diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 4635b9c8adf0..04528f20933c 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -12222,6 +12222,11 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
                     _cprint(f"  {_DIM}{reqs['hint']}{_RST}")
             return False
 
+        if announce and not reqs.get("deps_available", True):
+            # Fresh install: the engine constructor lazy-installs its deps
+            # (onnxruntime is a large wheel) — tell the user why this is slow.
+            _cprint(f"{_DIM}Installing wake word engine (first use — this may take a minute)...{_RST}")
+
         self._wake_start_new_session = bool(cfg.get("start_new_session", True))
         try:
             start_listening(self._on_wake_word, owner=self, config=cfg)
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_wake_word.py b/tests/tools/test_wake_word.py
index afe74ea6f4bb..45e87b36eec7 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_wake_word.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_wake_word.py
@@ -112,6 +112,53 @@ def test_requirements_unavailable_without_audio(monkeypatch):
     assert r["audio_available"] is False
 
 
+def test_requirements_fresh_install_lazy_allowed(monkeypatch):
+    """Deps missing + lazy installs allowed → available, so /wake on can
+    reach the engine constructor's ``lazy_deps.ensure()`` call.
+
+    Regression: the audio probe imports sounddevice/numpy — packages the
+    lazy installer would fetch — so gating ``available`` on it made the
+    lazy-install path unreachable on a fresh machine (the /wake on handler
+    printed the pip hint and bailed before ensure() ever ran).
+    """
+    def _boom():
+        raise AssertionError("audio probe must not run while deps are missing")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ww, "_audio_available", _boom)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.lazy_deps.is_available", lambda f: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.lazy_deps._allow_lazy_installs", lambda: True)
+    r = ww.check_wake_word_requirements({"provider": "openwakeword"})
+    assert r["available"] is True
+    assert r["deps_available"] is False
+    assert r["hint"] == ""
+
+
+def test_requirements_fresh_install_lazy_disabled(monkeypatch):
+    """Deps missing + lazy installs disabled → unavailable, with the manual
+    pip command as the remediation hint."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ww, "_audio_available", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.lazy_deps.is_available", lambda f: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.lazy_deps._allow_lazy_installs", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "tools.lazy_deps.feature_install_command", lambda f: f"uv pip install {f}"
+    )
+    r = ww.check_wake_word_requirements({"provider": "openwakeword"})
+    assert r["available"] is False
+    assert r["deps_available"] is False
+    assert "install" in r["hint"]
+
+
+def test_requirements_deps_present_but_no_audio_hint(monkeypatch):
+    """Once deps ARE installed, a failing audio probe blocks with a mic hint
+    (lazy installs can't fix a missing audio device)."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ww, "_audio_available", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.lazy_deps.is_available", lambda f: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("tools.lazy_deps._allow_lazy_installs", lambda: True)
+    r = ww.check_wake_word_requirements({"provider": "openwakeword"})
+    assert r["available"] is False
+    assert "audio device" in r["hint"]
+
+
 # ── openWakeWord engine (bundled model + base-model fetch) ───────────────
 
 
diff --git a/tools/wake_word.py b/tools/wake_word.py
index a1bb8e43bd80..e1211a61811c 100644
--- a/tools/wake_word.py
+++ b/tools/wake_word.py
@@ -507,20 +507,28 @@ def check_wake_word_requirements(cfg: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None) -> Dict[s
     else:
         feature = "wake.openwakeword"
     deps_ok = lazy_deps.is_available(feature)
-    audio_ok = _audio_available()
+    lazy_ok = lazy_deps._allow_lazy_installs()
+    # The audio probe imports sounddevice + numpy — two of the very packages
+    # the lazy installer would fetch — so it can only be trusted once the
+    # feature's deps are installed. On a fresh install (deps missing, lazy
+    # installs allowed) we defer the mic check: the engine constructors call
+    # ``lazy_deps.ensure()`` and the stream-open surfaces any real audio
+    # problem. Gating ``available`` on the probe here made the lazy-install
+    # path unreachable (the probe always failed before ensure() could run).
+    audio_ok = _audio_available() if deps_ok else False
     key_ok = True
     hint = ""
 
     if provider == "porcupine" and not (os.getenv("PORCUPINE_ACCESS_KEY") or "").strip():
         key_ok = False
         hint = "Set PORCUPINE_ACCESS_KEY (free key at https://console.picovoice.ai)."
-    elif not deps_ok:
+    elif not deps_ok and not lazy_ok:
         hint = lazy_deps.feature_install_command(feature) or ""
-    elif not audio_ok:
+    elif deps_ok and not audio_ok:
         hint = "Microphone capture needs sounddevice + numpy and a working audio device."
 
     return {
-        "available": audio_ok and (deps_ok or lazy_deps._allow_lazy_installs()) and key_ok,
+        "available": key_ok and ((deps_ok and audio_ok) or (not deps_ok and lazy_ok)),
         "provider": provider,
         "deps_available": deps_ok,
         "audio_available": audio_ok,