diff --git a/ai-hub/app/api/routes/stt.py b/ai-hub/app/api/routes/stt.py
index a0fec90..63c8118 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/api/routes/stt.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/api/routes/stt.py
@@ -53,15 +53,16 @@
                 from app.config import settings
                 active_provider = provider_name or prefs.get("active_provider") or settings.STT_PROVIDER
                 active_prefs = prefs.get("providers", {}).get(active_provider, {})
-                if active_prefs:
-                    from app.core.providers.factory import get_stt_provider
-                    kwargs = {k: v for k, v in active_prefs.items() if k not in ["api_key", "model"]}
-                    provider_override = get_stt_provider(
-                        provider_name=active_provider,
-                        api_key=active_prefs.get("api_key"),
-                        model_name=active_prefs.get("model", ""),
-                        **kwargs
-                    )
+                
+                from app.core.providers.factory import get_stt_provider
+                # kwargs extract non-key/model settings (like temperature, etc.)
+                kwargs = {k: v for k, v in active_prefs.items() if k not in ["api_key", "model"]}
+                provider_override = get_stt_provider(
+                    provider_name=active_provider,
+                    api_key=active_prefs.get("api_key"),
+                    model_name=active_prefs.get("model", ""),
+                    **kwargs
+                )
             
             # Use the STT service to get the transcript
             transcript = await services.stt_service.transcribe(
diff --git a/ai-hub/app/core/providers/stt/general.py b/ai-hub/app/core/providers/stt/general.py
index c05b4fc..cff877c 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/core/providers/stt/general.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/core/providers/stt/general.py
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
         self.model_name = model_name
         self.api_key = api_key
         self.kwargs = kwargs
+        
+        # Validation for missing keys
+        if not api_key or "*" in str(api_key):
+             import logging
+             logging.getLogger(__name__).warning(f"GeneralSTTProvider: api_key is missing or masked for model {model_name}")
 
     async def transcribe_audio(self, audio_data: bytes) -> str:
         """Transcribes audio data using LiteLLM atranscription."""
diff --git a/ai-hub/app/core/services/stt.py b/ai-hub/app/core/services/stt.py
index fed6830..3a7504f 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/core/services/stt.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/core/services/stt.py
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@
         """
         provider = provider_override or self.default_stt_provider
         if not provider:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="No active STT provider is configured.")
+            logger.error("STT transcription attempt but no STT provider is configured (globally or override).")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=400, 
+                detail="No active STT provider is configured. Please set an API key/provider in settings or user preferences."
+            )
         logger.info(f"Starting transcription for audio data ({len(audio_bytes)} bytes).")
 
         if not audio_bytes: