diff --git a/extensions/openai/realtime-voice-provider.ts b/extensions/openai/realtime-voice-provider.ts
index acbb5fa0e838..6e12eed10130 100644
--- a/extensions/openai/realtime-voice-provider.ts
+++ b/extensions/openai/realtime-voice-provider.ts
@@ -787,6 +787,9 @@ class OpenAIRealtimeVoiceBridge implements RealtimeVoiceBridge {
         attempt.resolve();
         return;
       }
+      // Auth preparation owns its own timeout. Start the socket deadline only
+      // after connection parameters are available.
+      attempt.startTimeout();
       const url = resolvedConnection.url;
       this.connectionUrl = resolvedConnection.url;
       const debugProxy = resolveDebugProxySettings();
diff --git a/extensions/xai/realtime-voice-bridge.ts b/extensions/xai/realtime-voice-bridge.ts
index 785162adad16..1dc505e69e76 100644
--- a/extensions/xai/realtime-voice-bridge.ts
+++ b/extensions/xai/realtime-voice-bridge.ts
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ export class XaiRealtimeVoiceBridge extends XaiRealtimeVoiceEvents implements Re
         attempt.resolve();
         return;
       }
+      // Credential refresh has its own bounded lifecycle. Arm the socket timeout
+      // only once valid connection parameters are ready.
+      attempt.startTimeout();
       const { url, headers } = resolvedConnection;
       this.connectionUrl = url;
       const proxyAgent = createDebugProxyWebSocketAgent(resolveDebugProxySettings());
diff --git a/src/talk/realtime-session-lifecycle.ts b/src/talk/realtime-session-lifecycle.ts
index f5e59f50b3c0..3b3925c9d283 100644
--- a/src/talk/realtime-session-lifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/talk/realtime-session-lifecycle.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ type RealtimeVoiceConnectAttempt = {
   reject: (error: Error) => void;
   rejectStartup: (error: Error) => boolean;
   resolve: (providerReady?: boolean) => void;
+  startTimeout: () => void;
 };
 
 type RealtimeVoiceConnectAttemptOptions = {
@@ -174,8 +175,11 @@ export class RealtimeVoiceSessionLifecycle {
       rejectPromise = reject;
     });
     let removeAbortListener = () => {};
+    let timeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
     const cleanup = () => {
-      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      if (timeout) {
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+      }
       removeAbortListener();
     };
     const resolve = (providerReady = false) => {
@@ -203,17 +207,22 @@ export class RealtimeVoiceSessionLifecycle {
       reject(error);
       return true;
     };
-    const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
-      if (
-        this.isCurrent(options.connection) &&
-        !ready &&
-        this.terminalOutcome(options.connection) !== "completed"
-      ) {
-        startupFailed = true;
-        options.onTimeout();
-        reject(options.timeoutError());
+    const startTimeout = () => {
+      if (settled || timeout) {
+        return;
       }
-    }, options.timeoutMs);
+      timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+        if (
+          this.isCurrent(options.connection) &&
+          !ready &&
+          this.terminalOutcome(options.connection) !== "completed"
+        ) {
+          startupFailed = true;
+          options.onTimeout();
+          reject(options.timeoutError());
+        }
+      }, options.timeoutMs);
+    };
     const onAbort = () => {
       const outcome = this.terminalOutcome(options.connection);
       options.onAbort(outcome);
@@ -243,6 +252,7 @@ export class RealtimeVoiceSessionLifecycle {
       reject,
       rejectStartup,
       resolve,
+      startTimeout,
     };
   }