diff --git a/speech.py b/speech.py
index 84a6ae8..dbcc4d5 100755
--- a/speech.py
+++ b/speech.py
@@ -98,7 +98,19 @@ silero_model = None
 silero_speakers = {}
 kokoro_pipeline = None
 kokoro_lang = None
-args = None
+
+# Default args for worker processes (will be overridden in __main__)
+class DefaultArgs:
+    xtts_device = 'cpu'
+    use_deepspeed = False
+    unload_timer = None
+    log_level = 'INFO'
+    host = '0.0.0.0'
+    port = 8000
+    preload = None
+    no_cache_speaker = False
+
+args = DefaultArgs()
 
 # Voice-to-model lookup cache (loaded at startup)
 voice_to_model_cache = {}