diff --git a/sdk/cliproxy/auth/manager.go b/sdk/cliproxy/auth/manager.go
index 92eda109..3b06beb0 100644
--- a/sdk/cliproxy/auth/manager.go
+++ b/sdk/cliproxy/auth/manager.go
@@ -787,27 +787,31 @@ func (m *Manager) pickNext(ctx context.Context, provider, model string, opts cli
 		return nil, nil, &Error{Code: "executor_not_found", Message: "executor not registered"}
 	}
 	candidates := make([]*Auth, 0, len(m.auths))
-	for _, auth := range m.auths {
-		if auth.Provider != provider || auth.Disabled {
+	for _, candidate := range m.auths {
+		if candidate.Provider != provider || candidate.Disabled {
 			continue
 		}
-		if _, used := tried[auth.ID]; used {
+		if _, used := tried[candidate.ID]; used {
 			continue
 		}
-		candidates = append(candidates, auth.Clone())
+		candidates = append(candidates, candidate)
 	}
-	m.mu.RUnlock()
 	if len(candidates) == 0 {
+		m.mu.RUnlock()
 		return nil, nil, &Error{Code: "auth_not_found", Message: "no auth available"}
 	}
-	auth, errPick := m.selector.Pick(ctx, provider, model, opts, candidates)
+	selected, errPick := m.selector.Pick(ctx, provider, model, opts, candidates)
 	if errPick != nil {
+		m.mu.RUnlock()
 		return nil, nil, errPick
 	}
-	if auth == nil {
+	if selected == nil {
+		m.mu.RUnlock()
 		return nil, nil, &Error{Code: "auth_not_found", Message: "selector returned no auth"}
 	}
-	return auth, executor, nil
+	authCopy := selected.Clone()
+	m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return authCopy, executor, nil
 }
 
 func (m *Manager) persist(ctx context.Context, auth *Auth) error {