From 9b9e6ce2ab3d6b5a3a341083bb49e0c0b41d010d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: G30 <50341825+silentoplayz@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2026 06:32:22 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] fix: correct empty STT_ENGINE handling and improve TTS error
 response (#20534)

- Remove incorrect 403 check that blocked STT when ENGINE="" (local whisper)
- Change TTS empty ENGINE check from 403 to 404 for proper semantics
---
 backend/open_webui/routers/audio.py | 10 ++--------
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/backend/open_webui/routers/audio.py b/backend/open_webui/routers/audio.py
index 2a64a3598..52e0182ca 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/routers/audio.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/routers/audio.py
@@ -334,8 +334,8 @@ def load_speech_pipeline(request):
 async def speech(request: Request, user=Depends(get_verified_user)):
     if request.app.state.config.TTS_ENGINE == "":
         raise HTTPException(
-            status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
-            detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.ACCESS_PROHIBITED,
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
+            detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.NOT_FOUND,
         )
 
     if user.role != "admin" and not has_permission(
@@ -1169,12 +1169,6 @@ def transcription(
     language: Optional[str] = Form(None),
     user=Depends(get_verified_user),
 ):
-    if request.app.state.config.STT_ENGINE == "":
-        raise HTTPException(
-            status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
-            detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.ACCESS_PROHIBITED,
-        )
-
     if user.role != "admin" and not has_permission(
         user.id, "chat.stt", request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS
     ):