diff --git a/ai-hub/app/core/providers/llm/general.py b/ai-hub/app/core/providers/llm/general.py
index c195c04..179232b 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/core/providers/llm/general.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/core/providers/llm/general.py
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
         self.api_key = api_key
         self.system_prompt = system_prompt
         
+        # Validate API Key early
+        if not api_key or "*" in str(api_key):
+             raise ValueError(f"Invalid or missing API key for LLM provider '{model_name}'. Please configure it in Settings.")
+
         # Determine max tokens dynamically via LiteLLM info
         max_tokens = 8000
         try:
@@ -47,7 +51,11 @@
         try:
             return litellm.completion(**request)
         except Exception as e:
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to get response from LiteLLM for model '{self.model_name}': {e}")
+            # Distinguish between network errors and missing credits
+            err_msg = str(e)
+            if "authentication" in err_msg.lower() or "401" in err_msg:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"Authentication failed for {self.model_name}. Check your API key.")
+            raise RuntimeError(f"LiteLLM Error ({self.model_name}): {err_msg}")
 
     async def aforward(self, prompt=None, messages=None, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -66,4 +74,7 @@
         try:
             return await litellm.acompletion(**request)
         except Exception as e:
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to get response from LiteLLM for model '{self.model_name}': {e}")
\ No newline at end of file
+            err_msg = str(e)
+            if "authentication" in err_msg.lower() or "401" in err_msg:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"Authentication failed for {self.model_name}. Check your API key.")
+            raise RuntimeError(f"LiteLLM Error ({self.model_name}): {err_msg}")
\ No newline at end of file