diff --git a/src/pipecat/transports/services/tavus.py b/src/pipecat/transports/services/tavus.py
index 10ae001e0..4e8ab208a 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/transports/services/tavus.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/transports/services/tavus.py
@@ -126,6 +126,31 @@ class TavusApi:
             response = await r.json()
             logger.debug(f"Fetched Tavus persona: {response}")
             return response["persona_name"]
+    
+    async def _validate_persona(self, persona_id: str):
+        """Validate that the persona's microphone is enabled.
+        
+        Args:
+            persona_id: ID of the persona to validate.
+        """
+        if self._dev_room_url is not None:
+            return
+
+        url = f"{self.BASE_URL}/personas/{persona_id}"
+        async with self._session.get(url, headers=self._headers) as r:
+            r.raise_for_status()
+            response = await r.json()
+            logger.debug(f"Fetched Tavus persona: {response}")
+            try:
+                transport_settings = response.get("layers", {}).get("transport", {})
+                microphone_enabled = transport_settings.get("input_settings", {}).get("microphone", "")
+                if microphone_enabled != "enabled":
+                    raise Exception("Microphone is not enabled for this persona. Please update the persona or use the persona pipecat-stream.")
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Error validating persona {persona_id}: {e}")
+                raise e
+            logger.info(f"Persona {persona_id} is valid")
+            return True
 
 
 class TavusCallbacks(BaseModel):
@@ -200,6 +225,7 @@ class TavusTransportClient:
 
     async def _initialize(self) -> str:
         """Initialize the conversation and return the room URL."""
+        await self._api._validate_persona(self._persona_id)
         response = await self._api.create_conversation(self._replica_id, self._persona_id)
         self._conversation_id = response["conversation_id"]
         return response["conversation_url"]