diff --git a/tests/tools/test_transcription_tools.py b/tests/tools/test_transcription_tools.py
index c7cf8950239..a424a06e17a 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_transcription_tools.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_transcription_tools.py
@@ -6,13 +6,20 @@ end-to-end dispatch.  All external dependencies are mocked.
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
 import struct
 import subprocess
+import types
 import wave
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 import pytest
 
+if "faster_whisper" not in sys.modules:
+    faster_whisper_stub = types.ModuleType("faster_whisper")
+    faster_whisper_stub.WhisperModel = MagicMock(name="WhisperModel")
+    sys.modules["faster_whisper"] = faster_whisper_stub
+
 
 # ============================================================================
 # Fixtures
@@ -761,6 +768,23 @@ class TestValidateAudioFileEdgeCases:
         assert result is not None
         assert "not a file" in result["error"]
 
+    def test_symlink_with_supported_extension_is_rejected(self, tmp_path):
+        if not hasattr(os, "symlink"):
+            pytest.skip("symlinks are not supported on this platform")
+
+        target = tmp_path / "target.txt"
+        target.write_bytes(b"not audio")
+        link = tmp_path / "linked.wav"
+        try:
+            os.symlink(target, link)
+        except (OSError, NotImplementedError) as exc:
+            pytest.skip(f"symlink creation unavailable: {exc}")
+
+        from tools.transcription_tools import _validate_audio_file
+        result = _validate_audio_file(str(link))
+        assert result is not None
+        assert "symbolic link" in result["error"]
+
     def test_stat_oserror(self, tmp_path):
         f = tmp_path / "test.ogg"
         f.write_bytes(b"data")
diff --git a/tools/transcription_tools.py b/tools/transcription_tools.py
index 0a8e6e5054f..91396cca93e 100644
--- a/tools/transcription_tools.py
+++ b/tools/transcription_tools.py
@@ -998,6 +998,8 @@ def _validate_audio_file(file_path: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
     """Validate the audio file.  Returns an error dict or None if OK."""
     audio_path = Path(file_path)
 
+    if os.path.islink(audio_path):
+        return {"success": False, "transcript": "", "error": f"Path is a symbolic link: {file_path}"}
     if not audio_path.exists():
         return {"success": False, "transcript": "", "error": f"Audio file not found: {file_path}"}
     if not audio_path.is_file():