diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts
index a2bea8ba7..fad2def1f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelect.test.ts
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ describe('WidgetSelect Value Binding', () => {
       expect(emitted![0]).toContain('100')
     })
 
-    it('displays value not in options list (deserialized workflow value)', async () => {
+    it('displays value not in options list as placeholder (deserialized workflow value)', async () => {
       // Simulate a workflow loaded with a value that's no longer in the options
       // (e.g., a deleted model file)
       const currentOptions = ['model1.ckpt', 'model2.safetensors']
@@ -191,30 +191,29 @@ describe('WidgetSelect Value Binding', () => {
       const wrapper = mountComponent(widget, deserializedValue)
 
       const select = wrapper.findComponent({ name: 'Select' })
-      const options = select.props('options')
 
-      // The current value should be included in the options
-      expect(options).toContain(deserializedValue)
-      // And it should be first
-      expect(options[0]).toBe(deserializedValue)
-      // Original options should still be present
+      // The deserialized value should be shown as the placeholder
+      expect(select.props('placeholder')).toBe(deserializedValue)
+
+      // The options should remain unchanged (not include the deserialized value)
+      const options = select.props('options')
+      expect(options).not.toContain(deserializedValue)
       expect(options).toContain('model1.ckpt')
       expect(options).toContain('model2.safetensors')
     })
 
-    it('does not duplicate value if it exists in options', async () => {
+    it('uses widget placeholder when value exists in options', async () => {
       const options = ['option1', 'option2', 'option3']
-      const widget = createMockWidget('option2', { values: options })
+      const widget = createMockWidget('option2', {
+        values: options,
+        placeholder: 'Select an option'
+      })
       const wrapper = mountComponent(widget, 'option2')
 
       const select = wrapper.findComponent({ name: 'Select' })
-      const selectOptions = select.props('options') as string[]
 
-      // Should not duplicate the value
-      expect(selectOptions).toEqual(options)
-      expect(
-        selectOptions.filter((opt: string) => opt === 'option2')
-      ).toHaveLength(1)
+      // Should use the widget's placeholder since value is in options
+      expect(select.props('placeholder')).toBe('Select an option')
     })
   })
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue
index dced27b67..2a1fa1dba 100644
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue
+++ b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDefault.vue
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     <Select
       v-model="localValue"
       :options="selectOptions"
+      :placeholder="selectPlaceholder"
       v-bind="combinedProps"
       :class="cn(WidgetInputBaseClass, 'w-full text-xs')"
       :aria-label="widget.name"
@@ -64,9 +65,27 @@ const selectOptions = computed(() => {
   const options = props.widget.options
 
   if (options?.values && Array.isArray(options.values)) {
-    return ensureValueInOptions(options.values, localValue.value)
+    return options.values
   }
 
   return []
 })
+
+// Show the deserialized value as placeholder when it's not in the options list
+// This preserves legacy behavior where workflow values are shown even if deleted
+const selectPlaceholder = computed(() => {
+  const currentValue = localValue.value
+
+  // If there's a current value and it's not in the options, show it as placeholder
+  if (
+    currentValue != null &&
+    currentValue !== '' &&
+    !selectOptions.value.includes(currentValue)
+  ) {
+    return String(currentValue)
+  }
+
+  // Otherwise use the default placeholder from options
+  return props.widget.options?.placeholder
+})
 </script>
diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue
index 1c55ddf0d..cb8499b7d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue
+++ b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/components/WidgetSelectDropdown.vue
@@ -75,12 +75,7 @@ const inputItems = computed<DropdownItem[]>(() => {
     return []
   }
 
-  const valuesWithCurrent = ensureValueInOptions(
-    values,
-    typeof localValue.value === 'string' ? localValue.value : undefined
-  )
-
-  return valuesWithCurrent.map((value: string, index: number) => ({
+  return values.map((value: string, index: number) => ({
     id: `input-${index}`,
     mediaSrc: getMediaUrl(value, 'input'),
     name: value,
@@ -134,6 +129,20 @@ const dropdownItems = computed<DropdownItem[]>(() => {
 })
 
 const mediaPlaceholder = computed(() => {
+  const currentValue = localValue.value
+  const values = props.widget.options?.values || []
+
+  // If there's a current value and it's not in the options, show it as placeholder
+  // This preserves legacy behavior where workflow values are shown even if deleted
+  if (
+    currentValue != null &&
+    currentValue !== '' &&
+    typeof currentValue === 'string' &&
+    !values.includes(currentValue)
+  ) {
+    return currentValue
+  }
+
   const options = props.widget.options
 
   if (options?.placeholder) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/utils/widgetOptionsUtils.test.ts b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/utils/widgetOptionsUtils.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 21fb2aa01..000000000
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/utils/widgetOptionsUtils.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,117 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
-
-import { ensureValueInOptions } from './widgetOptionsUtils'
-
-describe('ensureValueInOptions', () => {
-  describe('when value exists in options', () => {
-    it('returns original options without duplicates', () => {
-      const options = ['option1', 'option2', 'option3']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 'option2')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-      expect(result).toHaveLength(3)
-    })
-
-    it('handles first option', () => {
-      const options = ['first', 'second', 'third']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 'first')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-    })
-
-    it('handles last option', () => {
-      const options = ['first', 'second', 'third']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 'third')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-    })
-  })
-
-  describe('when value is missing from options', () => {
-    it('prepends missing value to options array', () => {
-      const options = ['option1', 'option2', 'option3']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 'deleted_model.safetensors')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual([
-        'deleted_model.safetensors',
-        'option1',
-        'option2',
-        'option3'
-      ])
-      expect(result).toHaveLength(4)
-    })
-
-    it('preserves deserialized workflow values', () => {
-      const options = ['current_model.ckpt']
-      const oldValue = 'old_model_from_workflow.ckpt'
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, oldValue)
-
-      expect(result[0]).toBe(oldValue)
-      expect(result).toContain('current_model.ckpt')
-    })
-
-    it('handles numeric values', () => {
-      const options = [1, 2, 3]
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 99)
-
-      expect(result).toEqual([99, 1, 2, 3])
-    })
-  })
-
-  describe('when value is null or empty', () => {
-    it('returns original options for undefined', () => {
-      const options = ['option1', 'option2']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, undefined)
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-    })
-
-    it('returns original options for null', () => {
-      const options = ['option1', 'option2']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, null)
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-    })
-
-    it('returns original options for empty string', () => {
-      const options = ['option1', 'option2']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, '')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-    })
-  })
-
-  describe('edge cases', () => {
-    it('handles empty options array', () => {
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions([], 'some_value')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(['some_value'])
-    })
-
-    it('handles options with special characters', () => {
-      const options = ['normal.txt', 'with spaces.png', 'special@#$.jpg']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(
-        options,
-        'another file with spaces.png'
-      )
-
-      expect(result[0]).toBe('another file with spaces.png')
-      expect(result).toHaveLength(4)
-    })
-
-    it('creates new array instance (does not mutate input)', () => {
-      const options = ['option1', 'option2']
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 'option1')
-
-      expect(result).not.toBe(options)
-      expect(result).toEqual(options)
-    })
-
-    it('handles readonly arrays', () => {
-      const options = ['a', 'b', 'c'] as const
-      const result = ensureValueInOptions(options, 'd')
-
-      expect(result).toEqual(['d', 'a', 'b', 'c'])
-    })
-  })
-})
diff --git a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/utils/widgetOptionsUtils.ts b/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/utils/widgetOptionsUtils.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index e9e1f2ea8..000000000
--- a/src/renderer/extensions/vueNodes/widgets/utils/widgetOptionsUtils.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Utility functions for widget option handling
- */
-
-/**
- * Ensures the current value is included in the options array.
- * This preserves legacy behavior where deserialized workflow values
- * can be shown even if they're not in the current options list
- * (e.g., deleted models, removed files, etc.)
- *
- * @param options - The available options from widget.options.values
- * @param currentValue - The current widget value
- * @returns Options array with current value prepended if missing
- */
-export function ensureValueInOptions<T extends string | number>(
-  options: readonly T[],
-  currentValue: T | undefined | null
-): T[] {
-  // Early return for empty/null values
-  if (currentValue == null || currentValue === '') {
-    return [...options]
-  }
-
-  // If value already exists, return original options
-  if (options.includes(currentValue)) {
-    return [...options]
-  }
-
-  // Prepend missing value to options
-  return [currentValue, ...options]
-}