diff --git a/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py b/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py
index d90f7bd4514..df5365017ac 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ from litellm.litellm_core_utils.agentic_loop_settings import (
     validated_max_agentic_loops,
 )
 from litellm.litellm_core_utils.asyncify import run_async_function
-from litellm.litellm_core_utils.audio_utils.subtitle_utils import synthesize_subtitle_document
+from litellm.litellm_core_utils.audio_utils.subtitle_utils import (
+    SUBTITLE_RESPONSE_FORMATS,
+    synthesize_subtitle_document,
+)
 from litellm.litellm_core_utils.llm_request_utils import serialize_multipart_form_fields
 from litellm.litellm_core_utils.realtime_errors import realtime_error_event, websocket_close_reason
 from litellm.litellm_core_utils.realtime_streaming import RealTimeStreaming
@@ -1303,16 +1306,16 @@ class BaseLLMHTTPHandler:
         if not provider_config.supports_subtitle_synthesis:
             return transformed
         requested_format: Final = optional_params.get("response_format")
-        if not isinstance(requested_format, str):
+        if not isinstance(requested_format, str) or requested_format not in SUBTITLE_RESPONSE_FORMATS:
             return transformed
         document: Final = synthesize_subtitle_document(
             words=transformed.get("words"),
             response_format=requested_format,
         )
-        if document is None:
-            return transformed
-        transformed.text = document
-        delattr(transformed, "words")
+        if document is not None:
+            transformed.text = document
+        if "words" in transformed:
+            delattr(transformed, "words")
         return transformed
 
     def audio_transcriptions(
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/llms/custom_httpx/test_llm_http_handler.py b/tests/test_litellm/llms/custom_httpx/test_llm_http_handler.py
index 4eaa18b5aa9..b37c0f466d2 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/llms/custom_httpx/test_llm_http_handler.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/llms/custom_httpx/test_llm_http_handler.py
@@ -1930,6 +1930,47 @@ def test_transform_audio_transcription_response_without_subtitle_opt_in_keeps_te
     assert response["words"] == words
 
 
+class _SubtitleSynthesisAudioTranscriptionConfig(_JSONBodyAudioTranscriptionConfig):
+    @property
+    def supports_subtitle_synthesis(self) -> bool:
+        return True
+
+    def transform_audio_transcription_response(self, raw_response):
+        payload = raw_response.json()
+        response = TranscriptionResponse(text=payload["text"])
+        if "words" in payload:
+            response["words"] = payload["words"]
+        return response
+
+
+def _transform_subtitle_response(payload):
+    return BaseLLMHTTPHandler()._transform_audio_transcription_response(
+        provider_config=_SubtitleSynthesisAudioTranscriptionConfig(),
+        model="test-model",
+        response=httpx.Response(200, json=payload),
+        model_response=TranscriptionResponse(),
+        logging_obj=Mock(),
+        optional_params={"response_format": "srt"},
+        api_key=None,
+    )
+
+
+def test_subtitle_synthesis_fallback_without_timings_drops_words():
+    response = _transform_subtitle_response(
+        {"text": "hello world", "words": [{"word": "hello"}, {"word": "world"}]}
+    )
+
+    assert response.text == "hello world"
+    assert "words" not in response
+
+
+def test_subtitle_synthesis_without_words_keeps_plain_text():
+    response = _transform_subtitle_response({"text": "hello world"})
+
+    assert response.text == "hello world"
+    assert "words" not in response
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_async_retrieve_file_content_raises_on_http_error():
     """