diff --git a/controller/metaproxy_provision.go b/controller/metaproxy_provision.go
index 363ff5285ee2..36decc712dbe 100644
--- a/controller/metaproxy_provision.go
+++ b/controller/metaproxy_provision.go
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func validateMetaproxyProvisionRequest(
 		return errors.New("channels exceeds the 256-channel limit")
 	}
 
-	modelRatios, err := parseRatioMap("ModelRatio", request.Options.ModelRatio, false)
+	modelRatios, err := parseRatioMap("ModelRatio", request.Options.ModelRatio, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -219,9 +219,13 @@ func validateMetaproxyProvisionRequest(
 			continue
 		}
 		for _, modelName := range models {
-			if _, priced := modelRatios[modelName]; !priced {
+			ratio, priced := modelRatios[modelName]
+			if !priced {
 				return fmt.Errorf("enabled model %q in an offered group is missing from ModelRatio", modelName)
 			}
+			if ratio == 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("enabled model %q in an offered group must have a positive ModelRatio", modelName)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/controller/metaproxy_provision_test.go b/controller/metaproxy_provision_test.go
index 5a1d18719fac..ca4eb47eccab 100644
--- a/controller/metaproxy_provision_test.go
+++ b/controller/metaproxy_provision_test.go
@@ -85,6 +85,20 @@ func TestValidateMetaproxyProvisionRequestAllowsUnpricedModelInUnpublishedGroup(
 	require.NoError(t, validateMetaproxyProvisionRequest(request, request.Digest, "none"))
 }
 
+func TestValidateMetaproxyProvisionRequestAllowsLegacyZeroRatioOutsideManagedChannels(t *testing.T) {
+	request := validMetaproxyProvisionRequest()
+	request.Options.ModelRatio = `{"model-one":1,"legacy-disabled-model":0}`
+	require.NoError(t, validateMetaproxyProvisionRequest(request, request.Digest, "none"))
+}
+
+func TestValidateMetaproxyProvisionRequestRejectsZeroRatioForOfferedModel(t *testing.T) {
+	request := validMetaproxyProvisionRequest()
+	request.Options.ModelRatio = `{"model-one":0}`
+	err := validateMetaproxyProvisionRequest(request, request.Digest, "none")
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "model-one")
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "positive ModelRatio")
+}
+
 func TestValidateMetaproxyProvisionRequestRejectsMalformedRatioJson(t *testing.T) {
 	request := validMetaproxyProvisionRequest()
 	request.Options.GroupRatio = `{"standard":"free"}`