diff --git a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/get_model_cost_map.py b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/get_model_cost_map.py
index 6e3769260cc..b68db22183a 100644
--- a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/get_model_cost_map.py
+++ b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/get_model_cost_map.py
@@ -324,10 +324,16 @@ def _classify_fetch_content(content: bytes, url: str, etag: str | None) -> _Fetc
     return ModelCostMapReloaded(model_cost_map=model_cost_map, revision=git_blob_id(content), etag=etag)
 
 
-def _attempt_fetch_s3(url: str, timeout: int) -> _FetchAttemptOutcome:
+def _split_url(url: str) -> urllib.parse.SplitResult | ModelCostMapReloadUnavailable:
+    try:
+        return urllib.parse.urlsplit(url)
+    except ValueError as error:
+        return ModelCostMapReloadUnavailable(reason=f"invalid URL {url}: {error}")
+
+
+def _attempt_fetch_s3(parts: urllib.parse.SplitResult, url: str, timeout: int) -> _FetchAttemptOutcome:
     from botocore.exceptions import BotoCoreError, ClientError
 
-    parts: Final = urllib.parse.urlsplit(url)
     bucket: Final = parts.netloc
     key: Final = parts.path.lstrip("/")
     if not bucket or not key:
@@ -343,9 +349,11 @@ def _attempt_fetch_s3(url: str, timeout: int) -> _FetchAttemptOutcome:
 
 
 async def _attempt_fetch(client: _AsyncGetClient, url: str, timeout: int) -> _FetchAttemptOutcome:
-    parts: Final = urllib.parse.urlsplit(url)
+    parts: Final = _split_url(url)
+    if isinstance(parts, ModelCostMapReloadUnavailable):
+        return parts
     if parts.scheme == "s3":
-        return await asyncio.to_thread(_attempt_fetch_s3, url, timeout)
+        return await asyncio.to_thread(_attempt_fetch_s3, parts, url, timeout)
     try:
         response: Final = await client.get(url, timeout=timeout)
     except (httpx.HTTPError, httpx.InvalidURL) as e:
@@ -354,9 +362,11 @@ async def _attempt_fetch(client: _AsyncGetClient, url: str, timeout: int) -> _Fe
 
 
 def _attempt_fetch_sync(client: _SyncGetClient, url: str, timeout: int) -> _FetchAttemptOutcome:
-    parts: Final = urllib.parse.urlsplit(url)
+    parts: Final = _split_url(url)
+    if isinstance(parts, ModelCostMapReloadUnavailable):
+        return parts
     if parts.scheme == "s3":
-        return _attempt_fetch_s3(url, timeout)
+        return _attempt_fetch_s3(parts, url, timeout)
     try:
         response: Final = client.get(url, timeout=timeout)
     except (httpx.HTTPError, httpx.InvalidURL) as e:
diff --git a/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_get_model_cost_map.py b/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_get_model_cost_map.py
index 0256ecf24ed..eca9bbdc170 100644
--- a/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_get_model_cost_map.py
+++ b/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_get_model_cost_map.py
@@ -686,6 +686,25 @@ def test_boot_load_does_not_retry_non_retryable_failure():
     assert source["fallback_reason"] is not None
 
 
+def test_boot_load_falls_back_when_urlsplit_rejects_the_url():
+    client, calls = _mock_client([httpx.Response(200, content=_real_map_bytes())], client_cls=httpx.Client)
+    sleeper = _SyncSleepRecorder()
+
+    cost_map = get_model_cost_map(
+        url="http://[bad/model_prices.json",
+        sleep=sleeper,
+        rng=random.Random(0),
+        client=client,
+    )
+    assert calls["count"] == 0
+    assert sleeper.waits == []
+    assert _retry_threads() == []
+    assert cost_map.keys() >= _load_root_cost_map().keys() - {"sample_spec", FALLBACK_GENERALIZATIONS_KEY}
+    source = get_model_cost_map_source_info()
+    assert source["source"] == "local"
+    assert "invalid URL" in (source["fallback_reason"] or "")
+
+
 def test_boot_load_respects_local_env_override(monkeypatch):
     """LITELLM_LOCAL_MODEL_COST_MAP=True still short-circuits to the backup with zero HTTP."""
     monkeypatch.setenv("LITELLM_LOCAL_MODEL_COST_MAP", "True")