diff --git a/src/pipecat/utils/tracing/service_decorators.py b/src/pipecat/utils/tracing/service_decorators.py
index af9985d54..b21bf6048 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/utils/tracing/service_decorators.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/utils/tracing/service_decorators.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ def traced_stt(func: Optional[Callable] = None, *, name: Optional[str] = None) -
                         add_stt_span_attributes(
                             span=current_span,
                             service_name=service_class_name,
-                            model=getattr(self, "model_name", settings.get("model", "unknown")),
+                            model=getattr(self, "model_name") or settings.get("model", "unknown"),
                             transcript=transcript,
                             is_final=is_final,
                             language=str(language) if language else None,