diff --git a/lib/tasks/transcribe.js b/lib/tasks/transcribe.js
index 4226e4e0..3d9b9ff5 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/transcribe.js
+++ b/lib/tasks/transcribe.js
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ class TaskTranscribe extends SttTask {
     this.transcriptionHook = this.data.transcriptionHook;
     this.translationHook = this.data.translationHook;
     this.earlyMedia = this.data.earlyMedia === true || (parentTask && parentTask.earlyMedia);
-
     if (this.data.recognizer) {
       this.interim = !!this.data.recognizer.interim;
       this.separateRecognitionPerChannel = this.data.recognizer.separateRecognitionPerChannel;
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ class TaskTranscribe extends SttTask {
 
     if (cs.hasGlobalSttHints) {
       const {hints, hintsBoost} = cs.globalSttHints;
-      this.data.recognizer.hints = this.data.recognizer.hints.concat(hints);
+      this.data.recognizer.hints = this.data.recognizer?.hints?.concat(hints);
       if (!this.data.recognizer.hintsBoost && hintsBoost) this.data.recognizer.hintsBoost = hintsBoost;
       this.logger.debug({hints: this.data.recognizer.hints, hintsBoost: this.data.recognizer.hintsBoost},
         'Transcribe:exec - applying global sttHints');