diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/hermes.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/hermes.test.ts
index 6b4775742368..a1dc61c6095f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/hermes.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/hermes.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   listSessions,
   listSidebarSessions,
   resetSidebarBatchCapability,
+  setApiRequestProfile,
   speakText,
   transcribeAudio
 } from './hermes'
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ describe('Hermes REST helpers', () => {
   })
 
   afterEach(() => {
+    setApiRequestProfile(null)
     vi.restoreAllMocks()
     Reflect.deleteProperty(window, 'hermesDesktop')
   })
@@ -337,7 +339,8 @@ describe('Hermes REST helpers', () => {
     expect(audioSpeakRequestTimeoutMs('x'.repeat(100_000))).toBe(AUDIO_SPEAK_MAX_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS)
   })
 
-  it('uses an extended timeout for blocking TTS synthesis', async () => {
+  it('routes blocking TTS synthesis through the active profile backend', async () => {
+    setApiRequestProfile('rhaegal')
     api.mockResolvedValueOnce({
       data_url: 'data:audio/mpeg;base64,AA==',
       mime_type: 'audio/mpeg',
@@ -356,6 +359,7 @@ describe('Hermes REST helpers', () => {
       body: { text: 'Read this aloud' },
       method: 'POST',
       path: '/api/audio/speak',
+      profile: 'rhaegal',
       timeoutMs: AUDIO_SPEAK_MIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS
     })
   })
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/hermes.ts b/apps/desktop/src/hermes.ts
index 1bb60c7e3d8c..645d0c6fa3a3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/hermes.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/hermes.ts
@@ -1527,9 +1527,9 @@ export function transcribeAudio(dataUrl: string, mimeType?: string): Promise<Aud
 
 export function speakText(text: string): Promise<AudioSpeakResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<AudioSpeakResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/audio/speak',
     method: 'POST',
-    ...profileScoped(),
     body: { text },
     // TTS blocks until provider synthesis, file read, and base64 encoding
     // finish. Remote providers and large messages regularly exceed the