diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.impl.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.impl.ts
index a994a3ccea6..3a9351dc211 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.impl.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.impl.ts
@@ -321,9 +321,6 @@ export async function handleDirectiveOnly(
   if (directives.hasFastDirective && directives.fastMode !== undefined) {
     sessionEntry.fastMode = directives.fastMode;
   }
-  if (shouldDowngradeXHigh) {
-    sessionEntry.thinkingLevel = "high";
-  }
   if (directives.hasVerboseDirective && directives.verboseLevel) {
     applyVerboseOverride(sessionEntry, directives.verboseLevel);
   }