diff --git a/src/pipecat/processors/frameworks/rtvi.py b/src/pipecat/processors/frameworks/rtvi.py
index 49095b2e4..b75b65627 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/processors/frameworks/rtvi.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/processors/frameworks/rtvi.py
@@ -343,6 +343,9 @@ class RTVIProcessor(FrameProcessor):
             self._client_ready = True
             await self._maybe_send_bot_ready()
 
+    async def handle_message(self, message: RTVIMessage):
+        await self._message_queue.put(message)
+
     async def handle_function_call(
         self,
         function_name: str,
@@ -492,20 +495,21 @@ class RTVIProcessor(FrameProcessor):
     async def _message_task_handler(self):
         while True:
             try:
-                frame = await self._message_queue.get()
-                await self._handle_message(frame)
+                message = await self._message_queue.get()
+                await self._handle_message(message)
                 self._message_queue.task_done()
             except asyncio.CancelledError:
                 break
 
-    async def _handle_message(self, frame: TransportMessageFrame):
+    async def _handle_transport_message(self, frame: TransportMessageFrame):
         try:
             message = RTVIMessage.model_validate(frame.message)
+            await self._message_queue.put(message)
         except ValidationError as e:
-            await self.send_error(f"Invalid incoming message: {e}")
-            logger.warning(f"Invalid incoming  message: {e}")
-            return
+            await self.send_error(f"Invalid RTVI transport message: {e}")
+            logger.warning(f"Invalid RTVI transport message: {e}")
 
+    async def _handle_message(self, message: RTVIMessage):
         try:
             match message.type:
                 case "client-ready":
@@ -531,8 +535,8 @@ class RTVIProcessor(FrameProcessor):
                     await self._send_error_response(message.id, f"Unsupported type {message.type}")
 
         except ValidationError as e:
-            await self._send_error_response(message.id, f"Invalid incoming message: {e}")
-            logger.warning(f"Invalid incoming  message: {e}")
+            await self._send_error_response(message.id, f"Invalid message: {e}")
+            logger.warning(f"Invalid message: {e}")
         except Exception as e:
             await self._send_error_response(message.id, f"Exception processing message: {e}")
             logger.warning(f"Exception processing message: {e}")