diff --git a/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/pipeline.py b/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/pipeline.py
index 243e5de35..6a83c09c9 100644
--- a/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/pipeline.py
+++ b/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/pipeline.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy,
     TranscriptionUserTurnStartStrategy,
     VADUserTurnStartStrategy,
+    WakePhraseUserTurnStartStrategy,
 )
 from pipecat.turns.user_stop import (
     BaseUserTurnStopStrategy,
@@ -354,6 +355,27 @@ async def build_pipeline(
 
     # --- User turn start strategies ---
     start_strategies: list[BaseUserTurnStartStrategy] = []
+
+    # Wake phrase: prepended first so it gates all subsequent strategies.
+    wake_cfg = getattr(configurations, "wake_phrase", None)
+    if wake_cfg and wake_cfg.enabled:
+        if is_realtime:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Wake phrase is not supported in realtime mode. wake_phrase.enabled will be ignored."
+            )
+        elif wake_cfg.phrases:
+            start_strategies.append(
+                WakePhraseUserTurnStartStrategy(
+                    phrases=wake_cfg.phrases,
+                    timeout=wake_cfg.timeout,
+                    single_activation=wake_cfg.single_activation,
+                )
+            )
+            logger.info(
+                f"WakePhrase: enabled with {len(wake_cfg.phrases)} phrase(s), "
+                f"single_activation={wake_cfg.single_activation}, timeout={wake_cfg.timeout}s"
+            )
+
     if vad_analyzer is not None:
         start_strategies.append(VADUserTurnStartStrategy())
 
diff --git a/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/utils.py b/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/utils.py
index cae7b9d62..9f18eec39 100644
--- a/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/utils.py
+++ b/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/agent/utils.py
@@ -268,6 +268,20 @@ def validate_template_compat(template: TemplateModel) -> None:
             "realtime."
         )
 
+    wake_phrase = (
+        getattr(configurations, "wake_phrase", None)
+        if configurations is not None
+        else None
+    )
+    if wake_phrase is not None and getattr(wake_phrase, "enabled", False):
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Realtime LLMs (llm_configurations.realtime set) cannot be "
+            "combined with configurations.wake_phrase — the realtime pipeline "
+            "builds its own turn strategies and WakePhraseUserTurnStartStrategy "
+            f"is never installed. Disable wake_phrase on template {template.id} "
+            "or disable realtime."
+        )
+
     logger.info(
         f"Template {template.id} validated: realtime LLM + direct mode "
         f"(provider={realtime.provider.value})"
diff --git a/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/template/types.py b/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/template/types.py
index ec681580e..0f297bf46 100644
--- a/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/template/types.py
+++ b/app/ai/voice/agents/breeze_buddy/template/types.py
@@ -403,6 +403,36 @@ class KeywordMatchType(str, Enum):
     INCLUDES = "includes"  # Transcription must contain the keyword (case-insensitive)
 
 
+class WakePhraseConfig(BaseModel):
+    """Require a wake phrase before the bot responds.
+
+    Wraps pipecat's WakePhraseUserTurnStartStrategy. Placed first in start
+    strategies so no other strategy evaluates until the phrase is heard.
+
+    Example::
+
+        {"enabled": true, "phrases": ["yes", "haan"], "single_activation": true}
+    """
+
+    enabled: bool = False
+    phrases: List[str] = Field(default_factory=list, min_length=1)
+    timeout: float = Field(
+        10.0, ge=0.0, le=300.0, description="Seconds to stay awake after phrase."
+    )
+    single_activation: bool = Field(
+        False,
+        description="If true, wake phrase required only once per session; if false, required before every turn.",
+    )
+
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def validate_phrases_when_enabled(self):
+        if self.enabled and not self.phrases:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "phrases must contain at least one item when enabled is true"
+            )
+        return self
+
+
 class KeywordFilterConfig(BaseModel):
     """Configuration for filtering out specific transcriptions during bot activity.
 
@@ -886,6 +916,10 @@ def _pre_validate(cls, data: Any) -> Any:
         None,
         description="Keyword filter to suppress specific transcriptions while bot is active",
     )
+    wake_phrase: Optional[WakePhraseConfig] = Field(
+        None,
+        description="Wake phrase config — bot only responds after hearing a trigger phrase",
+    )
     mcp: Optional[McpConfig] = Field(
         None,
         description="MCP tool server configuration for dynamic tool discovery",