diff --git a/movie_editor/backend/builder.py b/movie_editor/backend/builder.py
index b2ff1c63..d97aae73 100644
--- a/movie_editor/backend/builder.py
+++ b/movie_editor/backend/builder.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from . import config
 from . import pipeline_wiring
-from .nodes import WIDGET_PRIMITIVES, connection_inputs, node_outputs, _combo_default
+from .nodes import WIDGET_PRIMITIVES, connection_inputs, node_outputs, _combo_default, _combo_choices
 
 # ── fixed core ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # logical id -> class_type
@@ -172,6 +172,32 @@ def _widget_defaults(node_def: Optional[dict]) -> dict:
     return out
 
 
+def _widget_choices(node_def: Optional[dict]) -> dict:
+    """{name: [choices]} for combo widgets, per the LIVE object_info (e.g. installed
+    LoRA files). Used to coerce a saved slot value that no longer exists (renamed/
+    removed file) back to a current choice instead of being sent to ComfyUI as-is."""
+    out = {}
+    if not node_def:
+        return out
+    inp = node_def.get("input") or {}
+    for group in ("required", "optional"):
+        for name, spec in (inp.get(group) or {}).items():
+            if not isinstance(spec, (list, tuple)) or not spec:
+                continue
+            t = spec[0]
+            opts = spec[1] if len(spec) > 1 and isinstance(spec[1], dict) else {}
+            if opts.get("forceInput"):
+                continue
+            if isinstance(t, list):
+                if t:
+                    out[name] = t
+            elif isinstance(t, str) and "COMBO" in t.upper():
+                choices = _combo_choices(opts)
+                if choices:
+                    out[name] = choices
+    return out
+
+
 # ── reference workflow ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 def load_reference() -> dict:
@@ -311,12 +337,18 @@ def build(object_info: dict, models_config: dict, params: dict, media: dict | No
         slot_def[s["id"]] = nd
         inputs = _widget_defaults(nd)
         defaults = dict(inputs)
+        choices = _widget_choices(nd)
         inputs.update(s.get("inputs") or {})
-        # Coerce stale/invalid combo values (e.g. a saved "[object Object]" or a dict from
-        # an earlier bug) back to the node's default key.
+        # Coerce stale/invalid combo values back to the node's current default key:
+        # a saved "[object Object]" or dict from an earlier bug, or a value (e.g. a
+        # LoRA filename) that was renamed/removed and no longer appears in the live
+        # choices list — the Models menu shows the live choices, so the saved value
+        # should fall back to match what the selector actually displays.
         for wname, wval in list(inputs.items()):
             if isinstance(wval, dict) or wval == "[object Object]":
                 inputs[wname] = defaults.get(wname, "")
+            elif wname in choices and wval not in choices[wname]:
+                inputs[wname] = defaults.get(wname, choices[wname][0])
         graph[sid] = {"class_type": cls, "inputs": inputs}
         if cls not in object_info:
             msg = f"Slot node '{cls}' is not installed in ComfyUI."
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/models.js b/movie_editor/frontend/models.js
index f2e29918..517cb9e3 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/models.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/models.js
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@
       ctrl = el("select");
       (spec.choices || []).forEach((c) => { const o = el("option", null, String(c)); o.value = c; if (c === value) o.selected = true; ctrl.append(o); });
       if (!spec.choices || !spec.choices.length) { ctrl.append(el("option", null, "(none installed)")); ctrl.disabled = true; }
+      // A saved value that no longer exists (renamed/removed file) leaves nothing
+      // selected — the browser then shows the first option without persisting it,
+      // so the stale value silently goes to generation. Persist what's displayed.
+      else if (value != null && !spec.choices.includes(value)) onChange(spec.choices[0]);
       ctrl.onchange = () => onChange(ctrl.value);
     } else if (spec.kind === "boolean") {
       ctrl = el("input"); ctrl.type = "checkbox"; ctrl.checked = !!value; ctrl.style.width = "auto";
diff --git a/movie_editor/tests/test_builder.py b/movie_editor/tests/test_builder.py
index 5219fd01..2099cec9 100644
--- a/movie_editor/tests/test_builder.py
+++ b/movie_editor/tests/test_builder.py
@@ -115,6 +115,16 @@ def test_explicit_wires_and_autowire():
     assert report["ambiguous"] == []
 
 
+def test_stale_combo_value_coerced_to_live_choice():
+    # "old.safetensors" was renamed/removed; the live spec only has "m.safetensors".
+    models = {"full_control": True, "slots": [
+        {"id": "u", "node_class": "UnetLoader", "inputs": {"unet_name": "old.safetensors"},
+         "wires": {"MODEL": "port:FunPackStudio.model"}},
+    ]}
+    graph, _ = builder.build(OI, models, PARAMS)
+    assert graph["slot_u"]["inputs"]["unet_name"] == "m.safetensors"
+
+
 def test_linked_inputs_drive_multiple_node_values():
     models = {
         "slots": [