diff --git a/src/rai_s2s/rai_s2s/asr/models/silero_vad.py b/src/rai_s2s/rai_s2s/asr/models/silero_vad.py
index 8599a24ad..9e9119358 100644
--- a/src/rai_s2s/rai_s2s/asr/models/silero_vad.py
+++ b/src/rai_s2s/rai_s2s/asr/models/silero_vad.py
@@ -59,6 +59,15 @@ class SileroVAD(BaseVoiceDetectionModel):
 
     def __init__(self, sampling_rate: Literal[8000, 16000] = 16000, threshold=0.5):
         super(SileroVAD, self).__init__()
+        try:
+            thr = float(threshold)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
+            raise ValueError("threshold must be a finite number") from e
+        if thr != thr or thr in (float("inf"), float("-inf")):  # NaN/inf
+            raise ValueError("threshold must be a finite number")
+        if not (0.0 < thr <= 1.0):
+            raise ValueError("threshold must be in the interval (0, 1]")
+        threshold = thr
         self.model_name = "silero_vad"
         self.model, _ = torch.hub.load(
             repo_or_dir="snakers4/silero-vad",
diff --git a/tests/s2s/__init__.py b/tests/s2s/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tests/s2s/test_silero_vad_threshold.py b/tests/s2s/test_silero_vad_threshold.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ecc8e98d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/s2s/test_silero_vad_threshold.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2026
+import importlib.util
+import sys
+import types
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+MOD_PATH = ROOT / "src/rai_s2s/rai_s2s/asr/models/silero_vad.py"
+BASE_PATH = ROOT / "src/rai_s2s/rai_s2s/asr/models/base.py"
+
+
+def _ensure_numpy():
+    try:
+        import numpy  # noqa: F401
+        return
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    np = types.ModuleType("numpy")
+    np.__path__ = []  # type: ignore
+    npt = types.ModuleType("numpy.typing")
+    npt.NDArray = object
+    sys.modules["numpy"] = np
+    sys.modules["numpy.typing"] = npt
+
+
+def _load_silero_module():
+    _ensure_numpy()
+    torch = MagicMock()
+    sys.modules["torch"] = torch
+    for name in ["rai_s2s", "rai_s2s.asr", "rai_s2s.asr.models"]:
+        if name not in sys.modules:
+            m = types.ModuleType(name)
+            m.__path__ = []  # type: ignore
+            sys.modules[name] = m
+    spec_b = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("base_under_test_silero", BASE_PATH)
+    base = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec_b)
+    assert spec_b and spec_b.loader
+    spec_b.loader.exec_module(base)
+    sys.modules["rai_s2s.asr.models"].BaseVoiceDetectionModel = base.BaseVoiceDetectionModel
+    # patch import target used by silero
+    import rai_s2s.asr.models as models_pkg  # type: ignore
+    models_pkg.BaseVoiceDetectionModel = base.BaseVoiceDetectionModel
+
+    # Also satisfy "from rai_s2s.asr.models import BaseVoiceDetectionModel"
+    # by ensuring submodule package has attribute (already)
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("silero_vad_under_test", MOD_PATH)
+    mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    assert spec and spec.loader
+    # Pre-insert parent modules so relative-style imports via package path work
+    sys.modules["rai_s2s.asr.models.silero_vad"] = mod
+    # Make import try find BaseVoiceDetectionModel - monkeypatch importlib
+    import builtins
+    real_import = builtins.__import__
+
+    def guarded(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=(), level=0):
+        if name == "rai_s2s.asr.models" or name.endswith("asr.models"):
+            m = sys.modules["rai_s2s.asr.models"]
+            return m
+        return real_import(name, globals, locals, fromlist, level)
+
+    builtins.__import__ = guarded
+    try:
+        spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
+    finally:
+        builtins.__import__ = real_import
+    mod.torch = torch
+    return mod
+
+
+def test_silero_vad_rejects_bad_threshold_before_hub_load():
+    mod = _load_silero_module()
+
+    def boom(*a, **k):
+        raise AssertionError("torch.hub.load should not run for invalid threshold")
+
+    with patch.object(mod.torch.hub, "load", side_effect=boom):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="threshold"):
+            mod.SileroVAD(threshold=0)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="threshold"):
+            mod.SileroVAD(threshold=-0.1)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="threshold"):
+            mod.SileroVAD(threshold=float("nan"))
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="threshold"):
+            mod.SileroVAD(threshold=1.5)