diff --git a/Conjuga/Conjuga/Services/SpeechService.swift b/Conjuga/Conjuga/Services/SpeechService.swift
index 5186b00..22a460b 100644
--- a/Conjuga/Conjuga/Services/SpeechService.swift
+++ b/Conjuga/Conjuga/Services/SpeechService.swift
@@ -4,14 +4,20 @@ import AVFoundation
 @MainActor
 final class SpeechService {
     private let synthesizer = AVSpeechSynthesizer()
-    private let spanishVoice: AVSpeechSynthesisVoice?
+    private var spanishVoice: AVSpeechSynthesisVoice?
+    private var voiceResolved = false
     private var audioSessionConfigured = false
 
     init() {
-        spanishVoice = AVSpeechSynthesisVoice(language: "es-ES")
+        // AVSpeechSynthesisVoice can trigger a malloc double-free on
+        // iOS 26 simulators when deserializing voice metadata. Defer
+        // voice resolution to first use so the crash doesn't happen
+        // during app launch.
+        spanishVoice = nil
     }
 
     func speak(_ text: String) {
+        resolveVoiceIfNeeded()
         configureAudioSession()
         synthesizer.stopSpeaking(at: .immediate)
         let utterance = AVSpeechUtterance(string: text)
@@ -27,6 +33,12 @@ final class SpeechService {
         synthesizer.stopSpeaking(at: .immediate)
     }
 
+    private func resolveVoiceIfNeeded() {
+        guard !voiceResolved else { return }
+        voiceResolved = true
+        spanishVoice = AVSpeechSynthesisVoice(language: "es-ES")
+    }
+
     private func configureAudioSession() {
         guard !audioSessionConfigured else { return }
         do {