diff --git a/src/tools/mod.rs b/src/tools/mod.rs
index 3dd7c6331..6140de52a 100644
--- a/src/tools/mod.rs
+++ b/src/tools/mod.rs
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ pub mod tool_search;
 pub mod traits;
 pub mod verifiable_intent;
 pub mod web_fetch;
+mod web_search_provider_routing;
 pub mod web_search_tool;
 pub mod workspace_tool;
 
diff --git a/src/tools/web_search_provider_routing.rs b/src/tools/web_search_provider_routing.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fd372f4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tools/web_search_provider_routing.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum WebSearchProviderRoute {
+    DuckDuckGo,
+    Brave,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct WebSearchProviderResolution {
+    pub route: WebSearchProviderRoute,
+    pub canonical_provider: &'static str,
+    pub used_fallback: bool,
+}
+
+pub const DEFAULT_WEB_SEARCH_PROVIDER: &str = "duckduckgo";
+const BRAVE_PROVIDER: &str = "brave";
+
+pub fn resolve_web_search_provider(raw_provider: &str) -> WebSearchProviderResolution {
+    let normalized = raw_provider.trim().to_ascii_lowercase();
+    match normalized.as_str() {
+        "" | "default" | "duckduckgo" | "ddg" | "duck-duck-go" | "duck_duck_go" => {
+            WebSearchProviderResolution {
+                route: WebSearchProviderRoute::DuckDuckGo,
+                canonical_provider: DEFAULT_WEB_SEARCH_PROVIDER,
+                used_fallback: false,
+            }
+        }
+        "brave" | "brave-search" | "brave_search" => WebSearchProviderResolution {
+            route: WebSearchProviderRoute::Brave,
+            canonical_provider: BRAVE_PROVIDER,
+            used_fallback: false,
+        },
+        _ => WebSearchProviderResolution {
+            route: WebSearchProviderRoute::DuckDuckGo,
+            canonical_provider: DEFAULT_WEB_SEARCH_PROVIDER,
+            used_fallback: true,
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_aliases_to_duckduckgo() {
+        let ddg_aliases = ["duckduckgo", "ddg", "duck-duck-go", "duck_duck_go"];
+        for alias in ddg_aliases {
+            let resolved = resolve_web_search_provider(alias);
+            assert_eq!(resolved.route, WebSearchProviderRoute::DuckDuckGo);
+            assert_eq!(resolved.canonical_provider, DEFAULT_WEB_SEARCH_PROVIDER);
+            assert!(!resolved.used_fallback);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_aliases_to_brave() {
+        let brave_aliases = ["brave", "brave-search", "brave_search"];
+        for alias in brave_aliases {
+            let resolved = resolve_web_search_provider(alias);
+            assert_eq!(resolved.route, WebSearchProviderRoute::Brave);
+            assert_eq!(resolved.canonical_provider, BRAVE_PROVIDER);
+            assert!(!resolved.used_fallback);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_unknown_provider_falls_back_to_default() {
+        let resolved = resolve_web_search_provider("bing");
+        assert_eq!(resolved.route, WebSearchProviderRoute::DuckDuckGo);
+        assert_eq!(resolved.canonical_provider, DEFAULT_WEB_SEARCH_PROVIDER);
+        assert!(resolved.used_fallback);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/tools/web_search_tool.rs b/src/tools/web_search_tool.rs
index a1ef6470e..2b0183a40 100644
--- a/src/tools/web_search_tool.rs
+++ b/src/tools/web_search_tool.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use super::traits::{Tool, ToolResult};
+use super::web_search_provider_routing::{resolve_web_search_provider, WebSearchProviderRoute};
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use regex::Regex;
 use serde_json::json;
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 /// `[web_search] brave_api_key` field, and uses the result. This ensures that
 /// keys set or rotated after boot, and encrypted keys, are correctly picked up.
 pub struct WebSearchTool {
+    /// Provider selector as configured by user. Routed via provider aliases at runtime.
     provider: String,
     /// Boot-time key snapshot (may be `None` if not yet configured at startup).
     boot_brave_api_key: Option<String>,
@@ -300,13 +302,18 @@ impl Tool for WebSearchTool {
 
         tracing::info!("Searching web for: {}", query);
 
-        let result = match self.provider.as_str() {
-            "duckduckgo" | "ddg" => self.search_duckduckgo(query).await?,
-            "brave" => self.search_brave(query).await?,
-            _ => anyhow::bail!(
-                "Unknown search provider: '{}'. Set tools.web_search.provider to 'duckduckgo' or 'brave' in config.toml",
-                self.provider
-            ),
+        let resolution = resolve_web_search_provider(&self.provider);
+        if resolution.used_fallback {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "Unknown web search provider '{}'; falling back to '{}'",
+                self.provider,
+                resolution.canonical_provider
+            );
+        }
+
+        let result = match resolution.route {
+            WebSearchProviderRoute::DuckDuckGo => self.search_duckduckgo(query).await?,
+            WebSearchProviderRoute::Brave => self.search_brave(query).await?,
         };
 
         Ok(ToolResult {