diff --git a/docker-compose.macmini.yml b/docker-compose.macmini.yml
index 60945c714..135e5cba8 100644
--- a/docker-compose.macmini.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.macmini.yml
@@ -973,6 +973,7 @@ services:
       MATRIX_ACCESS_TOKEN: ${MATRIX_TTS_BOT_TOKEN}
       MATRIX_ALLOWED_ROOMS: ${MATRIX_TTS_BOT_ROOMS:-}
       TTS_URL: http://host.docker.internal:3022
+      TTS_API_KEY: ${TTS_INTERNAL_API_KEY:-}
       DEFAULT_VOICE: af_heart
       DEFAULT_SPEED: 1.0
       MAX_TEXT_LENGTH: 500
diff --git a/services/matrix-tts-bot/.env.example b/services/matrix-tts-bot/.env.example
index 973351e18..1cd9b5a49 100644
--- a/services/matrix-tts-bot/.env.example
+++ b/services/matrix-tts-bot/.env.example
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ MATRIX_STORAGE_PATH=./data/bot-storage.json
 
 # TTS Service (mana-tts)
 TTS_URL=http://localhost:3022
+TTS_API_KEY=sk-internal-xxx  # Internal API key for mana-tts service
 
 # TTS Defaults
 DEFAULT_VOICE=af_heart
diff --git a/services/matrix-tts-bot/CLAUDE.md b/services/matrix-tts-bot/CLAUDE.md
index 729338bc3..2f55c6653 100644
--- a/services/matrix-tts-bot/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/services/matrix-tts-bot/CLAUDE.md
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ MATRIX_STORAGE_PATH=./data/bot-storage.json
 
 # TTS Service
 TTS_URL=http://localhost:3022
+TTS_API_KEY=sk-internal-xxx
 
 # Defaults
 DEFAULT_VOICE=af_heart
diff --git a/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/config/configuration.ts b/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/config/configuration.ts
index 69f4a9ac2..c5b34c80b 100644
--- a/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/config/configuration.ts
+++ b/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/config/configuration.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default () => ({
 	},
 	tts: {
 		url: process.env.TTS_URL || 'http://localhost:3022',
+		apiKey: process.env.TTS_API_KEY || '',
 		defaultVoice: process.env.DEFAULT_VOICE || 'af_heart',
 		defaultSpeed: parseFloat(process.env.DEFAULT_SPEED || '1.0'),
 		maxTextLength: parseInt(process.env.MAX_TEXT_LENGTH || '500', 10),
diff --git a/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/tts/tts.service.ts b/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/tts/tts.service.ts
index 2dfb40754..05f801e46 100644
--- a/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/tts/tts.service.ts
+++ b/services/matrix-tts-bot/src/tts/tts.service.ts
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@ export interface VoicesResponse {
 export class TtsService {
 	private readonly logger = new Logger(TtsService.name);
 	private readonly ttsUrl: string;
+	private readonly apiKey: string;
 
 	constructor(private configService: ConfigService) {
 		this.ttsUrl = this.configService.get<string>('tts.url', 'http://localhost:3022');
+		this.apiKey = this.configService.get<string>('tts.apiKey', '');
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -32,9 +34,14 @@ export class TtsService {
 			`Synthesizing: "${text.substring(0, 50)}..." with voice=${voice}, speed=${speed}`
 		);
 
+		const headers: Record<string, string> = { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' };
+		if (this.apiKey) {
+			headers['X-API-Key'] = this.apiKey;
+		}
+
 		const response = await fetch(url, {
 			method: 'POST',
-			headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+			headers,
 			body: JSON.stringify({
 				text,
 				voice,
@@ -61,7 +68,12 @@ export class TtsService {
 	async getVoices(): Promise<VoicesResponse> {
 		const url = `${this.ttsUrl}/voices`;
 
-		const response = await fetch(url);
+		const headers: Record<string, string> = {};
+		if (this.apiKey) {
+			headers['X-API-Key'] = this.apiKey;
+		}
+
+		const response = await fetch(url, { headers });
 
 		if (!response.ok) {
 			throw new Error(`Failed to get voices: ${response.status}`);