diff --git a/packages/cli/src/interactiveCli.tsx b/packages/cli/src/interactiveCli.tsx
index e93351eb07..87997220d3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/interactiveCli.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/interactiveCli.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ import { ConsolePatcher } from './ui/utils/ConsolePatcher.js';
 import { UserSimulator } from './services/UserSimulator.js';
 import { registerCleanup, setupTtyCheck } from './utils/cleanup.js';
 import { PassThrough } from 'node:stream';
+
+interface RenderMetrics {
+  renderTime: number;
+  output: string;
+  staticOutput?: string;
+}
 import {
   type StartupWarning,
   type Config,
@@ -137,6 +143,7 @@ export async function startInteractiveUI(
   const simulateUser = config.getSimulateUser();
   const simulatedStdin = new PassThrough({ encoding: 'utf8' });
 
+  let lastFrame: string | undefined;
   const instance = render(
     process.env['DEBUG'] ? (
       <React.StrictMode>
@@ -152,9 +159,10 @@ export async function startInteractiveUI(
       stdin: (simulateUser ? simulatedStdin : process.stdin) as any,
       exitOnCtrlC: false,
       isScreenReaderEnabled: config.getScreenReader(),
-      onRender: ({ renderTime }: { renderTime: number }) => {
-        if (renderTime > SLOW_RENDER_MS) {
-          recordSlowRender(config, renderTime);
+      onRender: (metrics: RenderMetrics) => {
+        lastFrame = metrics.output;
+        if (metrics.renderTime > SLOW_RENDER_MS) {
+          recordSlowRender(config, metrics.renderTime);
         }
         profiler.reportFrameRendered();
       },
@@ -186,7 +194,11 @@ export async function startInteractiveUI(
     });
 
   if (simulateUser) {
-    const simulator = new UserSimulator(config, instance, simulatedStdin);
+    const simulator = new UserSimulator(
+      config,
+      () => lastFrame,
+      simulatedStdin,
+    );
     simulator.start();
     registerCleanup(() => simulator.stop());
   }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/services/UserSimulator.ts b/packages/cli/src/services/UserSimulator.ts
index 903838a398..f4c3acdaa3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/services/UserSimulator.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/services/UserSimulator.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,9 @@
  * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
-import type { Config} from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
-import { debugLogger, LlmRole } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import type { Config } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import { debugLogger, LlmRole, resolveModel } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type { Writable } from 'node:stream';
-import type { Instance } from 'ink';
 
 export class UserSimulator {
   private isRunning = false;
@@ -16,7 +15,7 @@ export class UserSimulator {
 
   constructor(
     private readonly config: Config,
-    private readonly instance: Instance,
+    private readonly getScreen: () => string | undefined,
     private readonly stdinBuffer: Writable,
   ) {}
 
@@ -42,8 +41,7 @@ export class UserSimulator {
 
     try {
       this.isProcessing = true;
-      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-type-assertion, @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-      const screen = (this.instance as any).lastFrame() as string | undefined;
+      const screen = this.getScreen();
       if (!screen || screen === this.lastScreenContent) return;
 
       const strippedScreen = screen.replace(
@@ -74,9 +72,17 @@ For example:
 - To enter a new prompt, output the text followed by \n.
 Do NOT output markdown, explanations of your thought process, or quotes. Output ONLY the raw characters to send or <WAIT>.`;
 
+      const model = resolveModel(
+        this.config.getModel(),
+        false, // useGemini3_1
+        false, // useCustomToolModel
+        this.config.getHasAccessToPreviewModel?.() ?? true,
+        this.config,
+      );
+
       const response = await contentGenerator.generateContent(
         {
-          model: this.config.getModel(),
+          model,
           contents: [
             {
               role: 'user',