diff --git a/cmd/tapir/uploads_test.go b/cmd/tapir/uploads_test.go
index 9a55b62..f91e782 100644
--- a/cmd/tapir/uploads_test.go
+++ b/cmd/tapir/uploads_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
+	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/tapir/internal/adapters/transcribe"
 	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/tapir/internal/config"
 	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/tapir/internal/domain"
 	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/tapir/internal/web"
@@ -154,3 +155,33 @@ func TestWireUploads_NilIntakeLeavesTheAppUntouched(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Nil(t, app.Uploads, "a nil *Intake must not become a non-nil interface that mounts the routes")
 	assert.Zero(t, app.UploadChatMaxChars)
 }
+
+func TestBuildTranscriber_DefaultIsTheSingleEngineChainAsBefore(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := uploadCfg(t, true)
+
+	tr := buildTranscriber(cfg)
+
+	assert.IsType(t, &transcribe.Chain{}, tr, "with no base engine configured nothing changes")
+}
+
+func TestBuildTranscriber_ABaseEngineTurnsOnTheEnsemble(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := uploadCfg(t, true)
+	cfg.ReconcileBaseModel = "iguana/pianissimo"
+	cfg.ReconcileModel = "iguana/gemma4-26b"
+
+	tr := buildTranscriber(cfg)
+
+	assert.IsType(t, &transcribe.Ensemble{}, tr)
+}
+
+func TestBuildUploads_WiresTheEnsembleWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := uploadCfg(t, true)
+	cfg.ReconcileBaseModel = "iguana/pianissimo"
+	cfg.ReconcileModel = "iguana/gemma4-26b"
+
+	in, w, err := buildUploads(context.Background(), cfg, &fakeUploadsStore{}, quietLog())
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotNil(t, in)
+	assert.NotNil(t, w)
+}