diff --git a/src/openhuman/voice/dictation_listener.rs b/src/openhuman/voice/dictation_listener.rs
index 0da3321d1..677e9f9e5 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/voice/dictation_listener.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/voice/dictation_listener.rs
@@ -92,6 +92,14 @@ pub fn publish_transcription(text: String) -> usize {
 /// Reads the `dictation` config section and registers the global hotkey.
 /// When the hotkey fires, publishes a `DictationEvent` to the broadcast
 /// channel that the Socket.IO bridge forwards to all connected clients.
+///
+/// **macOS note**: this function is a no-op on macOS. Starting with macOS 26,
+/// `TSMGetInputSourceProperty` is enforced to run on the main dispatch queue;
+/// rdev's CGEventTap callback fires on a background thread and crashes with
+/// `EXC_BREAKPOINT` (`dispatch_assert_queue_fail`) on the first key press. The
+/// Tauri host already registers the shortcut via `tauri-plugin-global-shortcut`
+/// (main-thread-safe) and emits `dictation://toggle` to the frontend, making
+/// the core-side rdev listener redundant on macOS. (#2677)
 pub async fn start_if_enabled(config: &Config) {
     if !config.dictation.enabled {
         log::info!("{LOG_PREFIX} dictation disabled in config, skipping hotkey listener");
@@ -104,13 +112,33 @@ pub async fn start_if_enabled(config: &Config) {
         return;
     }
 
+    // On macOS the rdev listener must not start: rdev's CGEventTap callback
+    // calls TSMGetInputSourceProperty off the main thread, crashing with
+    // EXC_BREAKPOINT on macOS 26 (dispatch_assert_queue_fail). The Tauri host
+    // handles this shortcut via tauri-plugin-global-shortcut instead. (#2677)
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    {
+        log::info!(
+            "{LOG_PREFIX} macOS: skipping rdev hotkey listener — \
+             handled by Tauri host via tauri-plugin-global-shortcut (issue #2677)"
+        );
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Non-macOS: start the rdev-based listener.
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+    start_rdev_listener(hotkey_str, config).await;
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+async fn start_rdev_listener(hotkey_str: String, config: &Config) {
     // Map DictationActivationMode to our hotkey ActivationMode.
     let mode = match config.dictation.activation_mode {
         crate::openhuman::config::DictationActivationMode::Push => ActivationMode::Push,
         crate::openhuman::config::DictationActivationMode::Toggle => ActivationMode::Tap,
     };
 
-    // Normalize the hotkey string for rdev (CmdOrCtrl → cmd on macOS, ctrl on others).
+    // Normalize the hotkey string for rdev (CmdOrCtrl → ctrl on non-macOS).
     let normalized = normalize_hotkey_for_rdev(&hotkey_str);
 
     log::info!(
@@ -309,6 +337,39 @@ mod tests {
         start_if_enabled(&config).await;
     }
 
+    // On macOS the rdev listener must never start — TSMGetInputSourceProperty
+    // must run on the main dispatch queue; rdev fires its callback on a
+    // background thread and crashes with EXC_BREAKPOINT on macOS 26. (#2677)
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn start_if_enabled_is_noop_on_macos_with_valid_hotkey() {
+        let mut config = Config::default();
+        config.dictation.enabled = true;
+        config.dictation.hotkey = "ctrl+space".into();
+        // Must return without panicking or spawning the rdev listener.
+        start_if_enabled(&config).await;
+        // No rdev thread was started: the global handle remains None.
+        let guard = LISTENER_HANDLE.lock().expect("lock");
+        assert!(
+            guard.is_none(),
+            "rdev listener must not be started on macOS"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn start_if_enabled_is_noop_on_macos_with_fn_hotkey() {
+        let mut config = Config::default();
+        config.dictation.enabled = true;
+        config.dictation.hotkey = "fn".into();
+        start_if_enabled(&config).await;
+        let guard = LISTENER_HANDLE.lock().expect("lock");
+        assert!(
+            guard.is_none(),
+            "rdev listener must not be started on macOS"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn normalize_maps_shift_and_alt_verbatim() {
         let result = normalize_hotkey_for_rdev("Shift+Alt+D");
diff --git a/src/openhuman/voice/server.rs b/src/openhuman/voice/server.rs
index c1a177e03..2796a0b55 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/voice/server.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/voice/server.rs
@@ -527,10 +527,13 @@ impl HotkeyListenerKind {
 
 /// Start the appropriate hotkey listener for the current platform and key.
 ///
-/// On macOS, the Fn/Globe key cannot be detected by `rdev`'s CGEventTap.
-/// When the configured hotkey is `"fn"` we fall back to the Swift-based
-/// globe listener (`accessibility::globe`) which monitors
-/// `NSEvent.flagsChanged` for the `.function` modifier flag.
+/// On macOS, the Fn/Globe key is handled by the Swift-based globe listener
+/// (`accessibility::globe`) which monitors `NSEvent.flagsChanged`. All other
+/// keys return an error on macOS: rdev's CGEventTap callback calls
+/// `TSMGetInputSourceProperty` off the main thread; macOS 26 enforces
+/// `dispatch_assert_queue(main_queue)` inside that API and kills the process
+/// with `EXC_BREAKPOINT` (`dispatch_assert_queue_fail`). Configure
+/// `hotkey = "fn"` to avoid this. (#2677)
 fn start_hotkey_listener(
     hotkey_str: &str,
     mode: hotkey::ActivationMode,
@@ -547,12 +550,26 @@ fn start_hotkey_listener(
         if hotkey_str.trim().eq_ignore_ascii_case("fn") {
             return start_globe_hotkey_listener(mode, server_cancel);
         }
+        // rdev calls TSMGetInputSourceProperty off the main thread; macOS 26
+        // enforces main-queue-only access and crashes the process. Only the
+        // Fn/Globe key is safe via the Swift globe listener. (#2677)
+        return Err(format!(
+            "voice server hotkey '{}' is not supported on macOS — \
+             only 'fn' (Fn/Globe key) is safe. rdev calls \
+             TSMGetInputSourceProperty off the main thread on macOS 26, \
+             causing EXC_BREAKPOINT. Set hotkey = \"fn\" in voice config \
+             (issue #2677).",
+            hotkey_str
+        ));
     }
 
-    // Default path: rdev-based listener for all other keys.
-    let combo = hotkey::parse_hotkey(hotkey_str)?;
-    let (handle, rx) = hotkey::start_listener(combo, mode)?;
-    Ok((HotkeyListenerKind::Rdev(handle), rx))
+    // Non-macOS: rdev-based listener for all keys.
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+    {
+        let combo = hotkey::parse_hotkey(hotkey_str)?;
+        let (handle, rx) = hotkey::start_listener(combo, mode)?;
+        Ok((HotkeyListenerKind::Rdev(handle), rx))
+    }
 }
 
 /// macOS-only: start the Swift globe listener and bridge FN_DOWN / FN_UP