diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index ea341a3..7be1606 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ services:
       VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY: "${VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY:-}"
       VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY: "${VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY:-}"
       VAPID_CLAIMS_SUB: "${VAPID_CLAIMS_SUB:-mailto:admin@fabledassistant.local}"
-      # Prevent HuggingFace from making network calls at startup once models are cached:
-      HF_HUB_OFFLINE: "${HF_HUB_OFFLINE:-0}"
     healthcheck:
       test: ["CMD", "python", "-c", "import urllib.request; urllib.request.urlopen('http://localhost:5000/api/health')"]
       interval: 10s
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_scheduler.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_scheduler.py
index ebb404a..ea21254 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_scheduler.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_scheduler.py
@@ -343,6 +343,21 @@ async def start_briefing_scheduler(loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop) -> None:
         replace_existing=True,
     )
 
+    def _run_kokoro_update_check() -> None:
+        from fabledassistant.services.tts import check_for_kokoro_updates
+        future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(check_for_kokoro_updates(), _loop)
+        try:
+            future.result(timeout=300)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.error("Kokoro update check failed: %s", exc)
+
+    _scheduler.add_job(
+        _run_kokoro_update_check,
+        CronTrigger(hour=3, minute=0, timezone="UTC"),
+        id="kokoro_update_check_daily",
+        replace_existing=True,
+    )
+
     _scheduler.start()
     logger.info(
         "Briefing scheduler started with %d user(s) across %d job(s)",
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/tts.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/tts.py
index 3fad36e..fa68d74 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/tts.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/tts.py
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 import asyncio
 import io
 import logging
+import os
 import time
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -14,6 +16,12 @@ _pipeline: "KPipeline | None" = None
 _pipeline_lock = asyncio.Lock()
 _load_error: str | None = None
 
+# Repo identifier used for HuggingFace update checks
+KOKORO_REPO = "hexgrad/Kokoro-82M"
+
+# Persisted across restarts so we can detect model updates and run offline otherwise
+_COMMIT_HASH_FILE = Path("/data/kokoro_commit_hash.txt")
+
 # Static list of supported Kokoro voice IDs and display labels
 _VOICES: list[dict] = [
     {"id": "af_heart", "label": "Heart (American Female, warm)"},
@@ -30,6 +38,31 @@ _VOICES: list[dict] = [
 ]
 
 
+def _read_stored_commit() -> str | None:
+    try:
+        if _COMMIT_HASH_FILE.exists():
+            return _COMMIT_HASH_FILE.read_text().strip() or None
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    return None
+
+
+def _write_stored_commit(sha: str) -> None:
+    try:
+        _COMMIT_HASH_FILE.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        _COMMIT_HASH_FILE.write_text(sha)
+    except Exception:
+        logger.warning("Failed to write Kokoro commit hash to %s", _COMMIT_HASH_FILE)
+
+
+def _set_hf_offline(offline: bool) -> None:
+    """Toggle HuggingFace offline mode in the current process environment."""
+    if offline:
+        os.environ["HF_HUB_OFFLINE"] = "1"
+    else:
+        os.environ.pop("HF_HUB_OFFLINE", None)
+
+
 async def load_tts_model() -> None:
     """Load the Kokoro pipeline. Called once at startup when voice is enabled."""
     global _pipeline, _load_error
@@ -44,8 +77,16 @@ async def load_tts_model() -> None:
         try:
             from kokoro import KPipeline
 
+            # If we have a stored commit hash the model files are already cached
+            # locally — run offline to skip HuggingFace network validation entirely.
+            already_cached = _read_stored_commit() is not None
+            if already_cached:
+                _set_hf_offline(True)
+                logger.info("Kokoro model previously cached — loading in offline mode")
+
             logger.info("Loading Kokoro TTS pipeline...")
             loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+
             def _load_and_warm():
                 p = KPipeline(lang_code="a")  # "a" = American English
                 # Pre-load all voice tensors so synthesis never hits HuggingFace at request time
@@ -57,12 +98,92 @@ async def load_tts_model() -> None:
                 return p
 
             _pipeline = await loop.run_in_executor(None, _load_and_warm)
+
+            # Record the current commit hash on first successful load so future
+            # restarts know the model is cached and can skip HF network checks.
+            if not already_cached:
+                asyncio.create_task(_record_initial_commit())
+
             logger.info("Kokoro TTS pipeline loaded and voices pre-warmed")
         except Exception:
             _load_error = "Failed to load Kokoro TTS pipeline"
             logger.exception(_load_error)
 
 
+async def _record_initial_commit() -> None:
+    """Fetch and store the current Kokoro commit hash after first download."""
+    try:
+        loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+
+        def _fetch():
+            from huggingface_hub import model_info
+            return model_info(KOKORO_REPO).sha
+
+        sha = await loop.run_in_executor(None, _fetch)
+        if sha:
+            _write_stored_commit(sha)
+            # Now that files are cached, switch to offline mode for subsequent runs
+            _set_hf_offline(True)
+            logger.info("Kokoro commit hash stored (%s) — future restarts will use offline mode", sha[:8])
+    except Exception:
+        logger.warning("Could not record Kokoro commit hash", exc_info=True)
+
+
+async def check_for_kokoro_updates() -> None:
+    """Check HuggingFace for Kokoro model updates.
+
+    Intended to be called on a daily schedule. Temporarily lifts offline mode
+    to query the HF API, compares the latest commit SHA against the locally
+    stored one, and reloads the pipeline only if the model has changed.
+    """
+    from fabledassistant.services.voice_config import is_voice_enabled
+    if not await is_voice_enabled():
+        return
+
+    stored_sha = _read_stored_commit()
+
+    try:
+        loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+
+        def _fetch_latest_sha():
+            # Temporarily lift offline mode to reach the HF API
+            _set_hf_offline(False)
+            try:
+                from huggingface_hub import model_info
+                return model_info(KOKORO_REPO).sha
+            finally:
+                # Restore offline mode regardless of outcome
+                _set_hf_offline(True)
+
+        latest_sha = await loop.run_in_executor(None, _fetch_latest_sha)
+    except Exception:
+        logger.warning("Kokoro update check failed — will retry tomorrow", exc_info=True)
+        # Ensure offline mode is restored if the executor raised before the finally
+        _set_hf_offline(bool(stored_sha))
+        return
+
+    if latest_sha == stored_sha:
+        logger.debug("Kokoro model is up to date (sha: %s)", (latest_sha or "")[:8])
+        return
+
+    logger.info(
+        "Kokoro model update detected (%s → %s), reloading pipeline",
+        (stored_sha or "none")[:8],
+        (latest_sha or "")[:8],
+    )
+    # Go online for the reload so Kokoro can download the updated files
+    _set_hf_offline(False)
+    try:
+        await reload_tts_model()
+        if latest_sha:
+            _write_stored_commit(latest_sha)
+        logger.info("Kokoro model updated and reloaded successfully")
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception("Kokoro pipeline reload after update failed")
+    finally:
+        _set_hf_offline(True)
+
+
 async def reload_tts_model() -> None:
     """Unload and reload the TTS pipeline. Safe to call at runtime."""
     global _pipeline, _load_error