diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 3d0e0b5..f6609d2 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       # Kokoro ONNX models (read-only)
       - ./models:/app/models:ro
-      # HuggingFace cache for SNAC model download
+      # HuggingFace cache for SNAC model download (lazy-loaded on first Orpheus call)
       - hf-cache:/home/tts/.cache/huggingface
       # PipeWire socket for audio playback through host speakers
       - /run/user/1000/pipewire-0:/run/user/1000/pipewire-0
diff --git a/src/tts_mcp/engines/orpheus.py b/src/tts_mcp/engines/orpheus.py
index fb86577..9ec22fe 100644
--- a/src/tts_mcp/engines/orpheus.py
+++ b/src/tts_mcp/engines/orpheus.py
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 """Orpheus TTS via Ollama + SNAC decoder.
 
 Sends text to Ollama's Orpheus model, parses <custom_token_N> responses,
-and decodes through SNAC to 24kHz WAV. SNAC runs on CPU (RTX 5070 SM 120
-is not yet supported by PyTorch 2.6).
+and decodes through SNAC to 24kHz WAV. SNAC is lazy-loaded on first use
+and runs on CPU (RTX 5070 SM 120 not yet supported by PyTorch 2.6).
 """
 
 import asyncio
+import os
 import re
 import sys
 import time
 
 import numpy as np
 import requests
-import torch
 
 from ..audio import wav_duration, write_wav
 from ..settings import settings
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ def _tokens_to_audio(token_strings: list[str], snac_model) -> np.ndarray | None:
       - codes_1: 2 per frame (positions 1, 4)  -> mid
       - codes_2: 4 per frame (positions 2,3,5,6) -> fine
     """
+    import torch
+
     num_frames = len(token_strings) // 7
     if num_frames == 0:
         return None
@@ -71,7 +73,6 @@ def _tokens_to_audio(token_strings: list[str], snac_model) -> np.ndarray | None:
     def clamp(lst):
         return [max(0, min(SNAC_CODEBOOK_SIZE - 1, x)) for x in lst]
 
-    # SNAC runs on CPU — RTX 5070 SM 120 not supported by PyTorch 2.6
     device = "cpu"
     codes = [
         torch.tensor(clamp(codes_0), dtype=torch.long).unsqueeze(0).to(device),
@@ -85,17 +86,44 @@ def _tokens_to_audio(token_strings: list[str], snac_model) -> np.ndarray | None:
     return audio.squeeze().cpu().numpy()
 
 
+def _load_snac():
+    """Load SNAC model on CPU. Called once, lazily."""
+    os.environ["CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES"] = ""
+    from snac import SNAC
+
+    return SNAC.from_pretrained("hubertsiuzdak/snac_24khz").to("cpu")
+
+
 class OrpheusEngine(TTSEngine):
-    """Orpheus TTS via Ollama's completions API + SNAC audio decoding."""
+    """Orpheus TTS via Ollama's completions API + SNAC audio decoding.
+
+    SNAC is lazy-loaded on first synthesize() call to avoid holding
+    ~200MB of RAM when the engine isn't being used.
+    """
 
     name = "orpheus"
     default_voice = "tara"
 
-    def __init__(self, snac_model, ollama_url: str, model_name: str) -> None:
-        self._snac = snac_model
+    def __init__(self, ollama_url: str, model_name: str) -> None:
+        self._snac = None
+        self._snac_lock = asyncio.Lock()
         self._ollama_url = ollama_url
         self._model = model_name
 
+    async def _get_snac(self):
+        """Lazy-load SNAC on first use."""
+        if self._snac is not None:
+            return self._snac
+        async with self._snac_lock:
+            if self._snac is not None:
+                return self._snac
+            print("Loading SNAC decoder on CPU (first Orpheus call)...", file=sys.stderr)
+            t0 = time.time()
+            loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+            self._snac = await loop.run_in_executor(None, _load_snac)
+            print(f"  SNAC ready in {time.time() - t0:.1f}s", file=sys.stderr)
+            return self._snac
+
     async def synthesize(self, text: str, voice: str | None = None) -> TTSResult:
         voice = voice or self.default_voice
         prompt = f"<|audio|>{voice}: {text}<|eot_id|>"
@@ -153,9 +181,10 @@ class OrpheusEngine(TTSEngine):
                 f"Response preview: {resp_text[:200]}"
             )
 
-        # SNAC decode (CPU-bound)
+        # Lazy-load SNAC, then decode (CPU-bound)
+        snac = await self._get_snac()
         audio = await loop.run_in_executor(
-            None, _tokens_to_audio, token_strings, self._snac
+            None, _tokens_to_audio, token_strings, snac
         )
         if audio is None:
             raise RuntimeError("SNAC decoding produced no audio")
diff --git a/src/tts_mcp/server.py b/src/tts_mcp/server.py
index cd7f6c7..dc93ccf 100644
--- a/src/tts_mcp/server.py
+++ b/src/tts_mcp/server.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """FastMCP 3.0 server — tools, lifespan, and resource definitions."""
 
 import asyncio
-import os
 import sys
 import time
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
@@ -41,24 +40,11 @@ async def app_lifespan(server: FastMCP):
     )
     print(f"  Kokoro ready in {time.time() - t0:.1f}s", file=sys.stderr)
 
-    # --- SNAC decoder (CPU only — RTX 5070 SM 120 unsupported by PyTorch 2.6) ---
-    print("Loading SNAC decoder on CPU...", file=sys.stderr)
-    t0 = time.time()
-
-    def _load_snac():
-        os.environ["CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES"] = ""
-        from snac import SNAC
-
-        return SNAC.from_pretrained("hubertsiuzdak/snac_24khz").to("cpu")
-
-    snac_model = await loop.run_in_executor(None, _load_snac)
-    print(f"  SNAC ready in {time.time() - t0:.1f}s", file=sys.stderr)
-
     # --- Build engines ---
     engines: dict[str, TTSEngine] = {
         "piper": PiperEngine(settings.piper_host, settings.piper_port),
         "kokoro": KokoroEngine(kokoro_model),
-        "orpheus": OrpheusEngine(snac_model, settings.ollama_url, settings.orpheus_model),
+        "orpheus": OrpheusEngine(settings.ollama_url, settings.orpheus_model),
     }
 
     # Health check all engines at startup