diff --git a/main.ts b/main.ts
index 65210be..d821ad4 100644
--- a/main.ts
+++ b/main.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ export default class NibbleAI extends Plugin {
 			new Notice("Already recording");
 			return;
 		}
+		if (!this.audioHandler.getTranscriptionApiKey()) {
+			new Notice("✘ Add your API key for the selected transcription provider in NibbleAI settings");
+			return;
+		}
 		try {
 			await this.recorder.startRecording();
 			this.statusBar.updateStatus(RecordingStatus.Recording);
diff --git a/src/transcription/AudioHandler.ts b/src/transcription/AudioHandler.ts
index a6fbc48..4bcd70b 100644
--- a/src/transcription/AudioHandler.ts
+++ b/src/transcription/AudioHandler.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export class AudioHandler {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private getTranscriptionApiKey(): string {
+	getTranscriptionApiKey(): string {
 		switch (this.plugin.settings.transcriptionProvider) {
 			case "groq":
 				return this.plugin.settings.groqApiKey;