diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3644e30b..c8a83576 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ between (`--json` for structured output).
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- `pickModel` / `resolveModelPlan` warn once in dev when a `ModelPick.fallbackModel` is not in the asset catalog (a typo or an undeclared pack), instead of silently shipping a fallback that can never take over.
+
 - Volumetric clouds no longer cut through distant buildings: the proxy dome writes per-fragment depth at the raymarch's first cloud hit, so geometry between the camera and the cloud slab occludes the clouds instead of the dome radius deciding. `STUDIO_STAGE_POST` ambient occlusion is softer (radius 1.1, intensity 1.5) so tower silhouettes stop streaking.
 
 - Separate SDK publication validation from external Games quality checks while retaining the full local and main-branch gates.
diff --git a/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.test.ts b/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.test.ts
index 5066b684..8269e26b 100644
--- a/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.test.ts
+++ b/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
 
+import { resetWarnOnce } from "@jgengine/core/devtools/warnOnce";
 import { createAssetCatalog } from "@jgengine/core/scene/assetCatalog";
 
 import {
@@ -176,6 +177,23 @@ describe("pickModel / resolveModelPlan", () => {
     expect(pickModel(assets, { model: "a/b", fallbackModel: "c/d" })).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
+  test("warns once when fallbackModel names an id the catalog does not have", () => {
+    resetWarnOnce();
+    const warn = console.warn;
+    const messages: string[] = [];
+    console.warn = (text: string) => {
+      messages.push(text);
+    };
+    try {
+      pickModel(assets, { model: "kaykit-adventurers/Rogue", fallbackModel: "dungeon/chest" });
+      pickModel(assets, { model: "kaykit-adventurers/Rogue", fallbackModel: "dungeon/chest" });
+      pickModel(assets, { model: "kaykit-adventurers/Rogue", fallbackModel: "quaternius-modular-scifi/astronautA" });
+    } finally {
+      console.warn = warn;
+    }
+    expect(messages.filter((m) => m.includes('fallbackModel "dungeon/chest"'))).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
   test("resolveModelPlan omits unresolved keys", () => {
     expect(
       resolveModelPlan(assets, {
diff --git a/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.ts b/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.ts
index 2d78c2d5..8881f119 100644
--- a/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.ts
+++ b/packages/shell/src/render/resolveModel.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { AssetCatalog, ModelAssetRef } from "@jgengine/core/scene/assetCatalog";
 import type { ModelConfig } from "@jgengine/core/game/playableGame";
 import type { GameContextModels } from "@jgengine/core/runtime/gameContext";
+import { warnOnce } from "@jgengine/core/devtools/warnOnce";
 
 /**
  * The `ModelConfig` a resolved catalog ref renders as. Stamps `animation: "auto"` so any rigged
@@ -105,6 +106,12 @@ export type ModelPick = {
  * @internal
  */
 export function pickModel(assets: AssetCatalog, pick: ModelPick): ModelConfig | undefined {
+  if (pick.fallbackModel !== undefined && !assets.has(pick.fallbackModel)) {
+    warnOnce(
+      `pickModel:fallback:${pick.fallbackModel}`,
+      `[jgengine] fallbackModel "${pick.fallbackModel}" is not in the asset catalog, so it can never stand in for "${pick.model ?? "(none)"}" — fix the id or declare its pack in the catalog sources.`,
+    );
+  }
   for (const id of [pick.model, pick.fallbackModel]) {
     if (id === undefined) continue;
     const resolved = tryResolveCatalogModel(id, assets);