diff --git a/livekit-agents/livekit/agents/stt/stream_adapter.py b/livekit-agents/livekit/agents/stt/stream_adapter.py
index 0a84cd7a76..96e741edc3 100644
--- a/livekit-agents/livekit/agents/stt/stream_adapter.py
+++ b/livekit-agents/livekit/agents/stt/stream_adapter.py
@@ -16,16 +16,19 @@
 
 
 class StreamAdapter(STT):
-    def __init__(self, *, stt: STT, vad: VAD) -> None:
-        super().__init__(
-            capabilities=STTCapabilities(
+    def __init__(self, *, stt: STT, vad: VAD, force_stream: bool = False) -> None:
+        if stt.capabilities.streaming:
+            capabilities = stt.capabilities
+        else:
+            capabilities = STTCapabilities(
                 streaming=True,
                 interim_results=False,
                 diarization=False,  # diarization requires streaming STT
             )
-        )
+        super().__init__(capabilities=capabilities)
         self._vad = vad
         self._stt = stt
+        self._force_stream = force_stream
 
         # TODO(theomonnom): The segment_id needs to be populated!
         self._stt.on("metrics_collected", self._on_metrics_collected)
@@ -42,6 +45,10 @@ def model(self) -> str:
     def provider(self) -> str:
         return self._stt.provider
 
+    @property
+    def force_stream(self) -> bool:
+        return self._force_stream
+
     async def _recognize_impl(
         self,
         buffer: utils.AudioBuffer,
@@ -65,6 +72,7 @@ def stream(
             wrapped_stt=self._stt,
             language=language,
             conn_options=conn_options,
+            force_stream=self._force_stream,
         )
 
     def _on_metrics_collected(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
@@ -83,17 +91,90 @@ def __init__(
         wrapped_stt: STT,
         language: NotGivenOr[str],
         conn_options: APIConnectOptions,
+        force_stream: bool = False,
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__(stt=stt, conn_options=DEFAULT_STREAM_ADAPTER_API_CONNECT_OPTIONS)
         self._vad = vad
         self._wrapped_stt = wrapped_stt
         self._wrapped_stt_conn_options = conn_options
         self._language = language
+        self._force_stream = force_stream
 
     async def _metrics_monitor_task(self, event_aiter: AsyncIterable[SpeechEvent]) -> None:
         pass  # do nothing
 
     async def _run(self) -> None:
+        # we do expect stt providers to honestly tell us
+        # weather they are capable of streaming
+        if self._wrapped_stt.capabilities.streaming and self._force_stream:
+            await self._run_stream_impl()
+        else:
+            await self._run_batch_impl()
+
+    async def _run_stream_impl(self):
+        vad_stream = self._vad.stream()
+        stt_stream = self._wrapped_stt.stream()
+
+        start_of_speech_received = asyncio.Event()
+
+        async def _forward_input() -> None:
+            """forward input to vad"""
+            async for input in self._input_ch:
+                if isinstance(input, self._FlushSentinel):
+                    vad_stream.flush()
+                    stt_stream.flush()
+                    continue
+                vad_stream.push_frame(input)
+                stt_stream.push_frame(input)
+
+            vad_stream.end_input()
+            stt_stream.end_input()
+
+        async def _handle_vad_stream() -> None:
+            async for event in vad_stream:
+                if event.type == VADEventType.START_OF_SPEECH:
+                    start_of_speech_received.set()
+                    self._event_ch.send_nowait(SpeechEvent(type=SpeechEventType.START_OF_SPEECH))
+                elif event.type == VADEventType.END_OF_SPEECH:
+                    self._event_ch.send_nowait(
+                        SpeechEvent(
+                            type=SpeechEventType.END_OF_SPEECH,
+                        )
+                    )
+
+        async def _handle_stt_stream() -> None:
+            async for event in stt_stream:
+                status = start_of_speech_received.is_set()
+
+                # ignore if vad didn's signal start of speech
+                if not status:
+                    continue
+
+                # we let vad handle these events
+                if (
+                    event.type == SpeechEventType.START_OF_SPEECH
+                    or event.type == SpeechEventType.END_OF_SPEECH
+                ):
+                    continue
+
+                if event.type == SpeechEventType.FINAL_TRANSCRIPT and status:
+                    start_of_speech_received.clear()
+
+                self._event_ch.send_nowait(event)
+
+        tasks = [
+            asyncio.create_task(_forward_input(), name="forward_input"),
+            asyncio.create_task(_handle_vad_stream(), name="handle_vad"),
+            asyncio.create_task(_handle_stt_stream(), name="handle_stt"),
+        ]
+        try:
+            await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
+        finally:
+            await utils.aio.cancel_and_wait(*tasks)
+            await vad_stream.aclose()
+            await stt_stream.aclose()
+
+    async def _run_batch_impl(self) -> None:
         vad_stream = self._vad.stream()
 
         async def _forward_input() -> None: