diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 4c01091..7e16af1 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -13,7 +13,14 @@ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
 # CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=your-oauth-token-here
 
 # =============================================================================
-# OPTION 2: Router Mode (use alternative providers)
+# OPTION 2: Custom Base URL (compatible proxies, gateways, etc.)
+# =============================================================================
+# Point the SDK at an alternative Anthropic-compatible endpoint.
+# ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://your-proxy.example.com
+# ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN=your-auth-token   # Auth token for the custom endpoint
+
+# =============================================================================
+# OPTION 3: Router Mode (use alternative providers)
 # =============================================================================
 # Enable router mode by running: ./shannon start ... ROUTER=true
 # Then configure ONE of the providers below:
@@ -27,15 +34,16 @@ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
 # ROUTER_DEFAULT=openrouter,google/gemini-3-flash-preview
 
 # =============================================================================
-# Model Tier Overrides (Anthropic API / OAuth / Bedrock)
+# Model Tier Overrides (Anthropic API / OAuth / Custom Base URL / Bedrock)
 # =============================================================================
 # Override which model is used for each tier. Defaults are used if not set.
+# Optional for direct Anthropic and custom base URL modes. Required for Bedrock/Vertex.
 # ANTHROPIC_SMALL_MODEL=...     # Small tier  (default: claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)
 # ANTHROPIC_MEDIUM_MODEL=...    # Medium tier (default: claude-sonnet-4-6)
 # ANTHROPIC_LARGE_MODEL=...     # Large tier  (default: claude-opus-4-6)
 
 # =============================================================================
-# OPTION 3: AWS Bedrock
+# OPTION 4: AWS Bedrock
 # =============================================================================
 # https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/machine-learning/accelerate-ai-development-with-amazon-bedrock-api-keys/
 # Requires the model tier overrides above to be set with Bedrock-specific model IDs.
@@ -49,7 +57,7 @@ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
 # AWS_BEARER_TOKEN_BEDROCK=your-bearer-token
 
 # =============================================================================
-# OPTION 4: Google Vertex AI
+# OPTION 5: Google Vertex AI
 # =============================================================================
 # https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/partner-models/use-partner-models
 # Requires a GCP service account with roles/aiplatform.user.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 55cc05f..271d5ce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ Shannon Pro supports a self-hosted runner model (similar to GitHub Actions self-
   - [Configuration (Optional)](#configuration-optional)
   - [AWS Bedrock](#aws-bedrock)
   - [Google Vertex AI](#google-vertex-ai)
+  - [Custom Base URL](#custom-base-url)
   - [[EXPERIMENTAL - UNSUPPORTED] Router Mode (Alternative Providers)](#experimental---unsupported-router-mode-alternative-providers)
   - [Output and Results](#output-and-results)
 - [Sample Reports](#-sample-reports)
@@ -454,6 +455,33 @@ ANTHROPIC_LARGE_MODEL=claude-opus-4-6
 
 Set `CLOUD_ML_REGION=global` for global endpoints, or a specific region like `us-east5`. Some models may not be available on global endpoints — see the [Vertex AI Model Garden](https://console.cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/model-garden) for region availability.
 
+### Custom Base URL
+
+Shannon supports pointing the SDK at any Anthropic-compatible endpoint (proxies, gateways, etc.) via `ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL`.
+
+#### Quick Setup
+
+1. Add your endpoint and auth token to `.env`:
+
+```bash
+ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://your-proxy.example.com
+ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN=your-auth-token
+```
+
+2. Optionally override model tiers (defaults are used if not set):
+
+```bash
+ANTHROPIC_SMALL_MODEL=claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
+ANTHROPIC_MEDIUM_MODEL=claude-sonnet-4-6
+ANTHROPIC_LARGE_MODEL=claude-opus-4-6
+```
+
+3. Run Shannon as usual:
+
+```bash
+./shannon start URL=https://example.com REPO=repo-name
+```
+
 ### [EXPERIMENTAL - UNSUPPORTED] Router Mode (Alternative Providers)
 
 Shannon can experimentally route requests through alternative AI providers using claude-code-router. This mode is not officially supported and is intended primarily for:
diff --git a/shannon b/shannon
index 0a96eba..8655cdc 100755
--- a/shannon
+++ b/shannon
@@ -142,9 +142,12 @@ cmd_start() {
     exit 1
   fi
 
-  # Check for API key (Bedrock and router modes can bypass this)
+  # Check for API key (Bedrock, Vertex, router, and custom base URL modes can bypass this)
   if [ -z "$ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" ] && [ -z "$CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN" ]; then
-    if [ "$CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK" = "1" ]; then
+    if [ -n "$ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL" ] && [ -n "$ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN" ]; then
+      # Custom base URL mode — use auth token as API key for SDK initialization
+      echo "Using custom base URL: $ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL"
+    elif [ "$CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK" = "1" ]; then
       # Bedrock mode — validate required AWS credentials
       MISSING=""
       [ -z "$AWS_REGION" ] && MISSING="$MISSING AWS_REGION"
diff --git a/src/services/preflight.ts b/src/services/preflight.ts
index d050d05..e1b6dbe 100644
--- a/src/services/preflight.ts
+++ b/src/services/preflight.ts
@@ -160,10 +160,35 @@ function classifySdkError(
 async function validateCredentials(
   logger: ActivityLogger
 ): Promise<Result<void, PentestError>> {
-  // 1. Router mode — can't validate provider keys, just warn
+  // 1. Custom base URL — validate endpoint is reachable via SDK query
   if (process.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL) {
-    logger.warn('Router mode detected — skipping API credential validation');
-    return ok(undefined);
+    const baseUrl = process.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL;
+    logger.info(`Validating custom base URL: ${baseUrl}`);
+
+    try {
+      for await (const message of query({ prompt: 'hi', options: { model: resolveModel('small'), maxTurns: 1 } })) {
+        if (message.type === 'assistant' && message.error) {
+          return classifySdkError(message.error, `custom endpoint (${baseUrl})`);
+        }
+        if (message.type === 'result') {
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+
+      logger.info('Custom base URL OK');
+      return ok(undefined);
+    } catch (error) {
+      const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+      return err(
+        new PentestError(
+          `Custom base URL unreachable: ${baseUrl} — ${message}`,
+          'network',
+          false,
+          { baseUrl },
+          ErrorCode.AUTH_FAILED
+        )
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   // 2. Bedrock mode — validate required AWS credentials are present