diff --git a/src/routes/transcribe.js b/src/routes/transcribe.js
index e0706b9..ff0e7a7 100644
--- a/src/routes/transcribe.js
+++ b/src/routes/transcribe.js
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ function getTranscribeProvider() {
   if (env === 'local')   return 'local';
   if (env === 'aws')     return 'aws';
   if (env === 'openai')  return 'openai';
-  // Auto-detect
-  if (process.env.LITELLM_API_BASE && litellmClient) return 'litellm';
+  // Auto-detect: only use LiteLLM for STT if LITELLM_STT_MODEL is explicitly set
+  // Having LITELLM_API_BASE for AI text does NOT automatically route audio through LiteLLM
+  if (process.env.LITELLM_STT_MODEL && process.env.LITELLM_API_BASE && litellmClient) return 'litellm';
   if (isAWSTranscribeConfigured()) return 'aws';
   return 'openai';
 }