From a22c250001c2835aaa406480d0d378fcb5420237 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: kshitijk4poor <82637225+kshitijk4poor@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 29 May 2026 14:48:51 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] refactor(auth): remove vestigial Nous
 min_key_ttl/inference_auth_mode params
MIME-Version: 1.0
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After the legacy session-key path was removed, two parameters became dead
surface on the Nous runtime-resolution chain:

- min_key_ttl_seconds: del'd inside refresh_nous_oauth_pure and pass-through /
  telemetry-only in refresh_nous_oauth_from_state, _try_import_shared_nous_state,
  _nous_device_code_login, and resolve_nous_runtime_credentials. It controlled the
  now-deleted agent-key mint TTL and drives no behavior.
- inference_auth_mode: with the legacy mode gone, AUTO and FRESH are behaviorally
  identical; the value only fed _normalize_nous_inference_auth_mode validation and
  oauth trace output, never a branch.

Removing inference_auth_mode orphaned its whole supporting cluster
(NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO/FRESH, NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODES,
_normalize_nous_inference_auth_mode), and dropping min_key_ttl_seconds orphaned
DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS — all deleted here.

Updated every caller (run_agent, auxiliary_client, credential_pool, proxy adapter,
runtime_provider, web_server, main, auth_commands, setup) and pruned the matching
test kwargs. Deleted two tests that exercised the removed surface
(test_legacy_auth_mode_is_rejected, test_try_refresh_..._accepts_explicit_auth_mode).

No behavior change: net -134 LOC of dead code.
---
 agent/auxiliary_client.py                   |  8 +--
 agent/credential_pool.py                    |  3 -
 hermes_cli/auth.py                          | 42 +------------
 hermes_cli/auth_commands.py                 |  4 --
 hermes_cli/main.py                          |  3 +-
 hermes_cli/proxy/adapters/nous_portal.py    |  8 +--
 hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py              |  2 -
 hermes_cli/setup.py                         |  2 -
 hermes_cli/web_server.py                    |  3 -
 run_agent.py                                |  9 +--
 tests/hermes_cli/test_auth_nous_provider.py | 66 ++++++---------------
 tests/hermes_cli/test_proxy.py              |  1 -
 tests/run_agent/test_run_agent.py           | 29 ---------
 13 files changed, 23 insertions(+), 157 deletions(-)

diff --git a/agent/auxiliary_client.py b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
index 9224ea263..44b11dfaa 100644
--- a/agent/auxiliary_client.py
+++ b/agent/auxiliary_client.py
@@ -1276,15 +1276,10 @@ def _resolve_nous_runtime_api(*, force_refresh: bool = False) -> Optional[tuple[
     or the credential pool.
     """
     try:
-        from hermes_cli.auth import (
-            NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
-            resolve_nous_runtime_credentials,
-        )
+        from hermes_cli.auth import resolve_nous_runtime_credentials
 
         creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=max(60, int(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_MIN_KEY_TTL_SECONDS", "1800"))),
             timeout_seconds=float(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "15")),
-            inference_auth_mode=NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
             force_refresh=force_refresh,
         )
     except Exception as exc:
@@ -2742,7 +2737,6 @@ def _refresh_provider_credentials(provider: str) -> bool:
             from hermes_cli.auth import resolve_nous_runtime_credentials
 
             creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=max(60, int(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_MIN_KEY_TTL_SECONDS", "1800"))),
                 timeout_seconds=float(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "15")),
                 force_refresh=True,
             )
diff --git a/agent/credential_pool.py b/agent/credential_pool.py
index 8dd5472f2..5eab3bdb8 100644
--- a/agent/credential_pool.py
+++ b/agent/credential_pool.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ from agent.credential_persistence import (
 import hermes_cli.auth as auth_mod
 from hermes_cli.auth import (
     CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN_REFRESH_SKEW_SECONDS,
-    DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS,
     PROVIDER_REGISTRY,
     _auth_store_lock,
     _codex_access_token_is_expiring,
@@ -932,8 +931,6 @@ class CredentialPool:
                 if synced is not entry:
                     entry = synced
                 auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                    min_key_ttl_seconds=DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS,
-                    inference_auth_mode=auth_mod.NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
                     force_refresh=force,
                 )
                 updated = self._sync_nous_entry_from_auth_store(entry)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/auth.py b/hermes_cli/auth.py
index 4beade005..4fc59d926 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/auth.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/auth.py
@@ -73,14 +73,7 @@ DEFAULT_NOUS_CLIENT_ID = "hermes-cli"
 NOUS_INFERENCE_INVOKE_SCOPE = "inference:invoke"
 DEFAULT_NOUS_SCOPE = NOUS_INFERENCE_INVOKE_SCOPE
 NOUS_DEVICE_CODE_SOURCE = "device_code"
-NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO = "auto"
-NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH = "fresh"
-NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODES = frozenset({
-    NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
-    NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH,
-})
 NOUS_AUTH_PATH_INVOKE_JWT = "invoke_jwt"
-DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS = 30 * 60  # 30 minutes
 ACCESS_TOKEN_REFRESH_SKEW_SECONDS = 120       # refresh 2 min before expiry
 NOUS_INVOKE_JWT_MIN_TTL_SECONDS = ACCESS_TOKEN_REFRESH_SKEW_SECONDS
 DEVICE_AUTH_POLL_INTERVAL_CAP_SECONDS = 1     # poll at most every 1s
@@ -1733,17 +1726,6 @@ def _scope_values(raw_scope: Any) -> set[str]:
     return scopes
 
 
-def _normalize_nous_inference_auth_mode(inference_auth_mode: Optional[str]) -> str:
-    mode = str(inference_auth_mode or NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO).strip().lower()
-    if mode not in NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODES:
-        allowed = ", ".join(sorted(NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODES))
-        raise ValueError(
-            "Invalid Nous inference auth mode "
-            f"{inference_auth_mode!r}; expected one of: {allowed}"
-        )
-    return mode
-
-
 def _nous_invoke_jwt_status(
     token: Any,
     *,
@@ -4649,7 +4631,6 @@ def _quarantine_nous_pool_entries(
 def _try_import_shared_nous_state(
     *,
     timeout_seconds: float = 15.0,
-    min_key_ttl_seconds: int = 5 * 60,
 ) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
     """Attempt to rehydrate Nous OAuth state from the shared store.
 
@@ -4692,10 +4673,8 @@ def _try_import_shared_nous_state(
 
             refreshed = refresh_nous_oauth_from_state(
                 state,
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=min_key_ttl_seconds,
                 timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
                 force_refresh=True,
-                inference_auth_mode=NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH,
                 on_state_update=_persist_shared_refresh,
             )
             _write_shared_nous_state(refreshed)
@@ -4965,12 +4944,10 @@ def refresh_nous_oauth_pure(
     expires_at: Optional[str] = None,
     agent_key: Optional[str] = None,
     agent_key_expires_at: Optional[str] = None,
-    min_key_ttl_seconds: int = DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS,
     timeout_seconds: float = 15.0,
     insecure: Optional[bool] = None,
     ca_bundle: Optional[str] = None,
     force_refresh: bool = False,
-    inference_auth_mode: str = NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
     on_state_update: Optional[Callable[[Dict[str, Any], str], None]] = None,
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Refresh Nous OAuth state without mutating auth.json directly.
@@ -4979,7 +4956,6 @@ def refresh_nous_oauth_pure(
     Callers that own persistent state can use it to save the newly rotated
     refresh token before later validation can fail.
     """
-    _normalize_nous_inference_auth_mode(inference_auth_mode)
     state: Dict[str, Any] = {
         "access_token": access_token,
         "refresh_token": refresh_token,
@@ -5001,7 +4977,6 @@ def refresh_nous_oauth_pure(
     timeout = httpx.Timeout(timeout_seconds if timeout_seconds else 15.0)
 
     with httpx.Client(timeout=timeout, headers={"Accept": "application/json"}, verify=verify) as client:
-        del min_key_ttl_seconds
         current_invoke_jwt_status = _nous_invoke_jwt_status(
             state.get("access_token"),
             scope=state.get("scope"),
@@ -5056,10 +5031,8 @@ def refresh_nous_oauth_pure(
 def refresh_nous_oauth_from_state(
     state: Dict[str, Any],
     *,
-    min_key_ttl_seconds: int = DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS,
     timeout_seconds: float = 15.0,
     force_refresh: bool = False,
-    inference_auth_mode: str = NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
     on_state_update: Optional[Callable[[Dict[str, Any], str], None]] = None,
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Refresh Nous OAuth from a state dict. Thin wrapper around refresh_nous_oauth_pure."""
@@ -5076,12 +5049,10 @@ def refresh_nous_oauth_from_state(
         expires_at=state.get("expires_at"),
         agent_key=state.get("agent_key"),
         agent_key_expires_at=state.get("agent_key_expires_at"),
-        min_key_ttl_seconds=min_key_ttl_seconds,
         timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
         insecure=tls.get("insecure"),
         ca_bundle=tls.get("ca_bundle"),
         force_refresh=force_refresh,
-        inference_auth_mode=inference_auth_mode,
         on_state_update=on_state_update,
     )
 
@@ -5157,11 +5128,9 @@ def _sync_nous_pool_from_auth_store() -> None:
 
 def resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
     *,
-    min_key_ttl_seconds: int = DEFAULT_AGENT_KEY_MIN_TTL_SECONDS,
     timeout_seconds: float = 15.0,
     insecure: Optional[bool] = None,
     ca_bundle: Optional[str] = None,
-    inference_auth_mode: str = NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
     force_refresh: bool = False,
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """
@@ -5173,8 +5142,6 @@ def resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
     Returns dict with: provider, base_url, api_key, key_id, expires_at,
     expires_in, source ("invoke_jwt"), and auth_path.
     """
-    inference_auth_mode = _normalize_nous_inference_auth_mode(inference_auth_mode)
-    min_key_ttl_seconds = max(60, int(min_key_ttl_seconds))
     sequence_id = uuid.uuid4().hex[:12]
 
     with _auth_store_lock():
@@ -5246,8 +5213,6 @@ def resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
         _oauth_trace(
             "nous_runtime_credentials_start",
             sequence_id=sequence_id,
-            inference_auth_mode=inference_auth_mode,
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=min_key_ttl_seconds,
             refresh_token_fp=_token_fingerprint(state.get("refresh_token")),
         )
 
@@ -5550,7 +5515,7 @@ def _compute_nous_auth_status() -> Dict[str, Any]:
             "source": "auth_store",
         }
         try:
-            creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=60)
+            creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
             refreshed_state = get_provider_auth_state("nous") or state
             base_status.update(
                 {
@@ -7348,7 +7313,6 @@ def _nous_device_code_login(
     timeout_seconds: float = 15.0,
     insecure: bool = False,
     ca_bundle: Optional[str] = None,
-    min_key_ttl_seconds: int = 5 * 60,
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Run the Nous device-code flow and return full OAuth state without persisting."""
     pconfig = PROVIDER_REGISTRY["nous"]
@@ -7450,10 +7414,8 @@ def _nous_device_code_login(
     try:
         return refresh_nous_oauth_from_state(
             auth_state,
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=min_key_ttl_seconds,
             timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
             force_refresh=False,
-            inference_auth_mode=NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH,
         )
     except AuthError as exc:
         if exc.code == "subscription_required":
@@ -7505,7 +7467,6 @@ def _login_nous(args, pconfig: ProviderConfig) -> None:
                 print("Rehydrating Nous session from shared credentials...")
                 auth_state = _try_import_shared_nous_state(
                     timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
-                    min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60,
                 )
                 if auth_state is None:
                     print("Could not refresh shared credentials — falling back to device-code login.")
@@ -7520,7 +7481,6 @@ def _login_nous(args, pconfig: ProviderConfig) -> None:
                 timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
                 insecure=insecure,
                 ca_bundle=ca_bundle,
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60,
             )
 
         inference_base_url = auth_state["inference_base_url"]
diff --git a/hermes_cli/auth_commands.py b/hermes_cli/auth_commands.py
index 7a2f24b8d..bb791e705 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/auth_commands.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/auth_commands.py
@@ -272,9 +272,6 @@ def auth_add_command(args) -> None:
                 print("Rehydrating Nous session from shared credentials...")
                 rehydrated = auth_mod._try_import_shared_nous_state(
                     timeout_seconds=getattr(args, "timeout", None) or 15.0,
-                    min_key_ttl_seconds=max(
-                        60, int(getattr(args, "min_key_ttl_seconds", 5 * 60))
-                    ),
                 )
                 if rehydrated is not None:
                     custom_label = (getattr(args, "label", None) or "").strip() or None
@@ -297,7 +294,6 @@ def auth_add_command(args) -> None:
             timeout_seconds=getattr(args, "timeout", None) or 15.0,
             insecure=bool(getattr(args, "insecure", False)),
             ca_bundle=getattr(args, "ca_bundle", None),
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=max(60, int(getattr(args, "min_key_ttl_seconds", 5 * 60))),
         )
         # Honor `--label <name>` so nous matches other providers' UX.  The
         # helper embeds this into providers.nous so that label_from_token
diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 96e5161a3..7903ce610 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -3071,7 +3071,7 @@ def _model_flow_nous(config, current_model="", args=None):
 
     # Verify credentials are still valid (catches expired sessions early)
     try:
-        creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60)
+        creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
     except Exception as exc:
         relogin = isinstance(exc, AuthError) and exc.relogin_required
         msg = format_auth_error(exc) if isinstance(exc, AuthError) else str(exc)
@@ -3105,7 +3105,6 @@ def _model_flow_nous(config, current_model="", args=None):
     if not free_tier:
         try:
             refreshed_creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60,
                 force_refresh=True,
             )
             if refreshed_creds:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/proxy/adapters/nous_portal.py b/hermes_cli/proxy/adapters/nous_portal.py
index 064708a67..4759d8dd2 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/proxy/adapters/nous_portal.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/proxy/adapters/nous_portal.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, FrozenSet, Optional
 from hermes_cli.auth import (
     AuthError,
     DEFAULT_NOUS_INFERENCE_URL,
-    NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
     _load_auth_store,
     _auth_store_lock,
     _is_terminal_nous_refresh_error,
@@ -74,9 +73,7 @@ class NousPortalAdapter(UpstreamAdapter):
         )
 
     def get_credential(self) -> UpstreamCredential:
-        return self._get_credential(
-            inference_auth_mode=NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
-        )
+        return self._get_credential()
 
     def get_retry_credential(
         self,
@@ -89,14 +86,12 @@ class NousPortalAdapter(UpstreamAdapter):
             return None
         logger.info("proxy: Nous upstream rejected bearer; force-refreshing invoke JWT")
         return self._get_credential(
-            inference_auth_mode=NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
             force_refresh=True,
         )
 
     def _get_credential(
         self,
         *,
-        inference_auth_mode: str,
         force_refresh: bool = False,
     ) -> UpstreamCredential:
         with self._lock:
@@ -108,7 +103,6 @@ class NousPortalAdapter(UpstreamAdapter):
 
             try:
                 refreshed = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                    inference_auth_mode=inference_auth_mode,
                     force_refresh=force_refresh,
                 )
             except AuthError as exc:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py b/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py
index 608cce53d..1edb8e99e 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/runtime_provider.py
@@ -1129,7 +1129,6 @@ def _resolve_explicit_runtime(
         expires_at = state.get("agent_key_expires_at") or state.get("expires_at")
         if not api_key:
             creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=max(60, int(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_MIN_KEY_TTL_SECONDS", "1800"))),
                 timeout_seconds=float(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "15")),
             )
             api_key = creds.get("api_key", "")
@@ -1344,7 +1343,6 @@ def resolve_runtime_provider(
     if provider == "nous":
         try:
             creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=max(60, int(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_MIN_KEY_TTL_SECONDS", "1800"))),
                 timeout_seconds=float(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "15")),
             )
             return {
diff --git a/hermes_cli/setup.py b/hermes_cli/setup.py
index c9fec686b..3e7a8e6c6 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/setup.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/setup.py
@@ -781,7 +781,6 @@ def setup_model_provider(config: dict, *, quick: bool = False):
                         timeout=15.0,
                         insecure=False,
                         ca_bundle=None,
-                        min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60,
                     )
                 )
                 pool = load_pool(selected_provider)
@@ -2975,7 +2974,6 @@ def _run_portal_one_shot(config: dict) -> None:
             timeout=None,
             insecure=False,
             ca_bundle=None,
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=5 * 60,
         )
         try:
             auth_add_command(ns)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index df286fb6d..0dbd79665 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -2065,7 +2065,6 @@ async def _start_device_code_flow(provider_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
 def _nous_poller(session_id: str) -> None:
     """Background poller that drives a Nous device-code flow to completion."""
     from hermes_cli.auth import (
-        NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH,
         _poll_for_token,
         refresh_nous_oauth_from_state,
     )
@@ -2111,10 +2110,8 @@ def _nous_poller(session_id: str) -> None:
         }
         full_state = refresh_nous_oauth_from_state(
             auth_state,
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=300,
             timeout_seconds=15.0,
             force_refresh=False,
-            inference_auth_mode=NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH,
         )
         from hermes_cli.auth import persist_nous_credentials
         persist_nous_credentials(full_state)
diff --git a/run_agent.py b/run_agent.py
index 7c90d0554..55df748a5 100644
--- a/run_agent.py
+++ b/run_agent.py
@@ -2999,22 +2999,15 @@ class AIAgent:
         self,
         *,
         force: bool = True,
-        inference_auth_mode: str | None = None,
     ) -> bool:
         if self.api_mode != "chat_completions" or self.provider != "nous":
             return False
 
         try:
-            from hermes_cli.auth import (
-                NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO,
-                resolve_nous_runtime_credentials,
-            )
+            from hermes_cli.auth import resolve_nous_runtime_credentials
 
-            selected_auth_mode = inference_auth_mode or NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_AUTO
             creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-                min_key_ttl_seconds=max(60, int(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_MIN_KEY_TTL_SECONDS", "1800"))),
                 timeout_seconds=float(os.getenv("HERMES_NOUS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "15")),
-                inference_auth_mode=selected_auth_mode,
                 force_refresh=force,
             )
         except Exception as exc:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_auth_nous_provider.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_auth_nous_provider.py
index efb5ce47f..32b175a5b 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_auth_nous_provider.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_auth_nous_provider.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_prefers_invoke_jwt_and_mirrors(
     )
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert creds["api_key"] == token
     assert creds["source"] == auth_mod.NOUS_AUTH_PATH_INVOKE_JWT
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_invoke_jwt_is_idempotent(
         lambda: sync_calls.append(True),
     )
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert creds["api_key"] == token
     assert creds["source"] == auth_mod.NOUS_AUTH_PATH_INVOKE_JWT
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_trusts_invoke_jwt_exp_over_stale_metad
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(auth_mod, "_refresh_access_token", _unexpected_refresh)
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert creds["api_key"] == token
     assert creds["source"] == auth_mod.NOUS_AUTH_PATH_INVOKE_JWT
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_does_not_apply_agent_key_ttl_to_invoke
     )
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=1800)
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert creds["api_key"] == token
     assert creds["source"] == auth_mod.NOUS_AUTH_PATH_INVOKE_JWT
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_refreshes_legacy_agent_key_to_invoke_j
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(auth_mod, "_refresh_access_token", _fake_refresh_access_token)
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert refresh_calls == ["refresh-old"]
     assert creds["api_key"] == refreshed_token
@@ -400,27 +400,6 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_refreshes_legacy_agent_key_to_invoke_j
     assert payload["credential_pool"]["nous"][0]["agent_key"] == refreshed_token
 
 
-def test_legacy_auth_mode_is_rejected(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
-    import hermes_cli.auth as auth_mod
-
-    hermes_home = tmp_path / "hermes"
-    token = _invoke_jwt(seconds=3600)
-    _setup_nous_auth(
-        hermes_home,
-        access_token=token,
-        scope=auth_mod.DEFAULT_NOUS_SCOPE,
-        expires_at=_future_iso(3600),
-        expires_in=3600,
-    )
-    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
-
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Invalid Nous inference auth mode"):
-        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-            min_key_ttl_seconds=300,
-            inference_auth_mode="legacy",
-        )
-
-
 def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_reauths_when_invoke_scope_missing(
     tmp_path,
     monkeypatch,
@@ -444,7 +423,7 @@ def test_resolve_nous_runtime_credentials_reauths_when_invoke_scope_missing(
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
 
     with pytest.raises(AuthError) as exc:
-        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert exc.value.code == "missing_inference_invoke_scope"
     assert exc.value.relogin_required is True
@@ -500,7 +479,7 @@ def test_removed_legacy_session_env_var_does_not_change_jwt_auth(tmp_path, monke
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_AGENT_USE_LEGACY_SESSION_KEYS", "true")
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert creds["api_key"] == token
     payload = json.loads((hermes_home / "auth.json").read_text())
@@ -579,7 +558,6 @@ def test_nous_inference_auth_logs_do_not_include_secret_values(
 
     caplog.set_level(logging.INFO, logger="hermes_cli.auth")
     auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-        min_key_ttl_seconds=300,
         force_refresh=True,
     )
 
@@ -678,7 +656,7 @@ def test_get_nous_auth_status_auth_store_fallback(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "hermes_cli.auth.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials",
-        lambda min_key_ttl_seconds=60: {
+        lambda **kwargs: {
             "base_url": "https://inference.example.com/v1",
             "expires_at": "2099-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
             "key_id": "key-1",
@@ -718,7 +696,7 @@ def test_get_nous_auth_status_prefers_runtime_auth_store_over_stale_pool(tmp_pat
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "hermes_cli.auth.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials",
-        lambda min_key_ttl_seconds=60: {
+        lambda **kwargs: {
             "base_url": "https://inference.example.com/v1",
             "expires_at": "2099-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
             "key_id": "key-fresh",
@@ -740,7 +718,7 @@ def test_get_nous_auth_status_reports_revoked_refresh_session(tmp_path, monkeypa
     _setup_nous_auth(hermes_home, access_token="at-123")
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
 
-    def _boom(min_key_ttl_seconds=60):
+    def _boom(**kwargs):
         raise AuthError("Refresh session has been revoked", provider="nous", relogin_required=True)
 
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials", _boom)
@@ -803,7 +781,7 @@ def test_refresh_token_persisted_when_refreshed_jwt_lacks_invoke_scope(tmp_path,
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.auth._refresh_access_token", _fake_refresh_access_token)
 
     with pytest.raises(AuthError) as exc:
-        resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+        resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
     assert exc.value.code == "missing_inference_invoke_scope"
 
     state_after_failure = get_provider_auth_state("nous")
@@ -811,7 +789,7 @@ def test_refresh_token_persisted_when_refreshed_jwt_lacks_invoke_scope(tmp_path,
     assert state_after_failure["refresh_token"] == "refresh-1"
     assert state_after_failure["access_token"] == bad_jwt
 
-    creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
     assert creds["api_key"] == good_jwt
     assert refresh_calls == ["refresh-old", "refresh-1"]
 
@@ -836,7 +814,7 @@ def test_refresh_token_persisted_when_refreshed_token_is_not_jwt(tmp_path, monke
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.auth._refresh_access_token", _fake_refresh_access_token)
 
     with pytest.raises(AuthError) as exc:
-        resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+        resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
     assert exc.value.code == "access_token_not_jwt"
 
     state_after_failure = get_provider_auth_state("nous")
@@ -882,7 +860,7 @@ def test_terminal_refresh_failure_quarantines_tokens(
     monkeypatch.setattr(auth_mod, "_refresh_access_token", _terminal_refresh_failure)
 
     with pytest.raises(AuthError, match="Refresh session has been revoked"):
-        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     state_after_failure = auth_mod.get_provider_auth_state("nous")
     assert state_after_failure is not None
@@ -895,7 +873,7 @@ def test_terminal_refresh_failure_quarantines_tokens(
     assert payload.get("credential_pool", {}).get("nous") == []
 
     with pytest.raises(AuthError, match="No access token found"):
-        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+        auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert refresh_calls == ["refresh-old"]
 
@@ -968,9 +946,9 @@ def test_unusable_access_token_refresh_uses_latest_rotated_refresh_token(tmp_pat
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.auth._refresh_access_token", _fake_refresh_access_token)
 
     with pytest.raises(AuthError) as exc:
-        resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+        resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
     assert exc.value.code == "access_token_not_jwt"
-    creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(min_key_ttl_seconds=300)
+    creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
     assert creds["api_key"] == good_jwt
     assert refresh_calls == ["refresh-old", "refresh-1"]
 
@@ -1251,7 +1229,6 @@ def test_persist_nous_credentials_allows_recovery_from_401(tmp_path, monkeypatch
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.auth._refresh_access_token", _fake_refresh_access_token)
 
     creds = resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-        min_key_ttl_seconds=300,
         force_refresh=True,
     )
     assert creds["api_key"] == new_jwt
@@ -1788,10 +1765,6 @@ def test_try_import_shared_rehydrates_on_success(shared_store_env, monkeypatch):
     def _fake_refresh(state, **kwargs):
         # Simulate portal returning a fresh inference JWT.
         assert kwargs.get("force_refresh") is True
-        assert (
-            kwargs.get("inference_auth_mode")
-            == auth_mod.NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH
-        )
         return {
             **state,
             "access_token": fresh_jwt,
@@ -1914,10 +1887,7 @@ def test_runtime_refresh_uses_newer_shared_token_before_local_stale_token(
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(auth_mod, "_refresh_access_token", _refresh_should_not_happen)
 
-    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials(
-        min_key_ttl_seconds=300,
-        inference_auth_mode=auth_mod.NOUS_INFERENCE_AUTH_MODE_FRESH,
-    )
+    creds = auth_mod.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials()
 
     assert creds["api_key"] == shared_token
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_proxy.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_proxy.py
index 6545bbd51..9559bb555 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_proxy.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_proxy.py
@@ -176,7 +176,6 @@ def test_nous_adapter_retry_credential_force_refreshes_on_jwt_401(tmp_path, monk
     assert cred is not None
     assert cred.bearer == "fresh-jwt-bearer"
     assert mock_resolve.call_args.kwargs["force_refresh"] is True
-    assert mock_resolve.call_args.kwargs["inference_auth_mode"] == "auto"
 
 
 def test_nous_adapter_retry_credential_skips_non_401(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
diff --git a/tests/run_agent/test_run_agent.py b/tests/run_agent/test_run_agent.py
index 41e2fe19e..07ff74930 100644
--- a/tests/run_agent/test_run_agent.py
+++ b/tests/run_agent/test_run_agent.py
@@ -4063,7 +4063,6 @@ class TestNousCredentialRefresh:
 
         assert ok is True
         assert closed["value"] is True
-        assert captured["inference_auth_mode"] == "auto"
         assert captured["force_refresh"] is True
         assert rebuilt["kwargs"]["api_key"] == "new-nous-key"
         assert (
@@ -4072,34 +4071,6 @@ class TestNousCredentialRefresh:
         assert "default_headers" not in rebuilt["kwargs"]
         assert isinstance(agent.client, _RebuiltClient)
 
-    def test_try_refresh_nous_client_credentials_accepts_explicit_auth_mode(
-        self, agent, monkeypatch
-    ):
-        agent.provider = "nous"
-        agent.api_mode = "chat_completions"
-        captured = {}
-
-        def _fake_resolve(**kwargs):
-            captured.update(kwargs)
-            return {
-                "api_key": "new-nous-key",
-                "base_url": "https://inference-api.nousresearch.com/v1",
-            }
-
-        monkeypatch.setattr(
-            "hermes_cli.auth.resolve_nous_runtime_credentials", _fake_resolve
-        )
-
-        with patch("run_agent.OpenAI", return_value=MagicMock()):
-            ok = agent._try_refresh_nous_client_credentials(
-                force=False,
-                inference_auth_mode="fresh",
-            )
-
-        assert ok is True
-        assert captured["inference_auth_mode"] == "fresh"
-        assert captured["force_refresh"] is False
-
 
 class TestCredentialPoolRecovery:
     def test_recover_with_pool_rotates_on_402(self, agent):