diff --git a/soup_cli/commands/deploy.py b/soup_cli/commands/deploy.py
index 3d64f7e..abedbef 100644
--- a/soup_cli/commands/deploy.py
+++ b/soup_cli/commands/deploy.py
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ def ollama(
 
     # --- Remove mode ---
     if remove:
+        valid_name, name_err = validate_model_name(remove)
+        if not valid_name:
+            console.print(f"[red]Invalid model name:[/] {name_err}")
+            raise typer.Exit(1)
+
         version = detect_ollama()
         if not version:
             console.print("[red]Ollama not found.[/] Install from https://ollama.com")
diff --git a/tests/test_deploy_ollama.py b/tests/test_deploy_ollama.py
index cec4708..89a2164 100644
--- a/tests/test_deploy_ollama.py
+++ b/tests/test_deploy_ollama.py
@@ -469,6 +469,14 @@ def test_deploy_remove_failure(mock_rm, mock_detect):
     assert "not found" in result.output.lower()
 
 
+def test_deploy_remove_invalid_name():
+    result = runner.invoke(
+        app, ["deploy", "ollama", "--remove", "bad/name", "--yes"]
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 1
+    assert "invalid" in result.output.lower()
+
+
 @patch(f"{_OLLAMA}.detect_ollama", return_value=None)
 def test_deploy_remove_no_ollama(mock_detect):
     result = runner.invoke(app, ["deploy", "ollama", "--remove", "soup-test", "--yes"])