diff --git a/tools/voice_mode.py b/tools/voice_mode.py
index 7744d99b4c8d..db491d26e352 100644
--- a/tools/voice_mode.py
+++ b/tools/voice_mode.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import shlex
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
+from pathlib import Path
 import tempfile
 import threading
 import time
@@ -122,6 +123,19 @@ from hermes_constants import is_termux as _is_termux_environment
 def _voice_capture_install_hint() -> str:
     if _is_termux_environment():
         return "pkg install python-numpy portaudio && python -m pip install sounddevice"
+    # If we're running inside a venv (e.g. the bundled Hermes venv at
+    # ~/.hermes/profiles/<name>/hermes-agent/venv/), `pip install` on the
+    # user's PATH won't reach the right site-packages — the bare hint sends
+    # them off to whichever Python their shell resolves first, which on macOS
+    # is often a system Python under Rosetta with a totally separate wheel
+    # index. Point them at the actual interpreter pip is sitting next to.
+    try:
+        if sys.prefix != getattr(sys, "base_prefix", sys.prefix):
+            pip_in_venv = Path(sys.prefix) / "bin" / "pip"
+            if pip_in_venv.exists():
+                return f"{pip_in_venv} install sounddevice numpy"
+    except Exception:
+        pass
     return "pip install sounddevice numpy"