203 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/en_US/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/en_US/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3128,10 +3128,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/es/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/es/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 7501e355..faa7e30d 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/es/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/es/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1157,7 +1157,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3201,10 +3201,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "Clave API"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 023e342c..ac1a4d8a 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3141,10 +3141,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "Clé API"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/it/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/it/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index a9b3dd09..e1b03bbf 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/it/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/it/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3130,10 +3130,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "Chiave API"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/ja/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/ja/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index f3ccd6e5..1d7f983b 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/ja/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/ja/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3147,10 +3147,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "APIキー"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo b/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo
index 3d1727a5..1fba60e4 100644
Binary files a/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo and b/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo differ
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 12b40dd0..8b57cd53 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/ko/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1127,8 +1127,8 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr "불러오는 중..."
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
-msgstr "반환된 모델이 없습니다. API 키를 확인하세요."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
+msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
 msgid "— choose a model —"
@@ -3138,10 +3138,6 @@ msgstr "모델"
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "API 키"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr "LITELLM_API_KEY 환경 변수를 사용하려면 비워 두세요"
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr "API 기본 URL"
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/messages.pot b/changedetectionio/translations/messages.pot
index ef817899..cfd0fbea 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/messages.pot
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/messages.pot
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: changedetection.io 0.55.3\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: EMAIL@ADDRESS\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2026-05-02 18:29+0900\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2026-05-12 11:08+0200\n"
 "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n"
 "Last-Translator: FULL NAME <EMAIL@ADDRESS>\n"
 "Language-Team: LANGUAGE <LL@li.org>\n"
@@ -1118,7 +1118,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3127,10 +3127,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/pt_BR/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/pt_BR/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 99666a0f..0668bfe4 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/pt_BR/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/pt_BR/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1144,7 +1144,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3178,10 +3178,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "Chave da API"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/tr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/tr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 7f2f79c9..feac964d 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/tr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/tr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1154,7 +1154,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3181,10 +3181,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "API Anahtarı"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/uk/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/uk/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 315466f3..2dd786e3 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/uk/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/uk/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1134,7 +1134,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3160,10 +3160,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "Ключ API"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/zh/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/zh/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index 31197a54..d2c28a18 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/zh/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/zh/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3133,10 +3133,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "API密钥"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/changedetectionio/translations/zh_Hant_TW/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po b/changedetectionio/translations/zh_Hant_TW/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
index adbf2e23..93c08bee 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/translations/zh_Hant_TW/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
+++ b/changedetectionio/translations/zh_Hant_TW/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ msgid "Loading…"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
-msgid "No models returned — check your API key."
+msgid "No models returned by the provider."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: changedetectionio/blueprint/settings/templates/settings_llm_tab.html
@@ -3132,10 +3132,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "API Key"
 msgstr "API 金鑰"
 
-#: changedetectionio/forms.py
-msgid "Leave blank to use LITELLM_API_KEY env var"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: changedetectionio/forms.py
 msgid "API Base URL"
 msgstr ""