diff --git a/internal/memory/embed/ollama.go b/internal/memory/embed/ollama.go
index f1aef461..fe437806 100644
--- a/internal/memory/embed/ollama.go
+++ b/internal/memory/embed/ollama.go
@@ -105,8 +105,11 @@ func NewClientWithModel(model string) *Client {
 		http: &http.Client{
 			Timeout: 30 * time.Second,
 			Transport: &http.Transport{
-				// Bypass system proxy for localhost connections.
-				Proxy: nil,
+				// Honor proxy env for remote endpoints (credential
+				// gateways inject auth at the proxy boundary); bypass
+				// it for localhost/loopback servers, where a stray
+				// HTTPS_PROXY would only get in the way.
+				Proxy: proxyFunc(endpoint),
 				DialContext: (&net.Dialer{
 					Timeout:   5 * time.Second,
 					KeepAlive: 30 * time.Second,
@@ -116,6 +119,20 @@ func NewClientWithModel(model string) *Client {
 	}
 }
 
+// proxyFunc returns an HTTP proxy resolver for the embedding endpoint.
+// Loopback endpoints never use a proxy; everything else follows the
+// standard HTTPS_PROXY/HTTP_PROXY/NO_PROXY environment resolution.
+func proxyFunc(endpoint string) func(*http.Request) (*url.URL, error) {
+	if u, err := url.Parse(endpoint); err == nil {
+		if host := u.Hostname(); host == "localhost" || net.ParseIP(host).IsLoopback() {
+			// Never proxy the loopback: return an explicit no-proxy
+			// resolver rather than nil (a nil Proxy panics when invoked).
+			return func(*http.Request) (*url.URL, error) { return nil, nil }
+		}
+	}
+	return http.ProxyFromEnvironment
+}
+
 // Protocol returns the active wire protocol.
 func (c *Client) Protocol() Protocol {
 	return c.protocol
diff --git a/internal/memory/embed/openai_test.go b/internal/memory/embed/openai_test.go
index 71d18c5b..bb9f1186 100644
--- a/internal/memory/embed/openai_test.go
+++ b/internal/memory/embed/openai_test.go
@@ -256,3 +256,42 @@ func TestOpenAIAvailableNoFallbackOnServerError(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected no embedding probe after 500 models route, got %d", embedRequests)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestOpenAIProxyEnvHonoredForRemoteEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
+	// Remote endpoints must resolve their proxy from the environment:
+	// credential gateways inject auth at the proxy boundary.
+	t.Setenv("MNEMON_EMBED_ENDPOINT", "http://remote.example.test:18000/v1")
+	t.Setenv("HTTPS_PROXY", "http://proxy.example.test:3128")
+	c := NewClient()
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "https://api.example.test/v1/models", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	proxyURL, err := c.http.Transport.(*http.Transport).Proxy(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve proxy: %v", err)
+	}
+	if proxyURL == nil || proxyURL.Host != "proxy.example.test:3128" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected env proxy for remote endpoint, got %v", proxyURL)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOllamaLoopbackBypassesProxyEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	// A loopback endpoint must not be routed through an environment
+	// proxy, even when HTTPS_PROXY is set (local Ollama behind a stray
+	// corporate proxy would otherwise break).
+	t.Setenv("MNEMON_EMBED_ENDPOINT", "http://127.0.0.1:11434")
+	t.Setenv("HTTPS_PROXY", "http://proxy.example.test:3128")
+	c := NewClient()
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	proxyURL, err := c.http.Transport.(*http.Transport).Proxy(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve proxy: %v", err)
+	}
+	if proxyURL != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no proxy for loopback endpoint, got %v", proxyURL)
+	}
+}